Corning settles in as new Mondovi Schools superintendent

by Beth Kraft

Greg Corning officially took the reins as superintendent of the Mondovi Schools on July 1, and he’s looking forward to leading a school district that, in his eyes, already has a lot going for it.

“There are a number of things they already do well as a school system,” said Corning, a Madison native who comes to Mondovi having spent the past 15 years with the Menomonie School District, serving as the Wakanda Elementary Principal since 2010.

Pointing to the various awards and recognition the Mondovi district has received for its work to implement RtI and PBIS with students plus its higher-than-average ACT scores, Corning says he was drawn to Mondovi’s traditions of success. 

He also holds the schools’ teaching staff, athletic programs and other signs of student achievements in high regard. 

“The next goal for me is to take that to the next level,” said Corning, who entered his 25th year as an educator this fall.

He pointed to the district’s passage of an operational referendum last fall as proof-positive that the Mondovi community thinks highly of its schools.

“It’s a community that supports what we do here at school,” Corning said.

The position at Mondovi is Corning’s first as a superintendent, but he has gained quite a bit of leadership experience in recent years.

Corning was an assistant principal at Menomonie High School and also served in a unique co-principal’s role there for three years prior to taking the principal’s position at Wakanda.

He had obtained his superintedent’s license from Winona University in 2013, citing “administrative shifts” in Menomonie, thinking that perhaps it might come in handy.

When it came to searching for superintendent’s positions, “I was particular,” said Corning.

He explains he had a list of specific features he was looking for in a school district.

“Mondovi fit some of those criteria,” Corning said. “For me it was really a no-brainer to apply.”

Corning began his career in the Pepin School District as a physical education and health teacher from 1990-2000.

A self-described “analytical thinker,” Corning says he became interested in school administration because he found himself constantly thinking about things he would change if he were in charge.

“First I thought, ‘if I was principal...’ and then it became, ‘if I was the superintendent...’” explained Corning. “Now I’m in the position where I can make a bigger difference. I’m excited to be here.”

It’s been a busy few months for Corning. He admits the learning curve to coming to a new district in a new role was a bit of an obstacle, but having the opportunity to work with outgoing district administrator Cheryl Gullicksrud for a time to learn the various ins-and-outs of the district, staff roles and protocols was “extremely helpful,” he said.

Other Mondovi staff and other colleagues in education have also offered good advice, Corning said.

Emphasizing that he will listen and learn before making any changes, Corning said he hopes to use the fresh perspective he brings to make “minor tweaks.” Adjustments could involve finding small ways to save the district money, protocol changes and boosting classroom resources.

For the time being, Corning plans to commute from Menomonie until his daughter, Camryn, a junior at Menomonie High School, graduates.

At that point, Corning says he and his wife, Jane, would have looked to downsize from their current home anyway. Moving to the Mondovi area could become an option at that time.

Jane, a Durand native, currently works as a guidance counselor at Eau Claire Memorial High School and could travel there from the local area just as quickly as she can from Menomonie, Corning reasoned.

In his spare time, Corning enjoys landscaping his yard at home, catching Camryn’s volleyball and track activities, and doing other projects around the house.

He is also a volunteer firefighter in Menomonie, active since 2006, and previously served with the Durand Fire Department for over six years.

Greg and Jane have two other children, a son, Jordan, 29, and a daughter, Mackenzie, 21, in addition to 16-year-old Camryn.

Corning received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and also holds a master’s in educational leadership from UW-Madison.