WAUWATOSA — State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly today announced Jonathan Etter as the first of five 2026-27 Teachers of the Year. The announcement was made as part of a schoolwide surprise celebration at Wauwatosa East High School. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, in partnership with Herb Kohl Philanthropies, selects five Teachers of the Year annually to represent elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and special services.
“Mr. Etter is deeply committed to equity in education and works to ensure Wauwatosa East is a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student is set up for success,” Dr. Underly said. “His impact extends beyond the school, where he is a leader in the Wauwatosa community and a relentless advocate for public education.”
A high school English teacher since 1996, Etter has been teaching at Wauwatosa East High School for the past 19 years. He has been instrumental in expanding access to advanced academic opportunities and dual enrollment programming, helping to create new pathways for student success. Etter is also an adjunct professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he teaches college credit composition and literature courses as part of the College Credit in High School program—a partnership with the Wauwatosa School District that he helped create. He is an award-winning published author and a team manager for Destination Imagination, where he mentors students through collaborative, creative problem-solving challenges.
Photos from the celebration will be available on Dr. Underly’s official Facebook page.
As part of the recognition, Etter will receive a $3,000 award from Herb Kohl Philanthropies. Additional information about the Teacher of the Year program can be found on the Wisconsin DPI website.
