The Wisconsin Association of School Boards announces the upcoming retirement of Executive Director Dan
Rossmiller, who informed the WASB Board of Directors in June that he will retire effective Feb. 1, 2027.


“Dan has been a tireless advocate for Wisconsin’s children, dedicating his career at the WASB to strengthening
public education and ensuring every student has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed,” WASB Board
President Sandie Anderson said. “His steadfast leadership, unwavering commitment and passionate voice have
made a lasting impact on school districts, communities and countless students across our state.”


Rossmiller served as the WASB’s director of government relations from November 2006 through June 2023
before becoming executive director on July 1, 2023.


“For nearly 20 years, I have dedicated my professional work to advancing and promoting the cause of public
education in Wisconsin,” Rossmiller said. “I want to thank the WASB Board of Directors for this opportunity. It
has been my distinct honor and privilege.”


As executive director, Rossmiller focused on building the association’s long-term resiliency and strength, leading
a strategic planning process, conducting a member survey, and traveling the state to meet with district leaders,
seeking to better understand the evolving needs of WASB members and ensuring the association is prepared to
meet them.


“I have enjoyed serving the WASB and its members,” said Rossmiller, who is the fourth executive director in the
WASB’s 105-year history. “This is a challenging time for public education, but school board members have
stepped up to meet those challenges. School board members are wonderful people, and the work you do is both
important and essential. I have also enjoyed meeting and getting to know many of you personally. It’s been an
honor to be part of this mission.


“I owe many people a debt of gratitude for helping me toward this position, not the least of which is owed to my
parents, Richard and Lois. I was blessed to grow up in a home where education was highly valued. Both of my
parents were the valedictorians of their small-town high schools. They were also children of the Great Depression
and knew about hardship.


“They saw education as a critical path toward bettering one’s life opportunities and economic circumstances.
Beyond that, they saw education as a key to increasing one’s enjoyment of life — of music, arts and literature as
well. Because of their beliefs and guidance, I have always felt drawn to a career promoting better opportunities for
our state’s boys and girls and helping give them a chance to achieve their full potential.”

Rossmiller added that his father, who taught a generation of Wisconsin school administrators during a 32-year
career as a UW-Madison professor of educational administration, shaped his belief in educational opportunity for
all students.


“He instilled in me a firm belief that the quality of a child’s education should not depend on the ZIP code in
which they live,” Rossmiller said. “I strongly believe all children are entitled to a high-quality education, and I
hope I have given my best efforts toward reaching that goal.”


Prior to joining the WASB, Rossmiller served as public affairs director for the State Bar of Wisconsin. Before
that, he built a 20-plus year career in the Wisconsin Legislature, serving as a senior policy analyst, legislative
committee clerk and chief of staff. A Madison native and University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of
Wisconsin Law School graduate, Rossmiller served on the Legislature’s Blue Ribbon Commission on School
Funding and the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, among others.


The WASB Board of Directors has begun the process of identifying the association’s next executive director and
will share additional information as it becomes available.


“Thank you, Dan, for standing up and championing for kids and public education,” Anderson said. “Your hard
work will be felt for generations to come. You have made a difference.”


The Wisconsin Association of School Boards is a nonprofit that provides information and services to Wisconsin
school boards in the areas of school law and policymaking, bargaining, legislation and leadership development.