MADISON — The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA) has named Luke Spielman as the 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year.
Spielman serves as principal of Park View Middle School in the Mukwonago Area School District (MASD). There, he has focused on fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and empowerment, while prioritizing relationship building and trust. He has led strategic efforts to restructure the school schedule, extend instructional time, and create protected collaboration periods for teachers, which have directly improved student outcomes.
Under Spielman’s leadership, Park View has implemented inclusive, data-driven practices that close achievement gaps and promote college and career readiness. Proficiency among students with disabilities has improved significantly in both math and English Language Arts. Park View’s DPI Growth Priority Score also rose from the 11th to the 75th percentile in just two years.
“Mr. Spielman is the kind of principal every community hopes for—thoughtful, strategic, and relentlessly student focused,” said MASD Superintendent Dr. Joe Koch. “Under his leadership, Park View Middle School has become a place where students are challenged, supported, and inspired to grow. The impact of his leadership is visible not just in data, but also in the culture he has cultivated at the school.”
Spielman cultivates leadership among staff and students, establishing structures like the Guiding Coalition and student government. He also extends his impact regionally, facilitating a professional network of 44 area middle school principals and teaching graduate-level education courses.
Before becoming Park View’s principal in 2018, Spielman served as an associate principal in the Watertown Unified School District, and he began his career in education as a social studies teacher. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Marian University and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Wisconsin.
“On behalf of AWSA, I am thrilled to congratulate Luke Spielman on being named the 2025 Wisconsin Middle School Principal of the Year,” said AWSA Executive Director Jim Lynch. “He leads with heart and vision, empowering staff and students alike to reach their full potential. He exemplifies the work that school leaders do every day.”
Supported by the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation, the Principal of the Year award recognizes school leaders who have helped drive student learning, foster instructional collaboration, and create safe and positive school environments. Recipients are selected based on their dedication to professional excellence, leadership skills, and service to their communities.
Each year, teachers, parents, staff, and administrators are asked to nominate principals for the award. The recipients are selected by a committee made up of representatives of parents and classroom, school, and district leaders. To learn more about the award, visit https://awsa.memberclicks.net/principal-of-the-year.
