The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has announced a series of principal and assistant principal assignments for the 2026–27 school year, along with several new leadership appointments, as part of its ongoing commitment to aligning school leaders' strengths and experiences with the evolving needs of students, staff and school communities.
The transitions follow a comprehensive review process involving district leadership and MMSD’s Human Resources Department and are intended to support continuity, foster professional growth and strengthen learning environments across the district.
“These transitions align the unique strengths of each of these leaders with the evolving needs of our schools,” said Superintendent Joe Gothard. “I am excited to see the impact these leaders will have as they step into new roles and opportunities across MMSD.”
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Principal assignments for 2026–27
The following principal assignments will take effect for the 2026–27 school year:
- Sarah Larson will become principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School. Larson brings 22 years of educational experience, including the past 13 years as principal of Conrad A. Elvehjem Elementary School. She has also served as a classroom teacher, reading specialist and interventionist.
- Kim O’Donahue will become principal of Orchard Ridge Elementary School. A graduate of MMSD, O’Donahue has served as a classroom teacher, literacy lead teacher, instructional coach and most recently assistant principal at Aldo Leopold Elementary School.
- Tony Jennaro will become principal of Nuestro Mundo Community School. Jennaro brings a decade of experience in bilingual and multilingual education, including seven years as a bilingual educator at Robert M. La Follette High School and three years as coordinator of multilingual education for the Sun Prairie Area School District.
Assistant principal assignments
The district also announced the following assistant principal assignments:
- Jeremy Crowell will become assistant principal at Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School. Crowell previously worked at Gillespie from 2014 to 2019 and currently serves as assistant principal at Cherokee Heights Middle School.
- Vanessa Kent will become assistant principal at Cherokee Heights Middle School. Kent has spent the past six years at John F. Kennedy Elementary School, serving both as assistant principal and principal.
- Duy Nguyen will become assistant principal at Ray F. Sennett Middle School. Nguyen most recently served as principal of Orchard Ridge Elementary School and previously held leadership roles with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District and the School District of Waukesha. Earlier in his career, he served as a learning coordinator at MMSD’s Lincoln Elementary School.
“These transitions reflect both the exceptional talent within our leadership team and our commitment to placing leaders where they can best serve students and school communities,” said Dr. Carlettra Stanford, assistant superintendent of schools and learning. “Each of these individuals brings unique experiences, perspectives and strengths that will help advance student learning, strengthen relationships and support our schools in meaningful ways.”
The appointments are part of the district's broader efforts to cultivate strong instructional leadership and ensure schools are positioned to meet the needs of students, families and staff. MMSD will continue to share additional staffing and leadership updates as planning for the 2026–27 school year progresses.
