Sellenheim was born and raised in Waukesha and has more than 15 years of experience as an educator. And when students filter through the halls when Mill Creek opens in the fall for the 2023-24 school year, they will be greeted – at arrival, at dismissal, and all around the school – by a man who is thoroughly invested in a community he cares deeply about.
Joe Sellenheim reads to students at Little Learners 2 day care in Waukesha.
“Unless someone is volunteering in a classroom or is in the school on a regular basis, families and the community don’t have a lot of opportunities to see the amazing things that happen each and every day in school,” Sellenheim said. “A lot of really great work on the part of students and staff goes unnoticed. I feel it’s my responsibility as a leader to make sure that those things get seen and noticed, not just by me, but by the public.”
The prospect of leading a new school is an exciting one for Sellenheim. Mill Creek currently is taking applications for new students, and he encourages interested parents and families to join him in building a learning environment that will transform lives.
Joe Sellenheim reads to students at Apple Ridge Academy in New Berlin.
“It’s the opportunity to really get things right the first time,” he said. “A lot of times as a school leader, when you take things over, you’re inheriting practices. This is a chance to really say, ‘this is something new. This is something exciting, and we're all exploring this opportunity because we're looking for something different. Let's make it great and let's make it what we want it to be."
Sellenheim is currently focused on showing families that Mill Creek will be a champion for kids and help them reach their potential by participating in read-alouds at area schools, is partnering with Journey Martial Arts for an event April 1, and already is making plans for fire safety awareness in October. He is making the rounds with local leaders because fall will be here just like that.
“It's important for people early on to see what Mill Creek’s going to do for this community and how it will serve the students that we see in the building every day and beyond,” he said.
Sellenheim said the moments he is most proud of in education have been hearing from colleagues that kids work especially hard for him, getting thanked by a family member for being available to listen, or offering support in a difficult situation, be it personal or professional. Being recognized by the state of Wisconsin as principal at Grewenow Elementary School for the achievement and growth of students is meaningful, but Sellenheim takes perhaps even more pride in longstanding impacts such as getting a new playground built.
Those personal moments stuck with him throughout his adolescence in Waukesha. Now, as a principal of the area’s newest school, he hopes to create those memories for others.
“I want Mill Creek to be known as the highest performing aid school in the state of Wisconsin and a place where kids know they’re loved, every person feels welcomed and valued when they come through our doors and that the community the school community, understands the importance of working together to make a difference,” he said.
Keep up the excellent work, Mr. Sellenheim!
About Mill Creek Academy
Mill Creek Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Waukesha, Wisconsin, serving students in all-day 4K through fifth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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