about WAUSAU SCHOOL FOUNDATION

Our Mission . . . To advance student learning, achievement, and success.

Wausau School Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports the students, teachers and schools within the Wausau School Foundation. This includes 13 elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools, a charter school and online school. In all, we work with more than 1200 teachers, staff and administrators to enhance the educations and lives of more than 9500 students each year.

Since 1996, the foundation has been able to:

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Award more than $750,000 in grants to teachers fir innovative, beyond-the-lesson-plan ideas to aid in student engagement and success in the classroom and beyond

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Provide more than $300,000 to schools for playground projects, smart reading rooms, the arts and career exploration

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Recognize more than 5000 teachers and staff through our Caught in the Acts Award – for their contributions that go above and beyond for their students, schools and the community

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Assist more than 250 students annually with emergency needs that include school-related activity fees, emergency funds for prescriptions, eyeglasses, bus passes, college entrance fees and more to allow them opportunities for success in the classroom and in their future.

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Awarded more than $1,000,000 in scholarships through designated funds managed by WSF

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Raises more than $500,000 to aid in the completion of the new Environmental Learning Center at the Wausau School Forest, opened in 2023

Learn more about these funding sources HERE

Meet Our Executive Director

Debi Traeder, Executive Director

As a graduate of Wausau West, and a lifelong member of the Wausau area, I am so honored and pleased to be leading the Wausau School Foundation into a new and exciting future. Most of my career has been spent in the non-profit sector, finding new and innovative ways to engage community members to collaborate and support each other. I hope to use my past experience and love of this community to help the foundation, thus the students, staff and teachers of the district flourish.

My goal is to see students, teachers, parents and the community at large get excited about learning, to have pride in our schools and especially themselves and revel in what we can accomplish together. If the recent past has taught us anything, we know that resiliency and teamwork brought us through some challenging times.

We learned what worked, and sometimes what didn’t – but we came through it all together and stronger. I am in awe of what was accomplished as our district traversed through uncharted waters.

We are Wausau, we are strong, we are family.

It is so exciting to be a part of this amazing organization and I pledge to do my very best to see the foundation grow and be the place for teachers, staff, students and parents to turn to for their educational needs.

Debi Traeder
Executive Director

A Letter from the Superintendent of Schools Wausau School District

Together, the Wausau School District and the Wausau School Foundation make a difference in the lives of staff, students, families, and our community.

Whether it is providing the funds for emergency bus passes for students, a new pair of glasses for a student who cannot afford them, or funding projects that the District can not pay for out of our budget such as site prep work for the newly opened Environmental Learning Center at the School Forest. The Wausau School Foundation is always there and ready to help.

The WSF supports our classrooms and teachers through the Reach for the Stars Grants to spark student engagement and success. Wausau School District staff are also recognized for outstanding service to students, schools, and the community through the Foundation’s Caught in the Act Awards. On top of that, the Foundation recognizes community members who go the extra mile for our students by awarding them the Sparkle Award. These are just a few examples of how the Wausau School Foundation is actively making a difference in our community.

The Wausau School Foundation is positive, active, and engaged! We feel so fortunate to have such a cracker-jack collaborative partner and look forward to all the great things we can accomplish together.

Cale Bushman
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Wausau School District

2024-25 Board of Directors

Michael Lemanski – CPA, Marathon Cheese
Carl Hert – Teacher, Wausau School District
Evan Meyer – Attorney, Weld Riley
Jon Creicher – Greenheck Group, Wausau School Board
Sarah Brand – Wausau School Board
Cale Bushman – Interim Superintendent Wausau School District, Ex-Officio
Debi Traeder – Executive Director, Ex-Officio