2004 Young Alumni Award

Andrew M. Bradford ’97

Like so many freshmen, Andy “didn’t have much of a vision of what the real world would be like,” but “I knew very early on that I wanted to be involved in education.”

After seven years of teaching fourth-grade students at Pulaski’s Glenbrook Elementary School, Andy is now assistant principal at Foxview Intermediate School in De Pere. Not bad for only being seven years (and an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University) out of St. Norbert College! His “fast track” to being an educational leader can be attributed to a “perfect fit” of academics, community service and his participation in hockey as a player and coach.

Andy played four years of varsity hockey and received SNC’s 1996-97 “Hardest Worker and Student Athlete Award.” He credits Coach Tim Coughlin with having made a tremendous impact on his life as “my coach, my mentor and now, as my friend.”

Hockey has remained important in his life ever since. Andy directed a summer hockey development program in Wausau, served as Assistant SNC Varsity Coach for five years and, for seven years, has served as Bantam Elite Summer Player Development Program Director for the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association. In addition, he has evaluated, instructed and coached younger players for the U.S.A. Hockey Central District, coordinated Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Bantam and Midget Festivals, instructed in the Central District Girls’ U-19 Hockey Player Development Camp, and instructed at hockey schools in De Pere, Antigo, Eagle River and Chicago.

His former principal at Pulaski, Irene Hucek, said, “Andy is first and foremost a dedicated and professional educator. He cares intensely for students.” Clearly, many individuals shared this view as Andy received the area’s prestigious Golden Apple Award as a Teacher of Distinction in 1999. “Student-centered, goal-oriented, innovative” describe Andy’s tenure at Glenbrook Elementary School. As the fourth-grade team leader, he planned field trips, maintained the fourth-grade budget and lead instructional improvement initiatives. He also facilitated the Balanced Literacy initiatives for intermediate grades, and he chaired the school improvement team that fostered school-parent relations.

That’s not all. Andy also created a standards-based assessment for district report cards, developed district policies for teacher promotion/retention, and helped develop curricula for reading and social studies.

Most recently, he served as a peer mentor for eleven first-year teachers. With his students always in mind, Andy started a student cooperative store, a Kids for Running Club and an intramural program.

Leadership in a multitude of ways permeates Andy’s life and career as an educator, one who is committed and dedicated to “fostering a positive, ethical culture among those whom I influence.”