Candidates bring mix of different backgrounds, qualifications
The Sun Prairie Area School District has narrowed its search for a new superintendent to three finalists, with interviews and community engagement scheduled this week.
The candidates — Dr. Jeff Fleig, Michael Harris, and Dr. Antoine Reed — will each spend Monday, April 13, in the district, touring schools and meeting with staff and students. Community members will have a chance to meet the finalists during a public session from 6:30 to 8:40 p.m. at the Central Heights Middle School auditorium.
Each candidate will participate in a 40-minute session that includes an introduction and a question-and-answer period. District officials are encouraging parents, families and residents to attend and provide feedback.
In addition to the public forum, staff, students and community members will be able to submit input through an online form available throughout the day. The School Board will use that feedback as part of its decision-making process.
Final interviews with the three candidates are scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, and will be held in the same location. Those interviews will be open to the public and streamed live on KSUN.
More information about the Superintendent search and the ‘Day in The District’ can be found on the district’s website here: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/district/superintendent-search
Following the interviews, the School Board will meet in closed session to deliberate, with a final decision expected no later than Thursday, April 16.
The district received 25 completed applications for the position and conducted eight first-round interviews before selecting the three finalists. The search process also included community engagement, with nearly 1,300 survey responses and approximately 130 participants across more than 60 focus groups helping to identify desired leadership qualities.
Candidate Backgrounds
Dr. Jeff Fleig brings more than 30 years of experience in public education. He most recently served as superintendent of the Fond du Lac School District for four years. His previous roles include principal positions at South Milwaukee High School, Glen Hills Middle School and La Crosse Central High School. Fleig began his career as a teacher in La Crosse and holds a Ph.D. in K–12 Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Fleig’s tenure in Fond du Lac also drew significant community attention and criticism in its final months. Multiple parents, residents and former staff members publicly raised concerns at school board meetings, alleging a culture of fear, low morale and high staff turnover during his leadership. Some community members claimed large numbers of experienced educators left the district, attributing departures to leadership style and workplace climate, though comprehensive district data on resignations has been subject to records requests. At the same time, the Fond du Lac School Board publicly supported Fleig, crediting his leadership with improving student outcomes and advancing district goals. In announcing his retirement, Fleig pointed to measurable academic gains, including improved state report card rankings, and described the district as being in a stronger position than when he arrived.
Michael Harris has nearly three decades of experience in education and currently serves as interim deputy superintendent and chief of staff for Milwaukee Public Schools. His past roles include interim chief school administration officer and senior director of talent management. Harris has also held leadership positions in the Clarke County School District and began his career as a teacher and assistant principal in Milwaukee. He holds a master’s degree in educational policy and leadership from Marquette University and is working toward superintendent licensure.
While acting as Chief of Staff for Milwaukee Public Schools, Harris has been involved in district leadership during a period of scrutiny for the state’s largest school system. Earlier this year, he communicated that a newly hired deputy superintendent of operations would not assume the position after concerns surfaced about the individual’s prior handling of financial reporting in Minneapolis. While Harris did not make the hiring decision himself, he was part of a leadership team navigating operational and fiscal accountability challenges.
Dr. Antoine Reed has more than 20 years of experience in education and currently serves as assistant superintendent and chief of equity for Rockford Public Schools. His background includes leadership roles in Milwaukee, South Bend and Chicago, including serving as a high school principal and chief of schools. Reed holds a doctorate in educational leadership from DePaul University.
In 2024, Reed was also a finalist for the Superintendent position in Midland, a city slightly larger than Sun Prairie located in Central Michigan northwest of Saginaw.
The candidate selected by the School Board is expected to begin serving as superintendent on July 1, 2026.
by Andy Schoenherr
Editor, Sun Prairie Rising
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