RYAN WELNETZ
Principal at Suamico Elementary School
Ryan graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a minor in Adaptive Physical Education. He earned a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Marian University in 2001.
After teaching at the middle school level for nine years, he became the associate principal at Wauwatosa West High School. After three years in that role, he became the principal of Suamico Elementary in Suamico (Green Bay), Wis. Ryan has been involved with advocacy for physical education during his entire career. While in Wauwatosa, he led a team that secured a $1.1 million Carol White Pep Grant which focused on lifetime physical fitness and activity.
Ryan lives in Howard, Wis., with his wife, Ally, and two boys, Myles and Cole. He is the co-founder of an annual 2-mile run/walk called 2myles4autism, an event that focuses on understanding and acceptance for children with autism and is named after his son Myles, who is autistic. He is heavily involved in advocating for children with special needs. In addition, Ryan brings a strong passion for the understanding and implementation of technology, including programming, virtual reality and designing, to help elementary learners prepare for their future.