My name is Craig Gunderson and I have been the principal at Kennedy Elementary School since the 2014-2015 school year. Prior to this position I worked in the Cedar Grove-Belgium Area School District as an elementary principal and in the West Bend School District as an assistant middle school principal and as a middle school dean of students. Prior to school leadership and administrator positions I was a classroom teacher for six years at the elementary and middle school levels. As a student, I attended school K-12 in the Waupaca School District and graduated from high school in 1998. I then earned my Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and special education from UW-Stevens Point in 2002, my Master of Arts in educational leadership from Marian College in 2006, and my Doctor of Philosophy in educational administration from Marian University in 2014. My wife Jennie and I live in Grafton with our three children. I have a vested interest in the success and well-being of our schools and district from both a personal and professional perspective. I consider it a great honor and privilege to serve as a principal within the Grafton School District. I work hard to exemplify an every student, every day commitment to our students, families, staff, and district through my daily work and my interactions with others.

I believe that establishing positive relationships with staff members, students, and parents greatly enhances the quality of the school environment. People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care. I lead by combining strong relationships with research based knowledge of education. My leadership style revolves around the following four ideas:

1. All people want to feel important and valued within the school community.

2. All people want to be recognized as professionals and deserve to be part of the decision making process with issues that affect them.

3. Staff members want a leader who is involved and aware of what is taking place in the classroom, but doesn't micromanage.

4. Each child, regardless of age, family background, and previous behavior, wants to be and deserves to be placed in an environment that is secure, nurturing, and interesting.