This coming school year, Shorewood High School will be bidding farewell to long-time Associate Principal Joe Patek. Prior to working at Shorewood, Patek served in teaching and administrative positions at Cedarburg High School. Patek began his career at Shorewood in 2014, and has worked here for the past seven years. 

According to Patek, one of the most rewarding aspects of being Associate Principal has been to see Shorewood grow as a school.

“During my time here at Shorewood, I think there have been a lot of really cool things,” Patek said. “We’ve made a lot of progress [around] mental health and wellness, code of conduct, and drug related issues. Not to say that they’re completely fixed, but there’s been a lot of progress made, and I’m proud of that.”

Patek’s last year at Shorewood has been an eventful one. Amidst a global pandemic, the high school has made some significant procedural and scheduling changes to ensure the safety of students and staff. As the Associate Principal, Patek has been heavily involved in the process.

“One of the hats I wear is the safety guy for the district. So that includes being part of getting kids back to school is something that was really exciting for me,” Patek said. “[We] overcame all these hurdles that existed, and we were able to make it happen after months and months of thinking that it may not.”

After leaving Shorewood, Patek will be serving as the new principal of Nicolet High School. Patek looks forward to bringing what he’s learned at Shorewood into his new administrative role, and sees this position as an opportunity for growth and learning, both professionally and personally. 

“Professionally, I think that this is the next step. I look forward to the idea of learning a new system, the idea of continuous growth of me being a leader and a person, and the opportunity to kind of see how another institution functions,” Patek said.  

Patek is excited for what the future holds, but he believes that there will still be opportunities for him to be part of the community.

“It is not like you are moving outside of state, you are literally just going down the road. There is still the opportunity to go to Trader Joes and see Shorewood parents and kids,” Patek said. “It is not like it’s gonna change, because I am still in the area, and I think that’s a cool thing to hang on to as things move forward.”

As Patek transitions into the next chapter of his career, Patek notes that he will miss many things about Shorewood. 

“I truly think that Shorewood is a very special school, there’s a very unique culture here. Students are really empowered to speak forward about what they support and believe in,” Patek said. “I think I’m going to miss the people the most. This is one of the great places to be for students, for staff, for parents. Shorewood is very important to me and will always hold a special place in my heart.”

This fall, Shorewood High School will also be welcoming Patek’s replacement, Amanda Jamerson, who currently serves as the Associate Principal at Oak Creek High School. Jamerson started her teaching career in 2013, and has experience working in a diverse pool of districts, including Milwaukee, Mequon-Thiensville, and Racine. 

Having been a North Shore area resident for most of her life, Jamerson noted that Shorewood’s location was a factor of appeal to her. Growing up as a minority student, Jamerson hopes that as an administrator, she can provide students with the support she lacked as a child.

“When I was in North Shore as a minority student, I felt that there were certain things that helped me and there were things that hurt me in my educational pursuits,” Jamerson said. “I felt like it was time for me to come back, and be that change, and that voice I always wanted to have when I was younger.”

Looking ahead to next year, Jamerson hopes to foster a supportive and inclusive environment at Shorewood. 

“I want kids to know that Ms. J has their back,” Jamerson said. “Kids don’t learn from who they don’t like, and I want kids to love me. I want them to know that even though I’m a new administrator, I’m willing to go the extra mile.”