Superintendent's Message

"I'm honored to be your District Superintendent. The outstanding teaching and learning that happens in our schools, the wide range of extracurriculars we offer and the community support we receive remind us that we have much to celebrate when we say, 'It's A Great Day to Be a Redbird!'

about Superintendent thompson

Prior to joining the Unified School District of De Pere in 2022, Dr. Thompson was the Superintendent of the Rosholt, Wisconsin School District. Earlier in his career he was the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction and an elementary school principal for the Racine Unified School District.

Chris earned his Doctor of Education degree from Edgewood College, with earlier degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and St. Norbert College. He taught choral music at Oak Creek High School and continues to coach and provide piano accompaniment for De Pere High School students at vocal music competitions. 

Recent Accomplishments

• The Unified School District of De Pere recently earned a Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction School District Report Card score of 87.8, placing it in the category of 'Significantly Exceeds Expectations.'  As a result, De Pere is the highest-performing school district in northeast Wisconsin.

• The District's refreshed Strategic Plan defines organizational priorities and success metrics. It guides De Pere's teacher learning model supporting real-time student data-based decisions that impact weekly instruction.
• The De Pere community supported two referenda questions in 2024: an Operational Referendum to provide funding for sustained staffing and programming; and a Capital (Facilities) Referendum to fund facility safety and security improvements, maintenance and repairs. Dr. Thompson was a driving force in the referenda communications campaigns which prioritized community involvement and received 56% and 66% community support respectively.
• In its 2025 Community Survey, District parents indicated they strongly believe (at the 99th percentile when compared with similar school districts in Wisconsin) that the Unified School District of De Pere provides students with a high-quality education and prepares all learners to be successful and contributing members of a global society

Chris is a member of the De Pere Optimist Club and is on the Board of Directors for Achieve Brown County. He and his wife, Diane, are proud parents of an adult son and daughter-in-law, Alex and Hannah. They are also humble servants to three demanding felines named Charlie, Holly, and Luna, and a loyal but exuberant canine named Cinder.