Meet Hamilton’s New Principal: Mr. Bauer
Photo by Violet Rhoades.
Violet Rhoades
At the start of June this summer Mr. Dominic Bauer was announced as the new Principal of Hamilton High School. Mr. Bauer grew up in Fond Du-Lac, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He’s an enjoyer of all things basketball, the father of two high school kids, and a believer in inclusivity, as well as everyone having a place in the school setting. Previous to being the Principal at Hamilton, Mr. Bauer taught Math at both West Allis Central High School and Pewaukee High School before becoming the Associate Principal at Brookfield Central.
How have your first few months been here at Hamilton? Any surprising revelations or exciting realizations?
Words cannot express how excited I am to be here at Hamilton. I am learning by the minute and am looking forward to working with students, parent(s)/guardian(s), staff, and the community in the coming days, weeks, months, and hopefully years to make Hamilton even better than it already is.
What’s something especially interesting or unique about you?
I am the second oldest of 11 children. There was never a dull moment growing up in a large family.
What do you like to do in your free time? Would you like to share anything about your family?
I am a basketball and cribbage enthusiast. I have two kids of my own - they will be a sophomore and junior, respectively, at Tosa West this school year. Along with my children, my wife and two dogs round out my family.
Can you share some things about where you grew up and your childhood?
Other than having 10 siblings, I grew up in Fond du Lac, WI. Besides playing basketball, I also collected sports cards, many of which I still have to this day.
What type of kid were you when you were in high school? What were your favorite classes to take, what clubs were you in, did you play any sports?
I had many identities in high school ranging from being an athlete, basketball and baseball, to graduating in the top 10% of my class. My favorite classes included, in no particular order, English, Math, Science, and Spanish classes. I was a National Honor Society member and Key Club President.
Where did you attend college? What are some of your best memories/experiences of this time?
I attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the only college I applied to. I played intramural and pickup basketball 3-5 evenings each week and met a few really great friends that I still stay in touch with to this day.
If you never became a teacher/principal, what other career do you think you would have gone into?
I initially studied Business during my first semester of college; however, I quickly realized I was meant to be an educator. Had I not become a teacher, I would have likely become an accountant or an actuary.
How long did you teach (what subject/grades/classes) and why did you decide to go into the field of education?
I taught high school Math for 12 years before becoming an administrator. My first two years I taught at West Allis Central High School and the next 10 years I taught at Pewaukee High School. I taught almost every Math course during those 12 years except for Statistics. My favorite class to teach was Calculus. There are many reasons why I decided to go into the field of education, but purpose and meaning for my career were and still are two of the biggest reasons.
What were the best things about teaching that you miss?
As a teacher, I worked with the same group of students every day for an extended period of time and was more easily able to see the positive impact I had on those students. Nothing compares to the positive impact teachers can have on students.
What is something you believed when you first started teaching, but have changed your opinion on over the years?
Sometimes we assume people have certain abilities/skills that they may not actually have. As much as I loved Math content (still do!), I realized at some point during my 12 years of teaching that oftentimes the learning disconnect for students is less related to misunderstanding of content and more related to lagging abilities/skills involving executive functioning.
Why did you decide to go into administration? Where have you worked previously as an administrator and for how long?
A number of colleagues, mentors, and friends encouraged me to go into administration to have a bigger overall impact on opportunities and successes for students and staff. Prior to becoming the Hamilton High School Principal, I was an associate principal at Brookfield Central the past six years.
What is your educational philosophy and how was this shaped? Has it changed over time?
Simply put, the fundamental goal for all educational institutions is to maximize student learning and achievement for all through an equitable, inclusive approach. This has been my educational philosophy for as long as I can remember and it has not changed over time. Establish high expectations for all, do not settle for mediocrity, ensure access, and strive to include everyone in some way.
What are the main three things you want to change/bring to Hamilton?
I want Hamilton to be known for exceptional academics, accountability/citizenship, and athletics/activities. I cannot foresee any reason why Hamilton cannot be THE premier school district in the state of WI.
Do you have any uncommon or surprising beliefs when it comes to rules/running a high school?
I would not say I have any uncommon or surprising beliefs when it comes to rules/running a high school. As Brene Brown would say, clear is kind. Establish clear expectations with purpose, follow through on them, and the sky is the limit.
Finally, and possibly most importantly, do you believe in aliens?
I mean, how can aliens not exist with such a vast universe.
