Kenosha Reporter

Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) has announced Recognition Week to celebrate the 2025 honorees and acknowledge staff contributions.

According to KUSD, the district is honoring staff members marking 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service. The district highlights their dedication and ongoing impact on students and the KUSD community, expressing gratitude for their commitment throughout the years. Spark Award recipients, nominated by colleagues, are recognized for exceptional work in relationship-building, innovation, instruction, communication, and professional learning.

The district also acknowledges Friends in Education for their significant contributions to teaching and learning across the district. KUSD encourages the community to join in congratulating the Spark Award winners and Friends in Education honorees for their dedication and positive influence. The district expresses appreciation for the ongoing dedication of these individuals, emphasizing their role in creating a positive educational environment throughout the school system.

KUSD serves the city of Kenosha, Village of Pleasant Prairie, and the Town and Village of Somers in southeastern Wisconsin. It operates 16 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, three charter schools, three choice schools, a specialty school, and a Head Start center. The district has a total enrollment of 19,069 students with an annual operational expenditure of approximately $304 million.

Established as an independent government body in 1967, KUSD evolved from educational efforts dating back to 1835. This includes the first schoolhouse in 1837 and a public academy in 1839. Influential figures like Col. Michael Frank advocated for free public schools in the 1840s. Mary D. Bradford significantly shaped local and state education policy during her tenure as a teacher and superintendent from 1878 to 1921. Today, KUSD operates multiple schools serving Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, and Somers with boundaries extending from Lake Michigan to Interstate 94 and from the Illinois state line to Racine County.