Bridget Thomas began serving on the board of education in 2025. She currently serves on the co-curricular policies committee and is the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Assembly Alternate. 

What inspired you to run for the board?

I was inspired to run for the board by my desire to take on a more active role in our community after years of traveling for work and being gone a lot. I had previously been involved with local governments, and that experience deepened my interest in contributing directly to important decisions.

As a parent with children at Eagle Bluff and Onalaska Middle, I saw firsthand the profound impact our public schools had on their lives. This personal connection reinforced my belief in the importance of a strong education system. Additionally, as a Realtor, I recognized that our schools were a major factor in keeping our community a highly desirable place to live. I knew that a strong school system was vital for attracting families and maintaining our area's appeal. My goal in running was to help ensure our schools continued to be an asset for all residents.

What are you most proud of or excited about in our district?

I'm truly excited about the significant progress we're seeing in the district. I'm especially looking forward to the completion of the major building projects, which are providing our students and staff with fantastic new learning environments. I'm also really enthusiastic about the updated ELA curriculum being rolled out; I believe it's going to make a substantial positive impact on our youngest students' literacy. Beyond these tangible improvements, what really excites me is seeing where we'll be in the next two years of the district's five-year strategic plan. We've already made so much progress in student achievement and the overall positive attitude toward school. I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what more we can accomplish together as we work to serve all students with high levels of learning.

What do you want people in the community to know about our Board of Education?

Our Board of Education will be making a concerted effort to be more open and accessible. The board genuinely wants your feedback, and encourages questions about anything related to our school governance. You'll find a lot of committed folks on the board who are all dedicated to one shared goal: keeping Onalaska a high-achieving district. Personally, I truly welcome diversity of thought on all matters affecting our schools, because I believe varied perspectives lead to the best decisions for our students and community. The aim is to ensure the Board is a place where all voices can be heard and considered as we work together to maintain our district's excellence.

What do you want people in the community to know about our district?

I want our community to know that our district is defined by the true commitment of our educators. This isn't just a talking point; it's reflected in tangible ways. Our staff retention rate hovers around 90%, and we've seen satisfaction among our staff increase year-over-year.

This dedication translates directly into highly qualified instruction for our students. An impressive 70% of our educators hold a master's degree or higher, demonstrating a profound commitment to their craft and to continuous learning. This high level of expertise is accessible to all students, making our district one of the best public school systems in the region.

These achievements don't happen by accident. They are the result of years of intentional effort and dedication from everyone involved in our district. We're incredibly proud of the environment we've cultivated, one that supports our educators so they can, in turn, provide an exceptional education for every child.

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The School District of Onalaska Board of Education typically meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. You can access upcoming board agendas, previous meeting minutes, and archived board livestreams by clicking here.