Borneman new middle, high school principal

Residents in the Bowler School District can expect to see a new face at the helm of the Bowler Middle-High School next year.

Trina Borneman, has recently taken the position of principal at the school, replacing Kim Ninabuck, who served in the role for the last nine years. Borneman has experience working as an educator in the White Lake School District, on the Menominee Reservation and in the Fox Valley.

“At tribal school on the Menominee Reservation, I was the assistant principal and the special education coordinator,” said Borneman. “Before that, I did seven years of school counseling, before I took that assistant principal position.”

Borneman said that she was attracted to Bowler and accepted the position, because of her experience working in rural education.

“In small, rural schools, you know all of the students and their families,” said Borneman. “I also love that all of the students are in one building here in Bowler. You can really make an impact knowing everyone.”

Bowler Superintendent Glenda Butterfield-Boldig said that one thing that stuck out to her about Borneman is that she possesss broad visions of what the school district can be.

“She is very much focused on possibilities, not the challenges —it does not mean that she ignores that challenges — she looks at challenges as opportunites to learn and grow better,” said Butterfield-Boldig. “She has also had a number of experiences throughout her career and lifetime that bring perspectives to our small school.”

One of Borneman’s experiences that Butterfield-Boldig eluded to was her experience working at the White Lake School District.

“Because she came from a small community herself, she understands small communities and small schools,” said Butterfield-Boldig. “It is not just being the principal; she wants to be connected to this community.”

With seven years of school counseling under her belt, Borneman said that she has noticed a difference between that position and an administrative position.

“School counselors have to look at the school as a whole, but they are really the student advocate,” said Borneman. “When you are going into the administration role, you are really becoming the teacher advocate. That is a big mindset shift.”

With the school year starting in just over a month, Borneman said that she is looking forward to building relationships with staff and students.

“It can be really stressful to have a new administrator come in — you don’t know them and you don’t know what they are thinking,” said Borneman. “I really want people to realize that I am here to support teachers and support the kids. I want it to be as smooth as possible and I want us, as a school district, to do meaningful work to help move our kids forward.”

In order to build those relationship, Borneman plans to be present as much as possible, whether that be being present in the hallway, being present in the classroom or being present at community events.

“I think that you have to be in the classroom talking to the teachers about different things, like asking them about their weekends,” said Borneman. “You have to be in the hallway when they are coming in in the morning and when they are leaving. I also ordered a rolling desk, so instead of asking kids to come to the office, I can just meet them in the hallway.”

Borneman said that she excited to have the opportunity to make changes at a “system-level, as well as continuing to work with and help developing children.

“I like being able to plan out long-term changes and processes and being able to see those happen,” said Borneman. “I also love working with kids, so the fact that this is a small school where I only have to go out in the hallway to hang out with kids is something I like.”

Using her experience from working in a rural school district like White Lake, Borneman said that she has learned a few things that she can apply in Bowler.

“Because these are small schools, you have to be involved a little bit in everything, especially in a school counselor role,” said Borneman. “A lot of those things should transfer here, like in-service planning and looking at systems for kids to give them the best opportunity to learn. All of those things that I learned will definitely help me.”

Borneman summed up what district residents should know about her.

“I truly care about your kids and want them to succeed in every opportunity that we give them,” said Borneman.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com