About WASB
Executive Director
Dan Rossmiller
WASB Executive Director
WASB Executive Director Dan Rossmiller informed the WASB Board of Directors in June 2026 that he will retire effective Feb. 1, 2027.
“Dan has been a tireless advocate for Wisconsin’s children, dedicating his career at the WASB to strengthening public education and ensuring every student has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed,” WASB Board President Sandie Anderson said. “His steadfast leadership, unwavering commitment and passionate voice have made a lasting impact on school districts, communities and countless students across our state.”
Rossmiller served as the WASB’s director of government relations from November 2006 through June 2023 before becoming executive director on July 1, 2023.
“For nearly 20 years, I have dedicated my professional work to advancing and promoting the cause of public education in Wisconsin,” Rossmiller said. “I want to thank the WASB Board of Directors for this opportunity. It has been my distinct honor and privilege.”
As executive director, Rossmiller focused on building the association’s long-term resiliency and strength, leading a strategic planning process, conducting a member survey, and traveling the state to meet with district leaders, seeking to better understand the evolving needs of WASB members and ensuring the association is prepared to meet them.
“I have enjoyed serving the WASB and its members,” said Rossmiller, who is the fourth executive director in the WASB’s 105-year history. “This is a challenging time for public education, but school board members have stepped up to meet those challenges. School board members are wonderful people, and the work you do is both important and essential. I have also enjoyed meeting and getting to know many of you personally. It’s been an honor to be part of this mission.
“I owe many people a debt of gratitude for helping me toward this position, not the least of which is owed to my parents, Richard and Lois. I was blessed to grow up in a home where education was highly valued. Both of my parents were the valedictorians of their small-town high schools. They were also children of the Great Depression and knew about hardship.
“They saw education as a critical path toward bettering one’s life opportunities and economic circumstances. Beyond that, they saw education as a key to increasing one’s enjoyment of life — of music, arts and literature as well. Because of their beliefs and guidance, I have always felt drawn to a career promoting better opportunities for our state’s boys and girls and helping give them a chance to achieve their full potential.”
Rossmiller added that his father, who taught a generation of Wisconsin school administrators during a 32-year career as a UW-Madison professor of educational administration, shaped his belief in educational opportunity for all students.
“He instilled in me a firm belief that the quality of a child’s education should not depend on the ZIP code in which they live,” Rossmiller said. “I strongly believe all children are entitled to a high-quality education, and I hope I have given my best efforts toward reaching that goal.”
Prior to joining the WASB, Rossmiller served as public affairs director for the State Bar of Wisconsin. Before that, he built a 20-plus year career in the Wisconsin Legislature, serving as a senior policy analyst, legislative committee clerk and chief of staff. A Madison native and University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin Law School graduate, Rossmiller served on the Legislature’s Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding and the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, among others.
“Thank you, Dan, for standing up and championing for kids and public education,” Anderson said. “Your hard work will be felt for generations to come. You have made a difference.”
The WASB Board of Directors has begun the process of identifying the association’s next executive director and will share additional information as it becomes available.
