Joe Sheehan talks about his career in education, but his legacy in education is alarming.
Sheehan served as superintendent of the Sheboygan Area School District. During his time there, three current Sheboygan County superintendents worked in the district:
- Jake Konrath – Current Superintendent, Sheboygan Area School District
- Zach Pethan – Current Superintendent, School District of Sheboygan Falls
- Mike Trimberger – Current Superintendent, School District of Random Lake
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released English Language Arts and math test scores from the 2025-26 school year on October 1.
The results are horrific for these three districts.
In both reading and math, Sheboygan Falls, Sheboygan, and Random Lake rank dead last compared to all Sheboygan County school districts.
Joe Sheehan’s legacy in education continues to fail kids.
Sheboygan Falls is led by Zach Pethan, who previously served as a principal in Sheboygan while Sheehan was superintendent. In Sheboygan Falls, 50 percent of students are below proficient in reading, while 49 percent are below proficient in math.
At the same time, Pethan is asking residents to approve a $65.7 million referendum to improve district facilities.
Taxpayers are being asked to pay more while kids are not learning in school.
The Sheboygan Area School District is led by Jake Konrath, who also worked in the district during Sheehan’s tenure. Sheboygan ranks near the bottom of Sheboygan County in both reading and math.
In 2024, Sheboygan voters approved a $121 million referendum to improve district facilities.
The School District of Random Lake is led by Mike Trimberger, who also worked in Sheboygan during Sheehan’s tenure.
Random Lake ranks at the bottom of Sheboygan County in both reading and math. Random Lake voters approved a $29.9 million referendum in 2022.
Random Lake’s website says the district provides students with a “distinct advantage” and refers to it as the “RLadvantage.”
In Random Lake, 57 percent of kids are below proficient in reading and math.
What distinct advantage do these kids have if they can’t read and solve math problems?
This is Joe Sheehan’s legacy in public education.
Fail kids but take more of your money by raising property taxes.
Sheehan also supports Governor Tony Evers’ 400-year property tax increase.
Which you felt last year paying your taxes and you will feel again this year.
You deserve more.
Your kids deserve more.
Vote John Belanger on November 3.
Sheboygan County Schools English Language Arts Forward Test Scores
- Kohler – 86.34%
- Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah – 82.2%
- Oostburg – 80.0%
- Cedar Grove-Belgium – 71.3%
- Howards Grove – 68.4%
- Plymouth – 58.0%
- Sheboygan Falls – 50.0%
- Sheboygan Area – 44.2%
- Random Lake – 43.0%
Sheboygan County Schools Math Forward Test Scores
- Kohler – 85%
- Oostburg – 76%
- Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah – 74%
- Cedar Grove-Belgium – 62%
- Howards Grove – 61%
- Plymouth – 58%
- Sheboygan Falls – 51%
- Sheboygan Area – 46%
- Random Lake – 43%
Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, WISEdash Public Portal, 2025-26 Forward Exam Testing