Full MPS Leadership Team Is Now in Place

(MILWAUKEE)—Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced today that with final appointments from July and August, her full leadership team is now in place. The team includes experienced leaders in key roles identified in the operational audit of MPS ordered by Gov. Tony Evers.

“We have built the right team of leaders to empower our school leaders and support our students,” Dr. Cassellius said. “They are ready to lean into our three areas of focus this year: academic achievement with an emphasis on literacy, safe and welcoming schools, and efficient operations.”

The newest appointments include: Brian Litzsey, who now serves as Chief Family, Community and Partnership Officer, Dominick Maniscalco, the district’s new Chief Human Resources Officer, and Dr. Keely Roberts, MPS’s new Chief of Schools.

Litzsey has been part of the MPS family for more than 20 years, most recently serving as Senior Director of Milwaukee Recreation. In his work, he helped open access to programs and services to the entire community. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University in recreation/park administration – program management, a master’s degree in physical education from Chicago State University, and a master of business administration from Concordia University Wisconsin. Litzsey began his new role effective Friday, August 29, pending final approval by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors. We will soon begin the search for a permanent leader for Milwaukee Recreation.

Maniscalco brings more than 20 years of HR experience to the district. Since 2021, he served as Head of Human Resources for the Chicago Housing Authority, where he was responsible for the day-to-day leadership and management of the department, which includes HR Operations, Payroll, Health and Wellness, Professional Learning, Risk, and Employee Engagement. Maniscalco holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources management and a graduate degree in organizational leadership from Judson University. He is pursuing his juris doctor degree from Purdue University. Maniscalco began his new role effective Tuesday, September 2, pending final approval by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors.

Roberts has more than 25 years’ experience and leadership in education. She has served as a Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent, most recently serving as co-interim superintendent in a school district in Skokie, Ill. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in data-driven decision making, collaboration, and innovation. Roberts empowers educators through professional development and collaboration and engages families and the community to support student success. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her master’s degree in educational administration and doctorate in educational leadership from National Louis University. She started in her role in summer.

Roberts’ Office of Schools team includes eight academic superintendents who have their offices in MPS schools rather than at MPS Central Services. Each academic superintendent helps lead a learning community of approximately 15 to 20 schools, down from as many as 25 to 30 led by each regional superintendent in prior years. Schools also have district-level operations managers so principals and academic superintendents can focus more on learning. The change is part of a previously announced restructuring.

Litzsey, Maniscalco and Roberts all join the superintendent’s senior team, which also includes Deputy Superintendent Eduardo Galván, Chief of Staff Michael Harris, Chief Adviser Paulette Chambers, Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Mims-Howell, Chief Financial Officer Aycha Sawa, Chief Communications Officer Tony Tagliavia, Interim Chief Operations Officer Mike Turza, Technology Director Chad Meyer and Special Assistant to the Superintendent Mary Urbina-McCarthy.

You can learn more about the academic superintendents, operations managers, their learning communities, and their schools on the MPS website.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.