Meet the Principal

A principal walks down a hallway holding a student's hand

Hello Winhawk families, 

On behalf of the teachers and staff of Washington-Kosciusko Elementary, I would like to extend a warm welcome to your family. We are going to have a great school year! 

The 2023-24 school year will be my first full school year as principal at W-K. I was named interim principal in October of the 2022-23 school year, and I am so thankful for the support I received from students, staff and families as I made the transition from classroom teacher to principal in the same building where I did my student teaching. Before joining Winona Area Public Schools, I was a teacher in the Lewiston-Altura School District. I have lived in Winona for 23 years, and I am a graduate of Winona State University.

At Winona Area Public Schools, our mission is to inspire curiosity, empower resiliency and engage community. Our vision is a safe and inclusive community of compassionate, curious and resilient lifelong learners. 

It takes all of us working together to make this possible. We look forward to partnering with your family to create an environment where your child can thrive. 

We are excited about the future at W-K Elementary and Winona Area Public Schools! 

We have been working hard in recent years to make systemic changes that support individual needs. One of these systems that we are continuing to implement is Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), a framework that helps teachers, support staff and administrators identify students who need additional academic, behavioral or social-emotional support. MTSS is a data-driven, research-based approach that strives to give students the help and support they need to become the best versions of themselves in the classroom and in the community. 

We look forward to sharing more about what this means to your child and your family throughout the school year. 

We are also continuing to utilize Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), an evidence-based framework that supports positive and prosocial behaviors. For the second consecutive year, W-K Elementary was recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education for our sustained implementation of PBIS. We are proud of our students, staff and families for their hard work in making PBIS a success in our school!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, concerns or needs.

Justin Hanson

Justin Hanson

Principal
Washington Kosciusko Elementary School