Bret Wagner
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Bret Wagner ran for election to the Madison Metropolitan School District school board to represent Seat 3 in Wisconsin. He lost in the general election on April 1, 2025.
Wagner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Bret Wagner was born in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. He graduated from Fort Atkinson High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2003. His career experience includes working as a director, field engineer, teacher, and technology consultant. He has been affiliated with Junior Achievement of South Central Wisconsin.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: Madison Metropolitan School District, Wisconsin, elections (2025)
General election
General election for Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education Seat 3
Martha Siravo defeated Bret Wagner in the general election for Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education Seat 3 on April 1, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Martha Siravo (Nonpartisan)  | 54.5 | 60,807 |
 | Bret Wagner (Nonpartisan) | 44.8 | 49,951 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 848 | ||
| Total votes: 111,606 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Martha Siravo and Bret Wagner advanced from the primary for Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education Seat 3.
Endorsements
Wagner received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Wagner's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.
- Mayor of Fitchburg Julia Arata-Fratta (Nonpartisan)
- Fitchburg Alderperson Donald D. Dantzler Jr. (Nonpartisan)
- Frmr. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz Dave Cieslewicz
- 3.14 Action
- 314 Action Fund
- Wisconsin State Journal
- Sheila Briggs (Nonpartisan) - Frmr. Supt. of Public Instruction cand.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Bret Wagner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wagner's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I'm Bret, an engineer and parent who believes in using data to solve complex problems. My wife and I chose Madison schools for our children because we believe in public education's power to transform lives. My engineering training taught me to find balanced solutions that work for everyone, while my experience volunteering in our schools showed me both the challenges and opportunities we face. I'm running because I believe we need leadership that combines analytical thinking with a deep commitment to equity and excellence.
- Excellence Through Equity: Every child gets what they need to succeed - from advanced learning to early intervention. As an engineer, I'll use data to ensure our resources match our students' needs.
- Trust Our Teachers: Support teachers with competitive pay, more classroom autonomy, and less bureaucracy. My engineering experience taught me that the people closest to the work know it best.
- Real Results, Real Transparency: Public dashboards showing progress on student achievement, spending, and equity goals. I'll bring an engineer's precision to tracking what matters.
I'm passionate about data-driven education policy that delivers real results. This means:
1. Using evidence to identify and scale what works in student support
2. Ensuring teacher autonomy and professional development align with classroom needs
3. Creating transparent systems to track both spending and outcomes
4. Building mental health and support services that help every student thrive
I look up to my former boss Drew, who I worked with at Epic. He was more than just a supervisor - he was a mentor who showed me what authentic leadership looks like. What I admired most was how he had his priorities straight. In the complex world of healthcare technology, where deadlines and deliverables can easily become all-consuming, Drew never lost sight of what is most important - friends and family. He demonstrated how to balance good decision making with genuine care for people.
The research paper "Getting Beneath the Veil of Effective Schools" by Will Dobbie and Roland Fryer Jr. captures my evidence-based approach to education policy. Their identification of five key factors that drive student success - high expectations, frequent teacher feedback, data-driven instruction, high-dosage tutoring, and increased instructional time - aligns with my belief that combining rigorous analysis with classroom-level support creates better schools.
An elected official must combine data-driven decision-making with genuine compassion for those they serve. The three key principles I value most are: transparency in all decisions, accountability through measurable results, and accessibility to constituents. As both an engineer and former teacher, I believe effective leadership requires both systematic thinking and deep understanding of how policies affect real people.
I bring a unique combination of analytical thinking from my engineering background and classroom understanding from my teaching experience. As both a parent and former teacher, I understand how policies affect real students and teachers.
A school board member has three fundamental responsibilities: ensure every student gets what they need to succeed, support teachers as trusted professionals, and maintain fiscal responsibility through data-driven decisions. This means setting clear policy direction, providing meaningful oversight of district administration, and engaging authentically with all stakeholders - especially those historically underrepresented in decision-making.
I want to be remembered as someone who helped create schools where every student and teacher feels they belong. My goal is to build a district where data drives smart decisions, teachers have the freedom to teach, and every student starts their day ready to learn. Just as my teacher Mr. Rumppe changed my trajectory by creating a space where I belonged, I want to ensure every student has that same opportunity.
The Challenger space shuttle disaster is my first vivid memory of a historical event. I was almost six. I remember coming home from school and finding my mom crying as she watched the news. That moment stuck with me - not just the tragedy itself, but how it affected others around me. The Challenger carried Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space. As someone who later became a teacher myself, I often think about how she represented the intersection of education and aspiration - the idea that learning can take us anywhere.
I spent five years as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the outdoor pool in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Looking back, this experience taught me lessons that still shape my approach to education today. Teaching swimming showed me how different students learn differently - some dive right in while others need more gradual support. Just as importantly, I learned that safety and belonging go hand in hand. When students feel secure and supported, they're ready to learn. These early lessons in creating safe spaces for learning, differentiating instruction, and building student confidence have stayed with me through my time as a teacher and now in my work to strengthen our public schools.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is my favorite book because it powerfully illustrates how personal growth comes through pursuing our dreams while remaining open to learning from every experience along the way. The story follows a shepherd boy on a journey to fulfill his "Personal Legend," but what resonates most with me is how he learns that every person he meets and every challenge he faces contributes to his development.
As a former teacher and school board candidate, this story reminds me that every student has their own unique potential - their own Personal Legend - and our job is to create schools where they can discover and pursue that potential. Just as the protagonist had mentors who helped him see possibilities he couldn't see himself, great teachers like my high chemistry school teacher Mr. Rumppe do the same for their students. They create spaces where students feel they belong and have the support to pursue their dreams.
As a former teacher and school board candidate, this story reminds me that every student has their own unique potential - their own Personal Legend - and our job is to create schools where they can discover and pursue that potential. Just as the protagonist had mentors who helped him see possibilities he couldn't see himself, great teachers like my high chemistry school teacher Mr. Rumppe do the same for their students. They create spaces where students feel they belong and have the support to pursue their dreams.
Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" has been in my head since hearing it at a piano bar. It's a powerful story about aspiration and the role education plays in creating opportunities. The narrator dreams of a better life and sees education as her path forward - "You got a fast car, I want a ticket to anywhere... Maybe we can make a deal, maybe together we can get somewhere." But it's also a reminder that dreams need real support to become reality.
Middle school wasn't easy. I struggled to find my place. Then, I took Mr. Rumppe's chemistry class. Mr. Rumppe strived to make sure that every student felt valued and that they belonged. That sense of belonging changed everything. My confidence grew, my mental health improved, and ultimately led to me earning my chemical engineering degree at UW-Madison.
The primary job is ensuring excellence through equity - making sure every student gets what they need to succeed while responsibly managing public resources. This requires balancing three key roles: setting clear policy direction based on evidence of what works, providing meaningful oversight through data-driven evaluation, and engaging authentically with all stakeholders to understand community needs.
My constituents include every student, family, educator, and community member in the Madison Metropolitan School District. This encompasses diverse populations with varying needs - from working families needing early morning support to advanced learners seeking additional challenges. As Cherokee Heights PFO President, I've learned that effective representation requires understanding and responding to these diverse needs while maintaining focus on our core mission of student success.
My approach focuses on three key areas: First, ensure basic needs are met, starting with universal free breakfast so every student begins their day ready to learn. Second, support teachers with reduced administrative burdens and resources to meet diverse student needs. Third, use data to identify and address gaps in services and achievement. This includes expanding early intervention programs, advanced learning opportunities, and mental health support.
I believe in meeting people where they are. Key relationships include:
- Parent organizations and family advocacy groups
- Local businesses and workforce development partners
- Community organizations serving marginalized populations
- Mental health and social service providers
- Higher education institutions like UW-Madison and Madison College
- Teacher and staff representatives
Good teaching combines high expectations with strong support. Based on research by Dobbie and Fryer, effective teaching includes:
Frequent, meaningful feedback to students
Data-driven instruction adjusting to student needs
High-dosage tutoring when needed
Maximized instructional time
Professional autonomy to innovate
We'll measure effectiveness through:
- Student growth metrics
- Classroom observations
- Student and family feedback
- Teacher peer review
- Professional development participation
3.14 Action Fund; Sheila Briggs, Former Assistant State Superintendent, DPI; Julia Arata-Fratta, Fitchburg Mayor; Fitchburg Alderperson Donald D. Dantzler Jr; Dr. Zorba Paster, Family Doctor & Host of On Your Health Radio Show
An ideal learning environment is one where every student feels they belong and has what they need to succeed. This means:
Strong student-teacher relationships where every student has at least one trusted adult
Well-resourced classrooms with current technology and materials
Mental health support and counseling readily available
Multiple pathways to engage with learning, from hands-on to advanced academic opportunities
Strong connections between school and family
Universal no-cost breakfast ensuring students start the day ready to learn
Safe, welcoming spaces that celebrate diversity
I'll drive towards:
Regular listening sessions in neighborhoods at varying times to accommodate work schedules
Multilingual communication and interpretation services
Support for school-based family resource centers
We need a comprehensive approach focusing on:
- Competitive total compensation including strong benefits
- Clear pathways for professional growth and advancement
- Partnerships with education programs to build diverse talent pipelines
- "Grow your own" programs supporting current staff becoming teachers
- Mentorship programs supporting new educators
- Leadership opportunities within the classroom
I believe in complete transparency around how public funds are used and clear metrics showing what results are achieved. This means implementing user-friendly dashboards tracking spending and outcomes, regular public reporting on major initiatives, and clear milestones for measuring progress. Every dollar spent should be traceable to specific student outcomes.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Other survey responses
Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Wagner completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
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Candidate Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education Seat 3 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 14, 2025
