Fare thee well, Roseann

As Milwaukee Public Schools’ communications director Roseann St. Aubin announces her departure, we offer a fond farewell.

Like most of you, I first “met” St. Aubin when she was a local broadcast news personality. After stints in the Department of City Development and working for then-Mayor John Norquist, St. Aubin moved to MPS, where she’s been for nearly a decade now.

“Our time together was marked with many snowy mornings, many long nights at Board meetings, hundreds of school events and countless student interviews,” said St. Aubin in a statement.

“I’m excited for the change in my life, but I will deeply miss the MPS administration team, especially Superintendent Gregory Thornton. It has been a pleasure to serve in support of a leader so deeply committed to making good things happen for Milwaukee children and their families.”

I first met St. Aubin in person at MPS and I will miss talking to her and seeing her on a regular basis. She’s always been fair, open and friendly to me and has always been not only willing, but eager to explain complex issues and to connect me with folks in the district who could be of assistance in writing about MPS.

She’s been encouraging – and sometimes downright enthusiastic, too – as I’ve been writing a book about Milwaukee schoolhouses.

St. Aubin’s been talking of retiring for a while, but, still, I was a little surprised when I heard her retirement was now imminent. Her last day in the office will be tomorrow, July 27.

Denise Callaway will move into St. Aubin’s position on an interim basis.

Good luck to her. We’ll miss you, Roseann.

Bobby Tanzilo was born in Brooklyn, where he attended public school from kindergarten through 12th grade. He writes about education – among other things – for OnMilwaukee.com. He is a public school dad and serves on the school governance council at his child's school.

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