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The three candidates are Samuel Karns, Laurie Fiorenza and Kurt Schneider. Karns is currently the principal of Todd Elementary School in Beloit. Fiorenza is the assistant superintendent for student learning for the Oak Park & River Forest High School District in Oak Park, Il., a position she has had for four years. Schneider is the superintendent for the TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 in Highland Park, Ill.. He has had the position for nine years.

Samuel Karns

Karns was named the 2025 Elementary Principal of the Year by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators and a 2025 Herb Kohl Principal Leadership recipient.

He has a superintendent licensure from Concordia University, a master’s in education from Texas A&M University and a bachelor of science in kinesiology from the University of Texas.

Karns’ wife attended UW-Whitewater, and relocated to Wisconsin with her to be close to her family, who live in Rock County. Karns recently visited Whitewater.

“I love that small town feel. It was a yellow-brick-road-type feel. I got to drive up to the campus and the aquatic center,� Karns said.

He went on to add, “I loved coming there and seeing how close the university is to the high school and middle school.�

If selected, he wants to find ways to build off of partnerships and find ways to build on those. He said he also wants to strengthen the district’s relationship with Gateway Technical College, which has a satellite campus in Elkhorn.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Karns was the assistant principal for the Spring Branch Independent School District, which is in Houston. There he was also an award-winner, receiving the Spring Branch Teacher of the Year Award.

At Spring Branch, he was an assistant principal, assistant director of student wellness for K-12 for four years and a health fitness specialist for six years.

Laurie Fiorenza

Fiorenza has a doctorate of education from the University of Concordia, a master’s in education in special education from Quincy University and a bachelor of science in psychology, also from Quincy University.

Fiorenza was previously the director of student learning for the Oak Park & River Forest High School District for two years. She was also the principal for the Indian Prairie School District 204 in Aurora, Ill., for four years; assistant principal for the Batavia Public School District 101 in Batavia, Ill., for two years; assistant principal for the Quinciy Public School District 172 in Quincy, Ill., for two years and teaching and instructional coaching for Quincy for five years.

Fiorenza said she is excited about the possibility of serving the community and working alongside families, staff and students.

“From the moment I learned about the role, I was inspired by the district’s mission to ensure every student is known, supported, and challenged, every day, in a unified way,� Fiorenza said. “That deeply aligns with my values as a leader committed to knowing, valuing, and empowering all students.�

“Whitewater stands out as a district rooted in tradition, with strong partnerships and an evident dedication to student success. I’m especially drawn to the collaborative spirit and pride the community takes in its schools,� Fiorenza said.

Fiorenza has family members who live in the area, she said.

“I understand and respect the values of a rural community, the hard work, connection, and a strong sense of responsibility to one another,� Fiorenza said. “These values deeply inform my approach to leadership, building trust, fostering connection, and working together to support every student.�

Kurt Schneider

Schneider has a doctorate in education administration, a master’s of education in special education and a bachelor of science in special education, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Previously, Schneider was the assistant superintendent of learning for the Community Consolidated School District 181 in Hinsdale, Ill., for four years, and the director of student services for the Stoughton Area School District for eight years.

Schneider could not be reached for comment.

District staff will meet with each of the candidates on Thursday at 3:45 p.m., prior to the public event.