News

Oshkosh schools name president

By Unified Catholic Schools System, Inc., of Oshkosh

Tony Blando has been named the new president of Unified Catholic Schools System, Inc., of Oshkosh, succeeding Dr. Stan Spanbauer who is retiring to become a part-time fundraiser and consultant for the system.

Blando, who has served as director of instructional development for the system, will become the president on April 1.

"We are delighted to be able to make this announcement so soon after learning of Dr. Spanbauer's departure," said Clark Caflisch, president of the UCS Board of Education. He said Blando, who helped develop the System Long Range Plan in 2002 and has served on various UCS committees, would be building on the recent successes of UCS.

"Blando coordinated annual updates and wrote new policies and agrees the Strategic Plan is the blueprint for the future of UCS," Caflisch said. "He is very committed to the philosophy of continuous improvement."

Spanbauer agreed. "I have been especially impressed with his people skills and his innovative approach to education. He has great organizational skills and has a deep understanding of the Catholic faith."

Blando has a bachelor's in communications from UW-Milwaukee and a master's in military science and leadership from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

"Tony has displayed remarkable communication and leadership skills for a young man, most stemming from his successful military career," Caflisch said. Blando retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel after 21 years of service in leadership positions throughout the world.

Blando, a decorated veteran, has received the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Medal, the Joint Commendation Medal and five Meritorious Service Medals.

Spanbauer said he and Blando "met with a 20-person steering committee and in three brainstorming sessions with more than 100 parents, teachers, students, and religious to get input. This resulted in a dynamic system plan with 11 goals and 43 strategies, with numerous action plans that had measurable criteria, timetables, and responsibility designees."

Blando said the planning process "was probably the most important thing we did and it is still operational today."

Blando and Spanbauer worked together on the Vicariate X plan for worship sites and parishes and Blando helped design the St. Mary Parish strategic plan.

During his last four years in the Army, Blando was the professor of Military Science and department chair for the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps' (ROTC) Military Science and Leadership Departments at UW-Oshkosh, UW-Green Bay, Ripon College, Marian College, Lawrence University, St. Norbert College and Bellin College of Nursing.

He taught college leadership courses four years and oversaw the revision of the entire ROTC leadership curriculum. Since his appointment at UCS in August, he has coordinated the design and implementation of the academic excellence initiative that includes curriculum re-design and use of new resources to make instruction easier, faster, and more challenging for students.

Blando's wife Jeannie is a graduate of the Duke University ROTC program and attained the rank of Major. Both attended the Army's Paratrooper School and both have earned the Parachutist Badge. They were married in 1988 and have three children, Katie, Ali, and Mary, all attending UCS schools. "We have chosen to make Oshkosh our home and are committed to educating our three children in the UCS tradition," Blando said.

Unified Catholic Schools serves 790 students in St. Frances Cabrini and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton elementary schools, St. John Neumann Middle School, and Lourdes High School. The system is supported by tuition and contributions from Vicariate X parishes: St. Mary, St. Peter, St. Josaphat, St. Vincent de Paul, Sacred Heart, St. John the Evangelist, St. Raphael the Archangel, all of Oshkosh; St. Mary, Omro, and St. Mary, Winneconne.