Superintendent of Schools

Joe Garza has deep roots in Wisconsin education, currently leading the School District of New Berlin as superintendent since 2011, having originally joined the district as assistant superintendent in 2007. Before his time in New Berlin, he served as a secondary principal and then superintendent in the the Almond-Bancroft School District (WI).

Joe earned his bachelor of arts in education and music - with a minor in philosophy/religion - from Luther College (IA). He then completed his masters degree in educational leadership at Marian University (formerly Marian College of Fond du Lac, WI). He continued his education journey through coursework for an Ed.D. at Cardinal Stitch University (WI), making him "all but dissertation," and he holds his National Superintendent Certification from the AASA.

Joe is heavily involved in shaping educational policy. He guides and supports public education legislation at the local, regional and state levels. He is often invited to speak or consult with other pre-K-12 school districts, post-secondary institutions, employers and others who may impact the work. He has a real passion for student college and career readiness, understanding that successful pre-K-12 education is vital for workforce and economic development. He successfully advocated for the WI Act 20 early literacy legislation adopted in 2023 and was appointed as an original member of the Wisconsin Early Literacy Curriculum Council, furthering the impact early literacy has on the workforce and beyond.

On the side, Joe recently finished terms as vice-chair for two important boards: The Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) district board and the board for GPS Education Partners, which is a non-profit that helps secondary students transition to meaningful technical careers through work-based learning.

When Garza isn't focused on improving education, he enjoys spending time with family and friends.  He and his wife have two children who attended and graduated from New Berlin schools.

Professional Organizations and Associations:  Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA),  American Association of School Administrators (AASA), Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development (ASCD), Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO),  and New Berlin Rotary Club.