Dr. Mark Pienkos was born in Chicago. His parents were Stella and Edward who worked in factories to support their family of three boys. Mark’s mother only attended school through the 8th grade, while his father went to one year of high school. Mark’s oldest brother, Don, is professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Political Science and his other brother, Edward, is a surgeon specializing in urology.
Mark is married to Ann (Lesniewski) and they have three children: Michelle (married to Alex Mora), Karen (married to Matt Luttig), and Stephen. Ann and Mark celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary in August, 2016.
Mark attended St. Laurence, a Christian Brothers of Ireland high school located in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He received his B.S.Ed. (History, ‘72) and M.S.Ed. (Guidance & Counseling, ‘74) from Northern Illinois University. In 1989, Mark earned his Specialist Certificate in Administrative Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 1993, Mark earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California specializing in Educational Leadership. His doctoral dissertation focused on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.
Mark’s educational career includes: teacher/principal at St. James Elementary School in Mukwonago, WI; teacher/career education coordinator/counselor for the Oak Creek Public Schools, Oak Creek, WI; school counselor for Peshtigo High School, Peshtigo, WI; school counselor for Wauwatosa West High School, Wauwatosa, WI; associate principal at Wauwatosa East High School, principal at Badger High School, Lake Geneva, WI; superintendent/principal for the Fontana Joint 8 Elementary School District, Fontana, WI, principal for The Villages Charter Middle School in The Village, Florida; and currently completing his ninth and final year as superintendent for the Washington-Caldwell School District located in Waterford. The 2017-2018 school year will see Mark serving as the part-time Interim Superintendent for the Traver School District located in Lake Geneva.
In 1976, Mark was elected First District Alderman for the City of Muskego and was re-elected unopposed in 1978. Politically active, he has worked on several campaigns in Wisconsin and nationally during his lifetime. Mark has also served as President of the 1,000 member Wisconsin School Counselor Association, Midwest Vice-President of the 25,000 member American School Counselor Association, as well as a member of the board of directors for the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.
Mark is a life-long member of the Polish National Alliance and is proud that his entire family are P.N.A. members. While living in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, Mark and Ann started a Polish Heritage Club that boasted over 125 members that met on a monthly basis sharing the proud culture, history, and heritage of Poland. Currently, Mark serves as Vice President of the Polish American Congress – Wisconsin Division, as well as a representative to the National Council of Directors of the Polish American Congress. In October, 2014, Mark was elected as the Polish American Congress National Vice President for Public Relations. In 2013, Mark and his wife, Ann, along with their son, Stephen, were asked by the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago to spearhead efforts to have the Jan Karski Exhibit displayed throughout Wisconsin. Karski was a member of the Polish Underground during World War II and brought the first eyewitness account of the Holocaust to the Western Allies. Working in partnership with others, Mark organized showings of this exhibit at the State Capitol in Madison, as well as the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Library, the University of Wisconsin – Marinette Library, the Lake Geneva Library, and the Polish Center of Wisconsin located in Franklin.
Dr. Pienkos also served as an adjunct professor for Aurora University where he has taught graduate courses in the areas of leadership and school-community relations. While in Florida, Mark taught a teacher certification course for Lake-Sumter Community College.
Mark loves sports, especially baseball. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, he is a big White Sox fan. As a graduate of the University of Southern California, Mark is passionate about the Trojans football team, too. Mark also loves to read, travel, and be involved in politics. Finally, he is a people person who has devoted his career to helping “kids of all ages” succeed.
(Updated: March, 2017)
Mark is married to Ann (Lesniewski) and they have three children: Michelle (married to Alex Mora), Karen (married to Matt Luttig), and Stephen. Ann and Mark celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary in August, 2016.
Mark attended St. Laurence, a Christian Brothers of Ireland high school located in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He received his B.S.Ed. (History, ‘72) and M.S.Ed. (Guidance & Counseling, ‘74) from Northern Illinois University. In 1989, Mark earned his Specialist Certificate in Administrative Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 1993, Mark earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California specializing in Educational Leadership. His doctoral dissertation focused on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.
Mark’s educational career includes: teacher/principal at St. James Elementary School in Mukwonago, WI; teacher/career education coordinator/counselor for the Oak Creek Public Schools, Oak Creek, WI; school counselor for Peshtigo High School, Peshtigo, WI; school counselor for Wauwatosa West High School, Wauwatosa, WI; associate principal at Wauwatosa East High School, principal at Badger High School, Lake Geneva, WI; superintendent/principal for the Fontana Joint 8 Elementary School District, Fontana, WI, principal for The Villages Charter Middle School in The Village, Florida; and currently completing his ninth and final year as superintendent for the Washington-Caldwell School District located in Waterford. The 2017-2018 school year will see Mark serving as the part-time Interim Superintendent for the Traver School District located in Lake Geneva.
In 1976, Mark was elected First District Alderman for the City of Muskego and was re-elected unopposed in 1978. Politically active, he has worked on several campaigns in Wisconsin and nationally during his lifetime. Mark has also served as President of the 1,000 member Wisconsin School Counselor Association, Midwest Vice-President of the 25,000 member American School Counselor Association, as well as a member of the board of directors for the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.
Mark is a life-long member of the Polish National Alliance and is proud that his entire family are P.N.A. members. While living in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, Mark and Ann started a Polish Heritage Club that boasted over 125 members that met on a monthly basis sharing the proud culture, history, and heritage of Poland. Currently, Mark serves as Vice President of the Polish American Congress – Wisconsin Division, as well as a representative to the National Council of Directors of the Polish American Congress. In October, 2014, Mark was elected as the Polish American Congress National Vice President for Public Relations. In 2013, Mark and his wife, Ann, along with their son, Stephen, were asked by the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago to spearhead efforts to have the Jan Karski Exhibit displayed throughout Wisconsin. Karski was a member of the Polish Underground during World War II and brought the first eyewitness account of the Holocaust to the Western Allies. Working in partnership with others, Mark organized showings of this exhibit at the State Capitol in Madison, as well as the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Library, the University of Wisconsin – Marinette Library, the Lake Geneva Library, and the Polish Center of Wisconsin located in Franklin.
Dr. Pienkos also served as an adjunct professor for Aurora University where he has taught graduate courses in the areas of leadership and school-community relations. While in Florida, Mark taught a teacher certification course for Lake-Sumter Community College.
Mark loves sports, especially baseball. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, he is a big White Sox fan. As a graduate of the University of Southern California, Mark is passionate about the Trojans football team, too. Mark also loves to read, travel, and be involved in politics. Finally, he is a people person who has devoted his career to helping “kids of all ages” succeed.
(Updated: March, 2017)