Welcome from our Head of School
Welcome to Wingra School, where, for 52 years, we have proudly stood at the forefront of progressive education in Madison, Wisconsin. As one of the top K-8 progressive schools in the country, we are dedicated to nurturing the unique potential in each of our students. At Wingra, we believe in empowering children to become critical thinkers, global citizens, social justice advocates, problem solvers, and great communicators.
Our approach to education goes beyond traditional teaching methods. We create a dynamic learning environment that respects and values each student’s individuality, fostering a community where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging. Having spent 25 years as an educator in independent schools and having experienced these schools firsthand as a student, I understand the profound impact of feeling included and valued. As one of the few people of color in many of these settings, I am deeply committed to ensuring that Wingra is a place where diversity is celebrated and every student is seen and heard.
In addition to our commitment to inclusivity, we strive to make Wingra accessible to all families. We believe that a quality education should not be a privilege reserved for a few but an opportunity available to anyone who seeks it. Our goal is to maintain an institution that is affordable and welcoming, providing a nurturing environment where every child can thrive.
Thank you for considering Wingra School. We look forward to partnering with you on this exciting educational journey.
Torsie Judkins
Head of School
We pledge to work to end systemic racism not only in our local Madison community, but in our school community as well. (Full statement below.)
Contact Information
718 Gilmore Street
Madison, WI 53711
Phone: (608) 238-2525
Email: info@wingraschool.org
Our History
Wingra is an independent progressive school for children ages five to fourteen located on a hillside across from the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, centrally-located in Madison. We’re on the Madison Metro bus line, which is our connection to the Overture Center, the downtown library, the State Capitol, the University of Wisconsin campus, and much more.
There’s a charm to our building, a history. Wingra School lives in the former Dudgeon School building, on Monroe Street. At its founding in 1972, Wingra School set out to re-imagine education for children in our changing world.
The grass-covered lower yard and upper outdoor performance stage and indigenous playscape are Madison City parks that provide children with green space, trees, ball diamonds, swing sets, climbing structures, and wide-open spaces. The hill in the lower yard is great for sledding in winter!
Job Openings at Wingra
Wingra School is committed to attracting staff of varied backgrounds and to developing inclusive classroom communities that draw strength from a positive recognition of diversity. We value diversity in our community with regard to gender, race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, and ability.
Administrative & Building Staff
Teaching Staff
Board of Trustees
Wingra School is a nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Trustees composed of parents, staff members, and community volunteers. The board provides support for all aspects of the school through fundraising, policy development, maintenance of the organizational structure, and participation in financial and long-range planning.
The board is self-perpetuating; new members are chosen by current board members to bring in needed strengths and talents. Staff members are nominated by the staff. It is important that potential board members are committed to Wingra’s mission and ownership and are able to “think big” in terms of systems, not details. Interested parties can find the self-nomination form here.
A Note from David Hoffert, President of the Board of Trustees
I am honored to serve as the next President of the Board of Trustees for Wingra School. As a proud alumnus of Wingra (1991-99), I have long credited the school with much of my success in life; it made me a person who naturally sought to learn because I genuinely enjoyed learning, and that alone delivered me very far indeed. I am excited to be part of the team that works to ensure today’s children have a similar opportunity.
I am also excited to be able to work to *expand* the population of children who can benefit from a Wingra education and worldview. While our new individualized tuition model lays the groundwork for us to significantly increase the socioeconomic diversity of the Wingra student body, the work surrounding the vision of making Wingra a welcoming and thriving community for all is just beginning. Wingra must also work to actively recruit and retain a racially diverse student and staff community and to create a deep sense of belonging for everyone who enters the building each day. I see this work, along with ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the new tuition model, as critical areas of focus for the Board in the coming years.
Wingra is more than just a school; it is truly a community. That same ethos applies to the Board of Trustees: we are people willing to get our hands dirty (in the case of the Building and Grounds committee, literally) and do the work because we are passionate about Wingra’s mission and impact. We always seek more kindred spirits to join us in this work. If you or anyone you know might be interested in getting involved with the Wingra Board, please get in touch with me. In the meantime, I look forward to getting to know you throughout the school year.
Board Statement-
Black lives matter. We denounce police brutality and call for a transformational redesign of local law enforcement, including removal of law enforcement from schools and replacement with counselors. We support the rights of all to advocate for themselves and others and confirm our commitment to stand behind our black youth as they advocate for creation of a world that is more just. We commit to using our time, treasure, and talent in support of local organizations, such as Urban Triage, Freedom Inc, and Madison for Black Lives, that are dedicated to lifting and amplifying young black voices. We pledge to work to end systemic racism not only in our local community, but in our school community, as well.
We, the white Trustees, commit to take the following actions:
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To continue to educate ourselves and each other on the insidious nature of our own racism. We must understand how our internalized racism affects our interactions with black people. We must learn our own history: how systemic racism was developed and continues to be upheld by white people, in order to be effective in the dismantling the process.
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To call each other out when we resort–whether consciously or unconsciously–to a position where we center our white thoughts and white actions without regard for the impact on black voices.
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To commit to creating a leadership pipeline for black Trustees to attain positions of power within the board. It isn’t enough to bring black voices onto the Board and we recognize that getting out of the way is essential to creating fundamental change.
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To de-center our own whiteness and our own white experience which is unique to us as those in the dominant white culture. We will sit with our own discomfort as we make mistakes and not seek closure or reassurance from our black colleagues. We recognize that it is not up to them to make us feel better.
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To work every day to lead the transformation of Wingra School to an anti-racist organization. Our history as a majority white institution means that there is much to be done and we pledge to use our white privilege to support the creation of a community based in equality and justice.
Parent Service & Participation
Within the Wingra community, partnerships and relationships are fostered through shared experiences among our students and their families. We want to know the important people in children’s lives and invite active participation in our school community for parents, extended family, and caregivers. We encourage active engagement in children’s education to help ground them and help them flourish. Through school-wide and classroom volunteer opportunities, our parent organization, and special events, there is a way for everyone to be involved.
Community Connections
Preservice Teachers
Wingra School was founded as a private institution for the public good. One way we continue to realize this commitment is by hosting student and practicum teachers from local universities and colleges into our classrooms. We are fortunate to work with many educators, early in their careers, each semester.
Wingra Service Learning (WSL)
Wingra pursues service projects to connect with and support organizations within Madison. Service-Learning, as defined by Community Works Institute, is an educational strategy that combines academic and social goals to meet community needs. Collaboration occurs through compelling sense of purpose, engagement, and reciprocity among all partners.
Visiting Tours
A visitor to our school has much to learn about our intentional educational community. We host tours for current and future educators, university professors, and others interested in seeing firsthand how we cultivate an atmosphere of activity, learning, and freedom. One can feel it the moment the door is opened! We also strive to be a model for healthy ecological practices and invite neighbors and businesses to tour our building and witness how we give care to the environment.
New Morning Nursery School
New Morning Nursery School has much in common with Wingra School in its nurturing, child-centered approach. The school was formed as a non-profit cooperative by parents in 1972 and is located on a second floor wing at Wingra.