Nominated by Terrence Thompson and Jamie Pratt (Warner Park Community Recreation Center) and Ruth Hellenbrand (NewBridge-North)

Janet has lived and worked on the Northside for over 20 years. As the current interim executive director and a long-time supervisor for Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) over a 33-year career, she has been influential in delivering programs to thousands of kids. Her colleagues joke that Janet isn’t good at job interviews because she’s never had to do one.

Janet has been an important member of the leadership team at WPCRC as the MSCR representative and has held an office at the center since its construction in 1999, where she oversees Kids Kamp and supports the extensive MSCR programming at the center. On top of raising her family on the Northside, she has personally mentored kids, provided guidance, coached sports, and acted as a role model to countless young people who have crossed her path. Most importantly, Janet leads with a lens of racial equity in everything she does and genuinely cares about the young people in Madison. Her work has resulted in more programmatic and leadership opportunities for people of color throughout the Madison school district. 

Janet’s leadership with MSCR, commitment to excellence and her passion for youth and families on the Northside make her an outstanding recipient of a North Star Award.