About Us
Wisconsin Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association
The mission of the Wisconsin Driver Traffic Safety Education Association is to be a vital partner in traffic safety and driver education programs. This partnership will support the education community in improving student safety performance by modeling effective leadership, promoting professional development, and collaborating with special interest groups to promote driver and traffic safety education for all people.
Click here to view and download a copy of the WDTSEA By-Laws.
OFFICERS
BILL STUESSEL | PRESIDENT 2021-2022
wstuessel@yahoo.com | 715-425-1582 H | 651-983-2072 C
Name: Bill Stuessel
Education: BS UW River Falls. MS UW River Falls. Adm. Certificate St. Mary's University
History: Retired School Counselor after 30 years from St. Croix Central High School. Coached Football, Cross Country, and Track. Officiate Track and Cross Country.
Current: Teaching Driver Education at St. Croix Central and with NWTC Rice Lake.
Personal: Have two adult children, Adam 35 and Emily 32 and 2 Grandchildren - 1 yr and 5 yrs.
Hobbies:Golfing, Fishing, Hunting, Gardening and Home-Improvement Projects.
Resides: River Falls, WI
KAREN SORENSON | PAST PRESIDENT 2020-2022
kmsoren@gmail.com | 715-635-7042
Name: Karen Sorenson
Education: UW-EC 1975, UW-Stout 1999
History: Taught Physical Education for Spooner Area School District 1976-2008 and Driver Education from 1999-2015. Coached Volleyball, 7th Grade and JV Basketball and Track. Officiated Basketball and continues to officiate Softball and Volleyball
Current: Teaches Driver Education for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-Rice Lake for Spooner Area School District and Northwood School District-Minong
Resides: Spooner, WI
NEEDS TO BE FILLED | Southeast 2021-2023
CATHY KRULL | NORTHEAST 2021-2023
ckrull@kimberly.k12.wi.us | 920-833-6682
Education: UW-Stevens Point class of 1988
History: Taught 30 years at Kimberly High School, teaching Driver Education, Health Education and Physical Education. In the past coached volleyball, led AODA groups, and SADD advisor. Also taught Driver Education for Appleton, Menasha, and Seymour.
Current: Teaches at Kimberly High School, member of the Outagamie County Safety/Traffic Commission
Personal: Married to Pat for 24 years. Have three sons: Jonathon, Daniel and Nathaniel.
Hobbies: I like to ride bicycle, go on nature walks, travel with my family, and watch the boys in their sports.
Resides: Seymour, Wi
MIKE MESSERLI | NORTHWEST 2021-2022
MESSERLIM@MARSHFIELDSCHOOLS.ORG | 715-490-0098
Education: UW-Stevens Point 2017
Current: Marshfield High School Driver's Ed & History - 4 years, Tennis & Soccer Coach
Personal: Married to Lizzie - 2 years
Hobbies: Married to Lizzie - 2 years
Hobbies: Biking, disc golf, fishing
Resides: Stevens Point, WI
KEVIN KIRBY | Business Manager 2023
skkirby@charter.net | 715-490-2194
Address: 5386 Manor Rd, Rhinelander WI 54501
Education: UW-SP 1980 BS, UW- Stout 2001 - MS
Employment: Driver Education at Rhinelander High School 1999 - 2017, Traffic Safety Point Reduction, Group Dynamics, MOP Nicolet College 2001 - present
Recognition: WDTSEA - Teacher of the Year, ADTSEA - Teacher of Excellence, Chairperson for Oneida County Traffic Safety Commission, Officiating for WIAA since 1977
Personal: Married Sue Scheller in 1980 - Daughter, Shannon & Ryan have Reid, Stella, Nico and Enzo. Son Scott & Callie have Elton!
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, making maple syrup and watching grandkids grow!.
CHRISTINE BERGAN | Secretary 2020-2022
Christine.bergan@cesa2.org
DRIVER EDUCATION DIRECTOR | 608-290-4663
Education:M.S. degree in Education from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, B.S. degree in Education (Specialized Education: Learning Disabilities and Social/ Emotional Disabilities)
History: 16+ years in Traffic Safety and Driver Education working in both commercial and DPI Driver Training/Education programming. Secretary for WDTSEA since 2010. Many years as a high school special education teacher and as a disability accommodation specialist in higher education; several years as part-time adjunct faculty in the Wisconsin Technical College System in the Adult Basic Education and GED programs.
Current: Director - Driver Education at CESA 2, Member of the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission
Hobbies:Singing/music, bicycling, reading, spending time with family and friends
Personal:2013 WDTSEA Teacher of the Year, 2013 ADTSEA Teacher of Excellence
BETTY SHAFFER | DELEGATE AT LARGE 2021-2022
BETTY.SHAFFER@NORTHWOODTECH.EDU | 715-651-8998
Education: Driver Education UW-Stout
History: Worked for the Railroad in Chicago before moving to Wisconsin. Started working for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in 1996 and started the Drivers Ed program for WITC in 2006. We currently have contracts with 15 school districts throughout the Northwood Technical College eleven county region.
Current: Traffic Safety Manager for Northwood Technical College and oversees all Traffic related courses for WITC including Drivers Ed, Motorcycle safety, OWI related courses and Point reduction classes.
Resides: Stone Lake, WI