Dr. Vanessa Sowinski’s journey at Messmer High School began in 2003 as a student teacher in the math department—and she hasn’t looked back. Starting full-time that year, Vanessa has dedicated herself to inspiring students, both in the classroom and beyond. Today, she serves as one of Messmer’s Academic Deans, overseeing the STEM curriculum while supporting teachers, alongside her own math classes.

From the start, Vanessa has been deeply involved in athletics as a coach and mentor, shaping young athletes with the same values she champions academically. “Messmer’s mission keeps me coming back. It’s my purpose,” she says.

For 14 years, Vanessa has organized Messmer’s Pink Night volleyball event to benefit breast cancer research, a cause close to her heart after her mother, Kathryn Sowinski, passed away in 2011. “Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from my mom: never quit, improvise, adapt. That’s why I do this, for her,” Vanessa explains. Proceeds from the event benefit the Dr. Carbone Cancer Center at UW-Madison, and Messmer’s efforts have raised thousands of dollars over the years. She also leads Messmer’s girls’ volleyball team in volunteering at the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure, a tradition spanning nearly two decades.

“It’s a service opportunity that teaches our students the value of giving back,” Vanessa notes, embodying the spirit of community and mentorship that has defined her more than twenty-year tenure at Messmer.