Josh Korth

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My wife Shannon and I have been married for 20 years this coming August. She has been a teacher in the MASD for 25+ years and is currently in her first year teaching at Park View; she had previously been a 5th grade teacher at Rolling Hills since its opening. We have three boys; Jaylen (senior at MHS), Mason (junior at MHS) and Braden (8th grader at Park View).

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I graduated from UW – La Crosse in December of 1998 and had to finish up student teaching into January 1999. I was fortunate enough to get a couple of job interviews while student teaching and long story short, my first day teaching in the Mukwonago Area School District was February 1, 1999. I spent 2 ½ years teaching at the elementary level and substitute teaching; my first year at Park View was the 2001-02 school year and I’ve been there ever since. I’m presently in my 22nd year at the middle school level and I love going to work there everyday; we have a very cohesive PE department and each day is a new adventure with 12-14 year olds.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
David Alan Alan’s, Fork in the Road; I’ve never left either establishment disappointed.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I’ve taught in Mukwonago since 1999 and have lived in the town since January 2005.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I think of two guys when talking about the Mukwonago community; Dennis Swan and Craig Vertz. I’ve had both of their children in PE classes back when I first started teaching. They are two guys that I feel are the epitome of being “MUK” people; always positive and supportive of the teachers/coaches in the district. They have a lot of stories and knowledge of the history of what used to be a small little farming community.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Well, I am always up for an all-inclusive hot and tropical vacation, BUT someplace other than that? Ireland. I was fortunate enough to chaperone a school field trip four years ago to the British Isles that my oldest son was a part of. Ireland was my favorite part and I would love to go back there with my wife and enjoy some of the pubs and other things that I was unable to do as a chaperone, such as a couple rounds of golf and touring the Guiness Brewery ????

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I love sport movies and would have to go with HOOSIERS (“I’ll make it”) and non-sport movie TOMBSTONE (“I’m your huckleberry”) TV show- Ozark and Breaking Bad

Q: What advice would you give to people?
“Control what you can control” There are so many situations that can become stressful, consuming in the workplace that are out of our control and we can spend way too much time complaining about them. Individually, you control your attitude and work ethic; do your job to the best of your ability “with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind,” which is one of my favorite quotes from Jim Harbaugh’s father. I can always do a better job of taking my own advice!

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Definitely to one day attend The Masters golf tournament and take a buddies golf trip to Scotland.

Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Eric Church. Even if you’re not a country fan, I highly recommend attending one of his concerts; he puts on a great show.

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Fork in the Road. It was Inn the Olden Days when I first started teaching and also the place I met my wife. It’s not a fancy restaurant, but no matter the owner, the staff is always friendly, food is great and it just has that small town feel.

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Jim Harbaugh, head football coach at the University of Michigan. I’ve been a GO BLUE fan since 3rd grade and he is a unique individual who has finally brought Michigan football back to some of their glory days. He is a tireless working competitor from what I have seen, heard and listened to; he wasn’t the most gifted athlete, but became an All American and had a career in the NFL. A lot of his success comes down to HARD WORK. I’d probably choose DAA’s.

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The dog park on Beulah Road! I thought it was the dumbest thing back when it first opened and questioned why we would need something like it in the community, but now that my family has a couple of dogs, it is absolutely awesome! I love going there for an hour a day when the weather/time of school year permits, putting in my airpods, catching up on podcasts and enjoying some alone time.

Q: What have you done to make Mukwonago a better place?
Being a coach of three sports and the athletic director at Park View, I like to think that I’ve given a lot of time and opportunities to the students/athletes in the district for the past 22 years. It’s been a pleasure watching kids mature, develop and compete starting in middle school and progressing throughout their high school careers.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Well, 10 years from now I will be contemplating retirement and there will probably be some family weddings and grandkids. God willing there will also be a few more tee times to sharpen up my inconsistent and erratic golf game.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
My Dad was a Lutheran Elementary teacher for 40+ years, so my siblings and I attended the various elementary schools he taught at growing up. I then attended Northwestern Prep in Watertown, WI for high school, which is a private boarding school. So I lived in dorms for high school. People have looks of disbelief when I tell them.

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Glacier National Park. My wife has relatives out in Kalispell/Whitefish, MT and we’ve had the opportunity to visit out there many times. The drive on Going to the Sun Road up to Logan Pass is absolutely breathtaking.

Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Month / August- high school football is starting, a new school year is approaching, which brings back a much needed routine and there just seems to be an energetic buzz in the air. Holiday / Christmas- it’s quite convenient that it is also my birthday; although Easter is 1b since Christmas really doesn’t matter without Easter. Best single day / I can’t pick ONE, but I would say every Friday night during the high school football season, especially in our community. There’s always a buzz on game day and being on the sidelines, seeing all the students, parents and others in the stands supporting Mukwonago football is something special.

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Ummmmm, there are a number of things I could say, but the correct answer is my wife Shannon. She has always been supportive of me being a coach of three sports and spending a lot of hours away from home.

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
St. John’s Church across from MHS. My family and I have been members there for the past 18 years; it is the backbone of our family.

Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Freshly cut grass, walking by the freshly roasted nuts at American Family Field and the outside environment at Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Mukwonago, Love, Family