School Leadership

MaiKou Heu and her family migrated to the United States when she was 2-years-old and made Appleton, WI their home shortly after arriving in the United States. Her fondest childhood memories were family trips to Bay Beach and Erb Park as well as enjoying the carnivals and games at Pierce Park. In school, MaiKou remembered that being a dual language learner was challenging due to the school’s lack of knowledge and experience at that time working with English learners. Her first hand experiences lead to her passion for becoming an educator. MaiKou graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a Bachelor Degree in Education and Human Services and a minor in Criminal Justice. She also earned her Master Degree in School Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a Master Degree in Administration, Curriculum Development, and Special Education/Pupil Services from National-Louis University. MaiKou has had extensive experience working outside of the public education system providing individual and family counseling services, youth development, career development as well as teaching counseling-related graduate courses. In the fall of 2005, MaiKou begin her service in the Appleton Area School District as a School Counselor at Highlands Elementary. MaiKou has also served the District as the Dean of Students at Lincoln Elementary, Summer School Coordinator at Foster Elementary, Associate Principal of Huntley Elementary, and AASD School Counseling Program Support. MaiKou was named Principal of Johnston Elementary School beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. MaiKou lives in Neenah with her husband and three children. She enjoys time with her family, traveling, fishing, camping, and watching Korean television series.

Dr. Thai Xiong was born in the Ban Nam Yao refugee camp in northern Thailand and came to Appleton, WI with his parents and siblings as refugees of the Vietnam War during the winter of 1989 when he was 5 years old.

Thai’s educational journey started in the Appleton Area School District (AASD) as a kindergarten student at Jefferson Elementary then transitioned to Wilson Middle School and graduated from Appleton West High School in 2003.

His education includes a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences from Marquette University, two Masters in Education from Alverno College and both a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) and Philosophy of Doctorate in Education (Ph.D) from Walden University. Thai has worked as a Forensic Scientist for the Wisconsin Crime Lab, middle and high school science teacher, instructional coach, football head coach, high school associate principal, elementary associate principal, high school athletic director, and middle school principal. For the last six years, Dr. Xiong served as the Director of Math, Science, Health Education and Physical Education for the Appleton Area School District (AASD).

Currently, Dr. Xiong is the Impact Director for the new charter school in the AASD called the Hmong American Immersion School. He is also a co-founder of the charter school.

Other than his educational leadership experiences, his nonprofit experiences included service leadership within the Hmong community. Dr. Xiong has served as President of the Northeast Wisconsin Hmong Professionals from 2019 to 2021. He has served as a school board member for Tesla Engineering Charter School from 2018 to 2024. Currently, Dr. Thai Xiong serves as the President of the United Hmong American Association (UHAA) and has been a board member since 2018. In his work with UHAA, he chairs the UHAA Scholarship Fund, writes grants to seek for program funding, and establishes a partnership with the Appleton Area School District and the NEW Hmong Professionals to provide academic and mentoring support for Hmong students under the UHAA Academic Support Achievement Program.

Dr. Xiong has secured over $264,000 in grants to fund UHAA’s program and has awarded over $78,000 in scholarship for Hmong students pursuing their undergraduate and graduate degrees since 2021. Dr. Xiong’s leadership with his community has earned UHAA the recipient of the 2021 Madison 365 Wisconsin Leadership Nonprofit Organization of the Year and he was named one of Insight Magazine’s 40 under 40 Leaders in the New North Region in 2023.

Dr. Xiong is happily married to his high school sweetheart and beautiful amazing wife Poyee who is the principal of the largest middle school in Appleton, James Madison Middle School. Their daughter Jailia is a senior at Appleton North and enjoys dancing and cheering on the Cheer and Performance team. Their son Jalen is a sophomore at Appleton North and enjoys playing JV Football and running sprints and relay for the Track team. Together, they enjoy family time such as camping, fishing, kayaking, and traveling to try new food and adventures.