Kyree Brooks BSE '17

Kyree Brooks receives the UW-Whitewater 2026 Outstanding Recent Alumni Award

Written by Dave Fidlin | Photos by Craig Schreiner and submitted

Roles as an assistant principal and a deejay might seem like an unlikely pairing of professions, but Milwaukee native Kyree Brooks embraces both as he works to instill positivity and creativity to anyone in his midst.

Brooks, who graduated from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2017 with a BSE in physical education and who describes himself on his LinkedIn profile as a person practicing “constructivist leadership,” has worked in leadership roles in a number of education settings since earning his degree.

This spring, Brooks is receiving the UW-Whitewater Outstanding Recent Alumni Award. The recognition is given to graduates no more than 15 years after receipt of a degree from UW-Whitewater.

Brooks was initially drawn to the Whitewater campus because he wanted to become a Warhawk.  

“I knew that Whitewater was an affordable option, close to home, that offered a valuable teaching experience that I could use anywhere. I was also interested in other ways to get involved, such as Hawk Squad, Black Student Union, and the Warhawk Ambassador program,” Brooks said. “And I knew it had a pretty powerful football program, and that’s something I wanted to be a part of as I was considering my options.” 

After graduating, Brooks furthered his higher education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation psychology and special education in 2019. His work focused on equity-driven and student-centered practices.

From 2018 to 2021, Brooks worked for the Madison Metropolitan School District as a special education teacher, coordinator of student engagement and a coach for the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, or PBIS, program.

In the subsequent four years, Brooks worked as an associate principal and dean of students with the Sun Prairie Area School District. There he cultivated his skills in student development, staff coaching and school culture.

In 2025, Brooks returned to his hometown, assuming a leadership role as an assistant principal at the Milwaukee Academy of Science. For Brooks it brings back memories of his alma mater, Rufus King High School.  

Alongside his academic leadership roles, Brooks has cultivated a successful small business, DJ Ree Maniac Entertainment Services, which he founded and co-owns with his wife, UW-Whitewater alumna Natalie Arriaga. The business is the realization of two of his passions: education and community engagement.

“I was musically inclined from a young age,” Brooks said. “I played the saxophone and oboe and eventually became a music producer. I knew how to program music on a computer at a very young age.”

Brooks said the seeds for the business were planted during the pandemic. Today, it is a sought-after service for special events, including weddings.

“During COVID, while the world was shut down, I did the research and figured out what equipment I needed to run my own business,” he said. “I wanted to find an avenue to help people enjoy themselves through music.”

Brooks’ positive contributions have garnered a number of recognitions. In 2022, Brooks was named to Madison365’s list of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Black Leaders, where he was recognized for his impact as an educator, entrepreneur and community leader. And in 2023, In-Business Magazine named Brooks to its Forty Under 40 class for his influential leadership style.

“Both of those were very pivotal moments for me,” Brooks said of the recognitions. “Those have been two huge milestones in my professional career so far.”

Along each step of the way, Brooks looks back fondly on his days at UW-Whitewater, where he maintains ties through such avenues as the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, which he joined in 2015.  

“That was something I was a part of, and still am a part of to this day,” Brooks said.

While on campus, Brooks served as a Warhawk Student Ambassador, worked as an assistant registrar, and helped new students and family members get acclimated as a leader of the Hawk Squad.

Brooks also was a part of UW-Whitewater’s ALMA Latin dance organization and the Future Teacher Program.

“UW-Whitewater is a friendly campus that is full of people with aspirations,” Brooks said. “It was a great place to grow.”