Go T Birds!
Welcome to the Lakeland Union High School District!
I am excited and honored to serve as the new district administrator for Lakeland Union High School and the Lakeland Star School/Academy.
Our district has excellent staff, facilities and partnerships with our local elementaries.
A little about my background. I am a licensed district administrator, director of pupil services and special education, school psychologist and curriculum director. I have worked in multiple districts including Dodgeville, Prairie du Chien, Janesville and Ithaca. Through all my experiences I have learned that quality school leadership is student centered.
I am passionate about education, and I believe that resonates through everything I have ever accomplished throughout my career. Experience has taught me that being passionate, though important, is not enough. Students deserve the best we can offer. I believe that I have demonstrated both passionate and logical leadership when given the opportunity.
I have had vast experiences in developing programs, curriculum, operations, facilities, transportation, resource allocation, and budget planning at the district level. More recently I have helped develop vertical curriculums in alignment with essential academic standards in mathematics, management of multiple building projects, and writing grants for Mental Health, Charter Schools, and School Safety. My unique experiences have allowed me to work in the school buildings from kindergarten through the twelfth grade, as well as at the district level in this capacity.
In being a school psychologist and a pupil services director, I have learned that being an advocate for our students with the most need is necessary, as most state initiatives and local funding are not focused on this population. Especially working in rural Wisconsin, I have found that the untreated mental health and the poverty these students are faced with creates barriers to their school success be it behavioral or academic. Working at the regional or state level as an advocate for that student group is something I am very passionate about.
My ultimate goal in education is to successfully develop and maintain educational integrity for all students within public education. As an administrator, I have implemented programs, used curriculum, and allocated funds that target the building’s specific needs, both academically and socially. Moreover, we have a responsibility to be involved at the state level to make sure our voices are heard. Advocacy is something that is not something someone else does for you, I believe you need to be that person at all times for our students.
As a graduate of a small rural school, my heart believes that we can give our students the best possible start to their lives. Together we can create a well rounded experience for all students in the Lakeland Union High School District.
Robert J. Smudde
|