As Lebanon School District leader, David Schmitz adapted to meet the changing needs of families, educators and employers.
Schmitz, with support from the school board, has expanded access to preschool, increased support for families struggling to make ends meet, introduced students to “real world” skills, and explored innovative ways to create jobs and assess students’ learning process.
The leader from Lebanon, whose administrative career has roots in Springfield, was named by the Missouri Association of School Administrators during an Oct. 19 fall conference held in conjunction with the Missouri School Boards’ Association 2025 Missouri Superintendent of the Year.
“This honor is a team effort,” Schmitz said Sunday. “We have a school board that is committed to being what we need to be to meet the needs of our children and community. They have enabled a lot of innovation and unique ways for our system to function. Our community has embraced that and our staff is really open and willing to meet the children’s needs no matter how necessary.”
Nine years ago, Schmitz was hired to lead the 4,500-student district in Laclede County, where 60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a national measure of poverty. He said Yellowjack’s pride runs deep.
“The Lebanese community is so passionate about its schools,” Schmitz said, adding that the district is “filled with very kind, caring, compassionate people who care about each other and that is the core of what we have been able to achieve.”
In 2018, voters in Lebanon approved the largest increase in school-related property taxes in decades, raising the $2.75 operating tax per $100 of assessed assessment by 90 cents over three years.
The extra money paid teachers, bought new buses, repaired roofs, modernized parking lots and HVAC systems and expanded educational programs.
Earlier this year, voters approved a $41 million no-tax-increase bond issue, which increases the district’s debt but does not change property tax bills, to expand the high school and two elementary buildings. A focus on creating “innovative learning spaces” was also part of the proposal.
In March, Schmitz will be recognized at the American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education.
“Dr. David Schmitz has the heart of a true servant. From the work he has done to improve early childhood education to the support he shows his staff, he is connected to the people of his district,” said Doug Hayter, executive director of MASA, said in a press release. “Dr. Schmitz has so many wonderful leadership qualities, and I know he will be a great representative of his fellow superintendents in Missouri.”
‘Willing to do what is necessary’
As part of the honor, MASA praised Schmitz’s work in connecting with parents, school staff and taxpayers. There has been more outreach from the district — especially on social media, which stakeholders say they prefer — and an emphasis on seeking input on big decisions.
Schmitz is actively working with lawmakers in an effort to strengthen public education. He also championed the Success Ready Student Network, an innovative approach to measuring student academic growth.
One area that is seeing significant change under his leadership is early childhood education and resources for young families.
One of his first decisions was to appoint a director of early childhood programming, which led to an expansion of the Parents As Teachers program, increased access to preschool and the opening of an early childhood center.
“We had children coming to our preschool who had minimal or no academic experience, and we also noticed that we had quite a substantial level of gaps in health and hygiene, in the sense that needs in terms of health and hygiene were not always being met dental, vision and hearing were met. At this level we hope to help a student prepare for kindergarten,” he said.
The district partnered with Jordan Valley Community Health and looked for a space to create an early childhood center with an adjacent women’s and children’s clinic.
With support from the Robert W. Plaster Foundation, the district purchased what was formerly known as “the mall” and established an early childhood center and adjacent clinic.
“We work with families to help them understand how to best meet their children’s needs before they start kindergarten,” he said.
“Parents want the very best for their children, but sometimes they just need help, partnership and coaching. And that is what is provided at our center.”
More: Proposal: SPS wants to expand bus transportation next year to serve 1,100 additional students
Schmitz said the district’s vision is to be an “adaptive learning community.”
“That means we must be prepared to do whatever it takes, whenever and wherever,” he said. “And sometimes that means doing it differently than you ever have before.”
Lessons Learned in Springfield District
Schmitz, 54, grew up in Richmond, just east of Kansas City. His career began in 1992 as a social studies teacher and wrestling coach in Nevada, south of his hometown. He spent two years as an assistant principal in Fulton before being hired by Springfield Public Schools.
He began his 14-year stint in Springfield as assistant principal of Hillcrest High School. He spent one year as principal of Cherokee Middle School, seven years as principal of Kickapoo High School, and then moved to the district’s headquarters where he was principal of middle schools.
“I consider my time in Springfield remarkable and I love Springfield Public Schools,” he said. “And I couldn’t do the work that I do here without that experience there.”
Schmitz said now-retired mentors, including Anita Kissinger and Superintendent Norm Ridder, gave him advice that helped shape his leadership.
“Norm Ridder told me that if you ever want to see change happen, if you ever want to see growth in a community or a program, you have to find a champion, empower him, give him the tools he needs to do that do and get out of the way,” said Schmitz. “That’s something I’ve embraced and that’s why this is a shared award, because I try to apply that advice in everything I do.”
Schmitz also learned leadership skills in the military. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves in 2010 as a major after 22 years of service.
At a time when Missouri has experienced high turnover in the superintendent position, Schmitz said he is not yet planning a departure. He is eligible to retire, but plans to stay and advocate for public education.
More: Missouri’s superintendent turnover rate remains high. One reason? It’s demanding
“I enjoy the big picture. I enjoy working with the community to make our schools better. That’s a very positive thing for me,” he said. “I enjoy seeing children excel. I enjoy helping parents learn and understand how to best prepare their children, whether it’s preschool, kindergarten, college or careers, that’s really meaningful to me.”
Schmitz acknowledged that the leadership role is challenging, sometimes in ways that are “invisible” to those who have not experienced the pressure. He said faith, family and fitness helped. He and his wife Amy have four children.
“I have a wonderful wife and she is a rock for me. She is always there to listen and support. And I’m not sure how I would survive the supervision, day to day, week to week or from year to year, without her support,” he said. “It takes a community working together and that’s why I’m grateful to have a great community to work in.”
This article originally appeared on the Springfield News-Leader: Lebanon’s David Schmitz named Missouri Superintendent of the Year
