GLEN E. SZYMONIAK
Superintendent
McCall-Donnelly School District
120 Idaho Street, McCall Idaho
(208) 634-2161

gszymoniak@mdsd.org

Download Full Biography: Superintendent Biography (pdf)

OBJECTIVE
Provide a superior education system.

CERTIFICATON/LICENSES
Idaho Superintendent Certificate
Idaho Principal Certificate
Alaska State Type B Certificate, Superintendent endorsement, expires 2012
Alaska State Type B Certificate, Principal endorsement, expires 2012
Alaska State Type A Certificate, Elementary endorsement, expires 2013
“Highly Qualified” designation for elementary teacher
United States Coast Guard Master of Motor Vessels

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

Superintendent
McCall-Donnelly School District, McCall, Idaho 2008-present

Meadows Valley School District, New Meadows, Idaho 2008-2011

• Provided mediation and conflict resolution services for building administrators, teachers and parents

• Organized leadership training for principals

• Provided emergency response training to building site responders and coordinated training with firefighters and police for all district employees

Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, Soldotna, AK 2005-2007

Accomplishments

• Implemented “Interest Based Bargaining” successfully with teachers and support staff

• Created a charter school study team, revised policies for charter schools operating in district facilities

• Revised the District Emergency Action Plan and organized emergency training for school staff

• Served as district Incident Commander for the Arctic Winter Games, Mount Augustine Volcano eruption, Seward flood, tsunami alerts, student threats and severe winter storms

• Developed district Web page to be the primary mode of internal and external communication

• Hosted Alaska Summer Leadership Academy in Homer, Alaska

• Coordinated a five-year bus bid process with three other large districts that saved the district approximately $1 million a year

• Organized handling of luggage for 2,000 international athletes for the 2005 Arctic Winter Games

• Revised the District Safety Plan to reduce paperwork and create a culture of safety

• Oversaw construction of Seward Middle School and teacher housing in Tyonek

Principal

Homer Middle School, Homer, AK 2000-2005

Accomplishments

• Launched a comprehensive school reform that produced innovative methods for increasing student performance

- Data used to determine if teachers were teaching to standards, assessing students’ performance on standards and communicating student performance to parents in a timely and accurate manner

- Test scores consistently high or the highest in the district

• Overall test scores in the top five among middle schools in Alaska

• Taught a “Web Page Development” college class to teachers

• All teachers used a common electronic grade book and Web site with grades and assignments updated weekly

• Established a long-range plan for recreational partnerships with the city of Homer

• Led a teamwork approach to promote parent, teacher and student involvement during downsizing to determine program availability

• Created an “Event Staff” of student leaders that organized and helped carry out school-wide events

• Sponsored the Student Council and promoted active student involvement in school governance

• Taught “Introduction to Education” class at Kenai Peninsula College, Kachemak Bay Campus

• Negotiated agreement between Kenai Peninsula Administrator Association and the district

Principal

McNeil Canyon Elementary, Homer, AK 1994-2000

Accomplishments

• First KPBSD school to wire a school using volunteers (Net Day)

• Test scores consistently high or the highest in the district

• Implemented formative assessments and structured reading program

• Implemented “6 Trait Writing” Process • Promoted “Artist in the School” program

• Started after-school youth basketball program

• Initiated school-based strategic plan

• Oversaw staff training in Critical Incident Response, including evacuation drills, search and rescue, triage, first aid, command and communication

Principal/Teacher

Moose Pass School, Moose Pass, AK 1988-1994

Accomplishments

• Named “1994 Outstanding Principal/Teacher of the Year” for the state of Alaska Wrote state grants to install new carpeting and siding for the school

• Secured legislative funding for an addition to the school

• Founded a cross-country ski program for students

• Strategic Planning Team “Partnership in Education” Committee

• Served on team to bring the Middle School Philosophy to KPBSD

• Trained in Middle School Philosophy by Paul George, University of Florida

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

3rd Grade Teacher

Seward Elementary School, Seward, AK 1985-1988

Job duties include: Developed an independent study method for teaching math, and used a unit approach to teaching sea week, rockets & space, science fair and computers.

9th-12th Grade Teacher

Nunivaarmuit High School, Mekoryuk, AK 1982-1985

Job duties include: Teaching biology, physical science, algebra I & II, language arts, photography, fishing methods, residential wiring and physical education, and coaching varsity basketball, cross-country running and Native Youth Olympics.

3rd Grade Teacher

Universal American School of Kuwait, Khaldiyah, Kuwait 1980-1982

Job duties include: Teaching all classes to third- and fourth-grade students from around the world.

SPECIAL TRAINING/EXPERIENCE

Interest Based Bargaining, Harvard Law School, 2002

Comprehensive School Reform using Baldrige Criteria for Excellence, 2000-2005

Emergency Response Training, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2006

Zone Emergency Response Plan Training, 1994

Post-Disaster Damage Evaluation Procedures, 2004

Medic First Aid/CPR, 1990-2007

Fleet Foreman, Seward Response Team, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, 1989

Charter Boat Owner and Captain, Mackinaw Charters, 1990-2004

Michael Fullan Alaska Summer Leadership Institute, Host, 2005

Alaska Quality Schools Institute, 2001

Strategic Planning Team Leader, Partnerships in Education, 1993

School Based Decision Making, District Committee, 1995

College Adjunct Professor, Kenai Community College, 2000, 2001

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Member, American Association of School Administrators

Vice President, Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals

President, Kenai Peninsula Administrator’s Association

Secretary, Kenai Peninsula Administrator’s Association

Treasurer, Kenai Peninsula Administrator’s Association

Chairman, Nominating Committee, Kenai Peninsula Administrator’s Association

Spokesperson, KPAA Negotiating Team

Chairman, National Distinguished Principal Selection Committee

Member, Accreditation Team, North Slope Borough School District

State Principal Mentor Program training

Consultant, Homer Road Construction Committee

Host and member, Child Advocacy Coalition of Homer

Critical incident planning, emergency training for school staff

AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND GRANTS

AAESP Outstanding Principal/Teacher Award, 1994

Principal of the Year, Region III, 2001

Met Life National Distinguished Principal Nomination

Comprehensive School Reform Grant

Presentation, Arctic Winter Games, Emergency Response Plan

Presentation, No Child Left Behind Conference, Jan. 2004

Presentation, Retreat for School Leaders, April 2004

Presentation, Strategic Planning, 1999

Presentation to Homer Educational Leaders, March 2004

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Board of Directors, McCall-Donnelly Education Foundation

Board of Directors, Central Peninsula Counseling Services

Board of Directors, Arctic Winter Games

Co-Chairperson, Care and Comfort, Arctic Winter Games

Critical Incident Commander, Arctic Winter Games

Coach, Homer Little League, Kuwait Baseball Team

Homer Community Schools Basketball Program

Volunteer, Mt. MarathonRace

Member, Homer Chamber of Commerce

Attend Homer United Methodist Church

DEGREES

1997 M.Ed., Public School Administration, University of Alaska, Anchorage
1980 B.S., Elementary Education, Central Michigan University