Leadership Matters May 2014 working doc

NewAASAPresident-Elect Dr. Schuler ready to championpublic education ArlingtonHeights superintendent focuses onmaking schools relevant for students

ByMichael Chamness IASADirector of Communications

must be constantly asking ourselves. In today’s world, there’s no need to teach what kids can Google.” Schuler said two other people stand out asmajor influences in his development as an educator. One was his student teacher mentor Tony Bralick, and the other is Dr. Sarah Jerome, superintendent of the neighboring Arlington Heights District 25 and the last Illinois superintendent to be President of AASA, a post sheheld during the2007-08 school year. “Tony helped teach me the art of teaching and engaging students to get to a deeper level,” recalled Schuler of his six years teaching alongside Bralick in Waukesha, Wisconsin. “He would push people to ensure that students reached their true innate potential, not just what they thought their potential might be. His attitude was that students can always domore if we expect more of them.” In October of 1997, Bralick, a social studies teacher and cross country coach at WaukeshaWest High School, died of a heart attack at a cross country meet. He was only 46. Schuler’s bond with Bralick was so strong that Schuler took time off from his brand new administrative post in another district and returned to Waukesha to teach Bralick’s social studies classes and help students through the (Continuedonpage10)

David Schuler can’t remember exactly when he wanted to become an educator. Or, more accurately, he can’t recall ever wanting tobe anything else. “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. My mother was a teacher and I lovedwhat she did. I can remember making check boxes for her when she brought papers home to grade,” said Schuler, superintendent of schools at High School District 214 in Arlington Heights, who recently was voted President-Elect of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). When Schuler becomes AASA President in 2015 he will become only the 13 th Illinois superintendent to head up that national association in thepast 128 years. ThewaySchuler’smother went about hermission still guides his educationphilosophy to this day. “She always made education relevant for her students. If she was teaching about the war, she would invite veterans and Holocaust survivors to share their stories. If it was home economics shewas teaching, shewould actually teach kids how to cook,” Schuler recalled. “That has to be our focus today. How do we ensure education is relevant in our ever- evolving global environment? That’s a question we

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