District Superintendent Jeff Schneider didn’t necessarily see himself going into a superintendent role as he stepped out of college with a degree from Wayne State University. Schneider planned to go into teaching but has slowly moved up the ranks within Hastings Public Schools. With the recent retirement of Mr. Craig Kautz, Schneider has been promoted from district director of finance to superintendent.
Schneider didn’t always see himself going towards the superintendent role, but in recent years, he started to consider the idea.
“I started to seriously consider the idea around three or four years ago, mostly due to the mentorship of Mr. Kautz,” Schneider said.
Schneider also cites the many opportunities he has been given throughout the years.
“It’s surprising, but I’m learning more now than when I was a student,” Schneider said.
In the 26 years since Schneider originally took a job within the district, and the ten years since Schneider has moved into educational administration, widespread changes have taken shape throughout the district.
“Our facilities drastically improved over the last ten years, with the (High School’s) science wing eight years ago being a key aspect of that,” Schneider said.
District investment in laptops, with one to one integration in grades 8-12, has also been a key to staying on pace with the state’s larger school districts.
Dr. Thomas Szlanda, principal at Hastings Senior High, believes that the district is in good hands. Szlanda and Schneider have worked together for 11 years, and communicate daily through face-to-face meetings, telephone calls and emails. Both administrators are focused on student collaboration and the student learning process as a whole. Within the high school, Dr. Szlanda emphasizes a focus on improving ACT scores and college readiness across the board.
The superintendent’s job isn’t a walk in the park through. Schneider believes that the most pressing issue within the district is funding.
“Some of the toughest decisions I have to make are personnel-related,” Schneider said.
With major recent district budget cuts, HPS was put into a tough position this year and had to make some tough decisions. Through it all, though, Schneider and the district as a whole continue to work hard to improve the experience for students.
Though the education scene may look very different 20 years into the future, Schneider feels confident in the idea of his job.
“My job is to listen to others and find better ways to support teachers, students, and staff,” Schneider said.
As education as a whole continues to evolve, Hastings Public Schools, now more than ever, is ready to continue to engage and implement new methods to improve the lives of students.
