Since the announcement of current principal Jay Opperman’s transfer to Omaha Westside, Hastings Public Schools has been on the search for a new principal. On Monday, March 28, Superintendent Craig Kautz recommended Dr. Thomas Szlanda as the new principal for the 16-17 school year. After the long interview process consisting of three candidates, the District has narrowed it down to one, Dr. Thomas Szlanda.
Kautz said he is looking forward to seeing growth in many areas at the high school.
“I would like to see some student performance rise under Dr. Szlanda’s leadership,” Kautz said.
According to the press release provided by Kautz, Dr. Szlanda graduated from Hastings Senior High in 1991. After completing a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwest Missouri State University in 1997, Dr. Szlanda went on to complete a Master of Science in Education, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, and a Doctorate in Education.
Dr. Szlanda joined the faculty of Hastings Senior High in 2009 as an Assistant Principal, a position he has maintained for the last seven years. While Dr. Szlanda was a conscientious Assistant Principal primarily focused upon student discipline, he looks forward to serving in a broader role with a focus on student learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Board approval of the recommendation will take place at the April 18 board meeting. Dr. Szlanda was not available for comment at this time.
Update:
Hastings Senior High’s Dr. Tom Szlanda has been recommended by superintendent Craig Kautz as the principal for the 2016-2017 school year.
“I have a great love and appreciation for Hastings Senior High School,” Szlanda said. “I believe that being the Principal at Hastings Senior High School I can provide opportunities for growth for both students and their families, as well as Faculty and staff, and the Hastings Community” Szlanda said.
Szlanda has lots of previous administrative experience including being an assistant summer academy director and a summer academy director, and a substitute assistant principal at Ritenour High School in St. Louis, Missouri. Szlanda has also been an assistant principal for HHS the last seven years.
“I plan to create both a student advisory committee and a parent advisory committee to understand their perspective, wants, needs, and values. I will also be meeting personally with teachers to discuss what our strengths and weaknesses are,” Szlanda said.
Szlanda wants to make sure that both students and teachers are provided with a safe and orderly learning environment.
“Without a safe learning environment students don’t feel safe to learn and teachers don’t feel safe to teach,” Szlanda said.
Szlanda will be be asking himself and staff questions to best insure that every student is reaching their full potential.
“What do we want students to know and be able to do? How will we know when students know it and can do it? What will we do when students don’t know it and can’t do it? What will we do when students already know it and can do it?” Szlanda said.
The school board will vote to approve the recommendation on April 18.
