The Mount Vernon Community School Board has chosen Matthew Leeman as the district’s next Superintendent. Leeman will take the position July 1.
Leeman is in his 20th year of education and is currently serving as the associate superintendent/6-12 curriculum director at Clear Creek Amana Community School District. He has experience serving as a building administrator across grades K-12 in various roles at CCA, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, and Postville, and started his educational career as a kindergarten teacher at Postville.
Leeman, during his question-and-answer period with community members, summed up why Mount Vernon was the job he was applying for in his closing statement.
“I know what me and my family would gain by being superintendent of this district,” Leeman said. “I know what I would gain professionally, and I want to assure people that if I am here, I am going to be here for the long haul. I view this as the job I am going to hold until I retire.”
During a question on how Mount Vernon and CCA differ, Leeman expounded that the closeness of the schools (three campuses in close proximity) is much more manageable to have a presence than the seven buildings over several miles.
“It’s why Mount Vernon is a draw for me,” Leeman said. “It’s a place I could see raising my family and finish my career.”
In his opening comments, he noted that his family, wife Lori and sons Myles and Zander (as well as their dog Ozzy) was the most important thing for him.
He said he knows he has big shoes to fill, with a visible and relatable superintendent like Dr. Batenhorst at the helm, but he is up for the challenge.
“At Clear Creek Amana, as assistant superintendent I was present at many of our buildings,” Leeman said. “If you are not present at the buildings in your district, you have a hard time having a pulse of what is going on.”
His current responsibilities involve day-to-day operations, supervision of administrators and directors across seven campuses, oversight of curricular materials, and active involvement in hiring staff and district-wide budget development.
Most recently, he helped with the passage of a $65 million general obligation bond, reconsideration of district boundaries and the planning for a new elementary building and other upcoming facility needs.
He and his family reside in Tiffin. Outside of the office he enjoys fishing, hunting, being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
Board members worked with Ray and Associates, Inc. to conduct the search. Leeman interviewed with stakeholder groups consisting of students, teachers, support staff, and administration. Community forums were also held for community members to meet Leeman and offer their feedback.
During the community forum, Leeman answered questions from students, staff and community members on subjects ranging on activities and athletics, support of special education, safety of schools, handling declining enrollment and other topics.
With activities and athletics, he said he supported all coaches equally.
With special education, he said that at CCA they were constantly dealing with the needs of special education, as they were a destination school for many families and having to deal with their needs.
Leeman said that at previous districts like Gladbrook-Reinbeck and Postville, he dealt with declining enrollment issues and would check why parents were going to other districts, but at CCA they were dealing with the complete opposite issue.
“We’d have 300 or more open enroll into the district at CCA, as we were a district of choice, and we had to start closing grades because our numbers for certain grades would be at capacity,” Leeman said.