Contributor

David R. Schuler, Superintendent of Schools, Township High School District 214, Arlington Heights, Ill.

Dr. David R. Schuler is currently in his tenth year as a superintendent of schools. Schuler began his career as a social studies teacher, athletic coach, activity advisor, and a director of athletics and activities prior to becoming a high school principal in Marshall, Wisconsin, located just east of Madison. After one year as the high school principal, the superintendent position became vacant and the School Board offered Schuler the position. He indicated that he would take on the superintendency for one year, but then he wanted to move back to the high school principalship position. Within the first three months as superintendent, Schuler knew he had the best job in the world: that of a public school superintendent.

He served two years as superintendent in Marshall and three years as superintendent in Stevens Point, a large central Wisconsin district before accepting the position as superintendent for Township High School District 214 in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. This suburban school district of 12,300 students is noted for its exceptional levels of student achievement.

Schuler was recently elected to serve a three-year term on the governing board of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), a professional organization for school superintendents and other school system leaders nationwide. He currently chairs the AASA Membership Committee and has served on the Association's Small and Rural Schools Advisory Committee. Schuler speaks throughout the country on a variety of issues including student achievement, closing the achievement gap, superintendent transitions, systemic review of a school district's operations and strategic goal setting.

In addition to serving as superintendent, Schuler has served as an adjunct associate professor at the University of Illinois - Chicago in the College of Education & Policy Studies doctoral program where he taught a course of staff development and student achievement in urban settings and as an adjunct lecturer at Carroll College in the Education Department. In addition, he has volunteered for over 20 years for the Wisconsin American Legion Badger Boys State Program where he currently serves as vice president of the board of directors and assistant director for counselor recruitment and retention.

Schuler earned his bachelor's degree from Carroll University near Milwaukee, Wisconsin and his master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. His doctoral research focused on leadership theory and building credible relationships between superintendents and their administrative team members.