Garrett Schmidt, Superintendent, Dakota Valley School District

Volunteer:

Dakota Valley Business Council

NIAAA Sports Facilities Committee

SDSSA Area II Superintendent Group

What are you passionate about, and how do you use your voice/talent to make a difference?

I am extremely passionate about building positive relationships with the people we serve. Having spent my entire career in public education, those people include everyone in our school district and the surrounding community. As an educational leader, I believe my responsibility is to serve our students, their families, our staff, and our taxpayers. I cannot effectively serve these groups without first building relationships, listening to their perspectives, and understanding what matters most to them.

One of the greatest privileges of working in public education is the opportunity to positively impact an entire community. However, there is a significant difference between simply impacting people and positively impacting people. That difference begins and ends with trust, and trust is built through transparency and communication.

As a district leader, I believe it is essential to be visible and accessible throughout the community. I need to be present at school events, community gatherings, and everyday interactions because our community deserves a leader who is willing to listen and engage. Not everyone will feel comfortable approaching me directly with a question or concern, and that is okay. My responsibility is to ensure we communicate in ways that reach people where they are and provide the information they need.

Ultimately, I use my voice and my role to create connections between our schools and the community we serve. I believe the strongest communities are built when people feel heard, valued, and included. My goal is to keep fostering those relationships so our students, families, staff, and community members know they have a leader committed to their success.

What is your vision for the future of Siouxland?

My vision for Siouxland is a community that continues to grow while maintaining the relationships and sense of connection that make this such a special place to live. I believe we are either growing or declining; there is no standing still. I want to see us push the envelope, attract new businesses, create opportunities for young professionals, and embrace innovative ideas while staying true to what makes Siouxland unique: its people.

That growth will require schools, businesses, community organizations, and residents to work together. We cannot be afraid to take chances or try something new, even if it means occasionally failing. If we continue to communicate openly, invest in relationships, and believe in what Siouxland can become, I believe we can make this one of the best places in the Midwest to live, work, and raise a family.

What are you doing to make that happen?

It starts with being open and transparent with those we serve. Trust is built through consistent actions, communication, and a willingness to listen. If we want people to believe in the Dakota Valley School District, then they need to understand the processes that drive the decisions that we make. The same is true throughout all of Siouxland. If we want people to move here and keep pushing us forward, we need to help them understand why this is such a great place to live and raise a family. 

As an educational leader, I am doing my best to push our school district forward, while also working with other educational leaders throughout the area. Yes, we may compete on a field or court against one another, but when it comes to uplifting Siouxland (and educating the young minds of Siouxland), we are all on the same team. 

How can people help you make that happen? 

Never hesitate to reach out to me with your ideas, thoughts, opinions, or challenges. I love meeting new Siouxlanders who are passionate about this area. Let’s keep pushing the envelope of innovation and make the Siouxland area one of the best in the Midwest. 

What quote inspires you? 

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt