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Thursday, June 19, 2014
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Skokan to retire as Progress Industries President and CEO
INSIDE TODAY Ty Rushing/Daily News Todd Schuster is still smiling after recently being named the new principal of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School beginning in the 2014-2015 school year. Schuster is the current vice-principal at Berg Elementary School and has been in the district for 18 years.
Local
‘Jammy Dance’ with author at Newton library
Special to the Daily News
Page 2A
Local
Becoming WW principal is ‘dream job’ for Schuster
Two 4-H seniors get scholarships Page 3A
By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Sports
Cards rally past Little Dutch Page 1B
Weather
Friday
High 89 Low 66
Saturday
High 85 Low 68 Weather Almanac
Wed., June 18 High 87 Low 69 No Precipitation Also: Astrograph Page 5B Calendar Page 3A Classifieds Page 4B Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A
Police Page 3A Sports Page 1B Our 113th Year No. 23
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“If you would have told me in ’91, ‘Hey, do you think that someday you would be a principal,’ I would’ve said, ‘No way.’ But here we are.” — Todd Schuster, Woodrow Wilson Elementary School principal
western Iowa and attended schools there from kindergarten all the way up until he graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City. At Northwestern, he completed a double major in education and physical education. He even spent his first four years teaching in that area of the state, and began his career as a secondgrade teacher. Todd said he really never had a plan to become an administrator, but he became one after trying to figure out a way to help guide more students. “Looking at the big picture, I’m impacting these 20 or 25 kids (in the classroom). How can I impact an even larger number of kids? That’s kind of where that stemmed from. It really wasn’t an easy choice. I love the classroom. Even now, when I have to cover
a class for this or that I love it,” Todd said. To get to that next level, Todd got his master’s degree and later went back to get his educational leadership certification — both from Viterbo University’s West Des Moines Campus — and was done with both of those by 2004. Shortly after his certification, he got his first taste of being an administrator when he served as the interim-principal of Berg Elementary for a year. This was during the time when the district was still considering closing an elementary building and didn’t want to place a permanent person there until a final decision was made. “I was fortunate enough to do that,” Todd said. “So, I did that for one year and then they did go from five (elementary schools) to four.” Current Berg Elementary principal, Jolene Comer, took over for him. After that experience, Todd has steadily remained at the administrative level in Newton. He say’s he been learning more about being a principal by taking note of how all of the various educational leaders he’s worked under operate. “My number one job has been to try and do the very best I can to impact kids. Number two, is I’d like to be a principal — in Newton, Iowa. Maybe a lot of people do have their dream jobs come true, but (I know) I have. SCHUSTER See Page 5A
Museum to host steam engine school
Obituaries Page 3A
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Most people want to avoid stress, longer working hours and the backlash that comes from making the tough decisions. Todd Schuster is a bit different in the aspect that he is not only looking forward to all of those issues, but he wants “the fingers pointing” at him. During the June 9 Newton Community School District Board of Education meeting, Todd — formerly the viceprincipal at Berg Elementary School — was unanimously selected to replace long-time Woodrow Wilson Elementary School principal Nancy Van Wyk. He has been preparing for an opportunity like this for quite a while, which is what probably helped him receive the job over the other two finalists — both of whom were “highly qualified” according to Superintendent Bob Callaghan. His educational career has spanned a total of 23 years, and Todd has spent the last 18 years in the district. He’s served as a fifth-grade teacher, interim principal, activities director, coach and vice-principal to both Berg buildings. All of his stops and titles have lead up to him finally having a school to call his own. “If you would have told me in ’91, ‘Hey, do you think that someday you would be a principal, I would’ve said, ‘No way.’ But here we are,” Todd said. Todd grew up in north-
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The Jasper County Historical Museum will host a Minneapolis Steam Engine School on Saturday and Sunday at the museum, located at 1700 S. 15th Ave. W. in Newton. The school will begin with one hour of classroom instruction and the remainder of Saturday and Sunday will be hands-on instruc-
Newton, Iowa
tion. On Saturday, coffee and coffee cake will be served at 9 a.m. outside the ag building ($1 plus free refills). Steam school will start at 10 a.m. Sunday’s session will begin at noon. Attendees can either bring a sack lunch and picnic in the barn, or go off-site for lunch. Coffee and water will be available.
Submitted Photo
Progress Industries and the P.I. Foundation will soon begin a search for a new President and CEO as Dan Skokan announced his plans to retire later this year. Progress Industries Board Chair, Tod Hockenson, announced that a Board Search Committee has been formed and will begin its work to recruit Skokan’s replacement. Skokan has been the company’s chief executive officer since September, 2003. “During these past 11 years, I have been blessed with dedicated staff, an involved Skokan Board of Trustees and a community of stakeholders that support the work we do”, said Skokan. “I have enjoyed helping to make a difference with Progress Industries and the P.I. Foundation and am very proud of what my colleagues and I have accomplished together during the economic challenges of the past few years. We’ve worked hard to provide quality services, embrace a culture of corporate values to enhance our reputation, and improve our fiscal position for long-term sustainability,” Skokan said. Prior to taking the helm at Progress Industries he was in private practice as a Certified Public Accountant. His career in public accounting spanned 32 years. “The knowledge and level of integrity Skokan displays in every interaction he encounters has elevated Progress Industries to a new level of expectation that persons served, employees, board members, funders and stakeholders have become accustomed,” said Hockenson. “The Board of Trustees appreciate his dedication and commitment to a smooth transition in leadership.” Progress Industries, established in 1979, is an nonprofit organization that provides employment training and placement services, day activity programs and residential services for people with disabilities in central Iowa.
Friedman updates city’s progress in advancing technology By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer Newton Director of Finance and Development Bryan Friedman gave an update Monday on the City Action Plan Goal D by highlighting some of the achievements made in the progress of the city’s goal to develop advancing technologies. COUNCIL See Page 5A