Dr. Kevin Schlomer, an education professional with more than two decades of elementary teaching and leadership experience, begins the new school year as Principal of Clarke Elementary. Clarke students and staff will soon learn that Dr. Schlomer’s journey carries with it a plethora of knowledge from student success and instructional coaching to development of programming that instills inspiration, hope, and motivation for education and the future of all the district’s students.
Kevin graduated with his degree in Elementary Education from Northwest Missouri State University in 2002. From there, he earned his Master’s in School Leadership in 2005 and his Doctor of Education degree from Drake University in 2017.
“You could say I come from an education family,” said Dr. Schlomer, whose mother was a paraprofessional, wife Jennifer works with Des Moines Public Schools, and in-laws also worked in education. “Even casual family dinners end up in conversations about our education systems and how to best serve our children.”
Schlomer’s professional path has a dominant rural community trend to it as well. With stints teaching and holding leadership positions in districts ranging from Norwalk Community Schools to Ankeny and Indianola, and then, on to six years with Heartland AEA, he’s helped districts across the state with student programming and establishing learning systems.
“In the short time I’ve been on campus at Clarke, I can tell this is going to be an exciting place to be,” said Dr. Schlomer. “The Clarke District is the perfect size to affect change and inspire students to be more successful.”
As Clarke’s first day of school quickly approaches, Schlomer and his team at the elementary campus are working diligently on preparing for the students’ return. From establishing and refining curriculum to kicking off new programming and strategies for student and teacher success, Kevin takes the helm at a time where the Clarke district will be seeing a lot of change.
“While this first year I’ll be learning the systems and helping develop administrative efficiencies throughout the school, I am very excited for the Dual-Language program starting with our kindergarten and first grade students,” said Schlomer.
The dual-language classroom structure will consist of two classrooms dedicated to providing instruction in both English and Spanish. Participating students will receive instruction for a half day in English and a half day in Spanish. By introducing it in the kindergarten and first grade classes, the district will begin growing the program annually until it spans the entire district, kindergarten through 12th grade, opening an opportunity for students to graduate with dual-language recognition and capabilities.
On top of new programming for students, Dr. Schlomer will focus on further implementation of an MTSS framework for his teachers and administrators. An MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) organizational framework helps create systems of care and leadership that ensure students get what they need academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally.
“We’re driven to make Clarke, including our elementary school, an exciting community of learning,” said Schlomer. “We want Clarke to be a place where kids can’t wait to go to.”