Dylan Smith became superintendent of Walton-Verona Independent in July following six years as the assistant superintendent in Oldham County. Photo courtesy Dylan Smith
The new superintendent of Walton-Verona Independent, Dylan Smith, came to the district with several ideas to enhance learning for talented students.
Smith said the district is launching a new enrichment program for primary talent pool students called the Advanced Learning Program for Students, or ALPS. It will give 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students an opportunity to participate in enrichment activities on the three Saturdays leading up to Thanksgiving. Depending on feedback they receive from parents, Smith said the district may repeat the program for the three Saturdays leading up to spring break.
“Some of the work around supporting gifted and talented students is going to be some important work to build on,” Smith said. “I think our work with English learners is also going to be really focused this year.”
He said the district is starting a book study in its elementary and intermediate school around the book, “7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom” by John Seidlitz and Bill Perryman, which is a research-based guide outlining process for creating a classroom environment where all students, especially English learners, can thrive.
“We have some teachers that are stepping forward as teacher leaders that want to lead the book study at the elementary campus,” Smith said. “We see a real opportunity to create language-rich environments to help (students) succeed in school.”
As part of the district’s efforts around professional learning, Smith also is starting a book study for teachers on the book, “Instructional Rounds in Education,” by Elizabeth A. City, Richard F. Elmore, Sarah E. Fiarman, Lee Teitel and Andrew Lachman.
“We’re going to be looking at classroom instruction and how we create opportunities for students to be challenged with complex and rigorous learning experiences in all of our classrooms,” Smith said.
Since starting his position, Smith said he has appreciated the deep commitment to the culture of the district that many staff members, students and community members have shown.
“I am very fortunate to work with an engaged and collaborative school board that takes long-term planning very seriously,” he said. “I think the team that I’m working with has worked together for many years and they work really collaboratively together. So, I feel like it’s a system that is really primed to continue doing great work for students and it’s a place that I’m excited to help guide as we move forward into some work around instructional rounds, supporting English learners and enhancing our gifted and talented program.”
Before coming to the district, Smith served as a history teacher and academic dean at Leadership Public Schools in San Jose, Calif.; then director of professional development and assistant principal in the Kent School District in Kent, Wash.; director of data and intervention at ReNEW Schools Charter Management Organization in New Orleans; and principal of North Oldham Middle School (Oldham County). For the last six years, he was assistant superintendent at Oldham County and became superintendent of Walton-Verona in July.
Smith said one thing that drew him to Walton-Verona is the small, tight-knit community in a district of just less than 2,000 students.
“One of the things that caught my attention about Walton-Verona was just that it was a small independent school district and that was something that took me back to some work that I’ve done in other states across the country,” he said. “The school system is deeply committed to the education of the kids and the things that they are working on lined up with my professional experience, … (such as) supporting English learners and student support in special education.”
He has a bachelor’s degree in politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz; a master’s in educational leadership and administration from the University of California, Berkeley; a master’s in secondary social studies education from Fordham University; and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from the University of Washington.
Another priority for Smith is increasing the district’s visibility and presence within the community. He started a monthly video series called WV This Month where people around the community can hear from Smith about what the district has been working on and what’s coming next.
The district e-mails the videos to all families in the district and posts them on the Walton-Verona Independent School District Facebook page.
He said he has received positive feedback from community members on those videos, and he looks forward to continuing to collaborate with community members, families and district staff.
“I’m very excited for the work that’s in front of us in the Walton-Verona Independent School District, and I think it is a really great place for students and families, and I’m excited to work with teachers and the district leadership team to create great learning experiences for students,” he said.
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