As West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) Superintendent Dr. Lisa Remy gets ready to begin her new role as executive director of School Administrators of Iowa (SAI), we sat down with her to reflect on her time at WDMCS. We also spoke with two former Board of Education members and the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce president and CEO about their work with Dr. Remy.
Looking Back
In her time as superintendent, Dr. Lisa Remy earned a reputation as a leader who listened to all viewpoints and put students first. This was evident in the "Every Child, Every Day" motto she adopted, as well as the strategic plan, Portrait of a Graduate, and the district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion work. These efforts, developed during Lisa's time as superintendent, were all focused on making sure every student could feel welcome, safe, and find their place in WDMCS.
“Lisa is so good at inviting people in and listening and being caring,” former Board of Education member Elizabeth Brennan said. “She has so much empathy. What she’s brought to this district is compassion.”
West Des Moines Community Schools is only the second school district Lisa has ever worked in — something rare in the field of education. Coming from Hudson Community Schools, Lisa joined WDMCS in 2000 as an assistant principal at Valley High School, then served as principal of Indian Hills Junior High and associate superintendent of Human Resources before her nine years as superintendent.
“She was stellar at the outset,” former Board of Education member Reverend H. Milton Cole-Duvall said.
West Des Moines Community Schools was “a place I would love to work and learn.”
Hudson had about 60 students per class, but Lisa knew what to expect from a building the size of Valley High School. Still, the image of students filling the hallways during passing period has stayed with her since her first day as assistant principal in the building.
Other memories included working, learning, and having fun with colleagues and mentors, as well as learning from the district community.
“Every interaction I have really does impact me,” Lisa said, “and so I learn how to be a better person through each of those interactions and how to serve our community as I continue to grow and change in the different positions I’ve held in the district.”
“In education, we’re here to serve.”
Every Child, Every Day
One of the first things Lisa did as superintendent was inquire about creating a strategic plan — something WDMCS did not have when she took the job. The Board, administrative team, and staff created an original plan, which continues to evolve with the district.
“Why I’m proud of that is it really has changed the conversation about what we want to see in the classroom, thinking about each and every child,” she said. “There aren’t two students that are the same, so how do we make sure we are personalizing learning for them?”
The district’s Portrait of a Graduate was then developed in collaboration with business leaders from the community. It focuses on preparing students for their futures and the future of the workforce.
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“She is so strategic,” West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Katherine Harrington said. “I love that she has that big picture. She’s thinking 100% about the kids and what’s the experience and how can we train them for the future?”
Lisa believes shifting the district to better reflect the community and global society is another crucial piece of preparing students for the future. Through ongoing inclusion work, including hiring the district’s first executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, WDMCS has endeavored to serve all students, even as the district’s demographics rapidly changed. Lisa continued to place importance on listening to and having conversations with the community to guide these efforts.
“She knew when to speak,” Cole-Duvall said. “She spoke decisively, but she was never arrogant, she was never in your face. She was the height of what many of us should aspire to be.”
Relationships, Relationships, Relationships
Lisa is looking forward to her new role, but is quick to remind people that she is not going far. As executive director of School Administrators of Iowa, she will work with administrators statewide, including in WDMCS.
“I am just so excited for every superintendent in the state of Iowa,” Brennan said. “Because now they get to have the wisdom and the friendship and the guidance that Lisa will be able to provide as the head of SAI.”
For her successor, Dr. Matt Adams, Lisa’s only advice comes from one of her own mentors: It’s all about relationships.
“It’s with parents, it’s with teachers, students, the broader community,” she said. “As long as Dr. Adams continues to be that relational person, he’ll be successful here in West Des Moines.”
Finally, Lisa simply wanted to thank the district community.
For giving me the opportunity to work here and to be a part of their lives, their kids' lives, our staff — whether that’s from our support staff, our certified staff, our administrative team. Just, thanks for all that we have done together and the learning that I have received from all of them.
Credits:
Photos taken by and provided to WDMCS School/Community Relations.