Ian Roberts reflects on 3 years as Millcreek schools superintendent

Ian Roberts' goals as Millcreek Township schools superintendent included boosting instruction and leadership in the 6,400-student district and strengthening district relationships with staff, students and parents.

Roberts announced his resignation as superintendent May 12, but has said that work will continue even after he begins duties as Des Moines Public Schools superintendent in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 1.

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A priority for Roberts has been spending time in Millcreek's nine schools. Roberts has regularly read to elementary students, sat in on classroom discussions, talked with building administrators and teachers, and interviewed students about their academic and career plans.

"I've spent inordinate time in classrooms, and every member of my executive cabinet has done the same," Roberts said.

"School is where the work that we do happens. Classrooms are where our work is actualized. To make prudent and strategic decisions about what is best for students and teachers, you have to go into the space where teaching and learning take place."

Announcing his resignation: Roberts to leave Millcreek schools post June 30

It will be a herculean task in Des Moines' 64 schools, including a public Montessori school, a career and technical institute, and a school for Advanced Placement students. The school system has almost 31,000 students and 5,000 employees.

In Millcreek, Roberts also hosted virtual and in-person forums to detail school policies and procedures for parents and posted regular "Roberts' Recap" videos to summarize school board actions, including the December approval of $33 million for McDowell High School renovations as part of the district's ongoing push to improve and modernize schools.

Reversing an earlier rejection: Millcreek School Board votes to proceed with McDowell renovations

Starting during COVID-19 pandemic

Early interaction with students, staff and community were largely virtual. Roberts was hired as schools superintendent during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020 and began duties in the district that summer.

The pandemic taught schools to educate students in new ways and also sparked sometimes contentious interactions with parents who disagreed with masking requirements.

"I never saw that as a tough or negative experience," Roberts said. "Even when parents with different perspectives regarding how we were handling COVID challenges disagreed with our health and safety plan, I wanted to make sure I was putting myself in their shoes and recognizing all parents, even those with divergent perspectives and very different experiences than those of us making the decisions."

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There were times when parent conversations with teachers and school board were less than civil.

"There were certainly moments when some crossed the line in their dealing with teachers and the board and on those occasions I stepped in to say that we have the best interests of their children at heart and were keeping students and teachers and administrators safe," Roberts said. "I feel pretty good about the work that we did and many of the relationships with those parents got better and stronger."

A group of Millcreek parents sued the district seeking the removal of school directors who voted to require masks during the pandemic.

"COVID certainly magnified how people have very different perspectives because of very different life experiences. I learned that you can foster relationships and partnerships and friendships regardless of divergent opinions if you approach them from a grounding of empathy," Roberts said.

The pandemic had positive effects in forcing educators to re-examine long-held practices and beliefs, Roberts said.

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"It certainly did have negative impacts on the work that we could have done, but it also presented tremendous opportunity," Roberts said. "It allowed us to disrupt the status quo and be innovative and creative in how we handled the business of education and practices that had been antiquated for 50 years. It allowed us to remove practices that had been ineffective and find new ways to move the needle for students and build capacity in teachers and school leaders."

Staying involved in the classroom

Involving staff, students and community in education will remain a commitment in Millcreek and later in Des Moines, Roberts said.

"I remain committed to having the voice of every single person who's impacted by our decisions at the table. Regardless of where I go, I want to leverage every voice."

As he prepares to leave Millcreek, Roberts is thanking the community for welcoming and working with him.

Pandemic or not: Millcreek schools Superintendent Ian Roberts strives to build community

"Three years ago when I arrived in this community, students, families, parents, teachers and school leaders welcomed me with open arms, and you made a commitment on many occasions to support, love, show kindness and to be aligned with me in the work that we've set out to do. And that is to build on the successes of this district and to move from a place where we're good to greatness and excellence," Roberts said in a farewell message on the district's YouTube channel.

Millcreek Township School Board President Gary Winschel praised Roberts' leadership in Millcreek.

"He set up some truly foundational things in our district, including encouraging administrators to be instructional leaders, as he said he would do when we first interviewed him," Winschel said. "Administrators do instructional rounds in every building, and every building really knows specific details about what's expected."

Millcreek Township School District will always hold a special place in his heart, Roberts said.

"I will miss my interaction with parents here and the unbelievable commitment I see in teachers, staff and school leaders. I am going to miss waking up every single morning at 5 to get into district offices and schools and be welcomed in the kindest and warmest ways by students and staff. And I will miss the time I've spent in the community with every stakeholder group," Roberts said.

Roberts said that he will also miss some Millcreek amenities and treats.

"I will miss my Sunday morning runs at Presque Isle, and I will miss walleye sandwiches."

Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Millcreek school superintendent looks back on the job he's done here