It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome students, staff, and families to the 2021-22 school year. What a relief to start the school year in person! There is nothing better than to see those smiling faces on the first day of school!
It is also my pleasure to serve as Interim Superintendent for the Keokuk Community School District this year. Why interim versus permanent? Bottom line–timing. When the former superintendent announced her resignation, most superintendent candidates would have already been under contract for the upcoming school year. An interim superintendent allows the District to continue to function normally while the search for the next leader takes place.
A little bit about me….I have been fortunate enough to serve as superintendent for the past 17 years in two different locations. My first superintendency was for the Graettinger and Terril Community School Districts in northwest Iowa (I actually graduated from Terril High School). I had the privilege of working through whole grade sharing and eventually a merger of those two districts. Next, I had the great opportunity to serve as superintendent for the North Polk CSD for the past 12 years. The North Polk district is located just north of Ankeny. Both experiences were very unique and quite different from each other but provided me with many opportunities to grow as a leader which I rely on in order to serve here at Keokuk. I have two high school sons and a middle school daughter that attend North Polk Schools.
As I look forward to the upcoming school year, one word keeps surfacing….RESPECT. The COVID pandemic has brought out many discussions, emotions, and actions. The great thing about our nation is the ability to have various opinions on such matters. The key to being a great nation, community, and school is that we respect each other and other’s opinions. We may not always agree with each other, but it is important to respect those differences and work together as we continuously strive for betterment.
I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during my tenure here! Let’s make it a great school year!!
Dan Mart, Ph.D.
Interim Superintendent
Keokuk Community School District
dan.mart@keokukschools.org
319-524-1402