The Spooner Board of Education (BOE) met in a closed session on March 10, 2017, to discuss the contract of the person to whom the Board extended an offer to shortly after Monday night's final interviews and community open forum. Upon the conclusion of the closed session, the BOE announced their selection for the new Superintendent.
The Spooner School Board is pleased to announce that Dr. David Aslyn has been hired as the new Superintendent effective July 1, 2017. Dr. Aslyn was selected from three finalists interviewed on Monday, March 6th. The board sought out staff and public input as part of their selection process. This began with focus groups in January as well as an electronic survey that community members were invited to respond to. This past Monday the board invited a team of staff members and administrators to interview the finalists. They also arranged a public forum where each candidate responded to questions asked by the public. Dr. Aslyn emerged as the top pick of the staff and administrator interview team as well as of the public forum participants. He was the unanimous selection of the board. Board President Karen Sorenson shared that she and the board are pleased about their new superintendent and look forward to a very positive and welcoming working relationship.
In a phone call communication with DrydenWire.com, Dr. Aslyn stated that he was excited about this opportunity.
"I'm honored to be selected as the next Superintendent of Spooner Schools and really grateful to the board and all the participants and I look forward to working with all of the stakeholder groups to move the District forward in a positive way as we work to provide the students in Spooner with the best educational experience that we can.", said Aslyn.
Spooner Board President, Karen Sorenson, also told DrydenWire.com shortly after the Board announcement, that the Dr. Aslyn will be receiving a yearly salary of $132,000 and his term will start on July 1, 2017, and run through June 30, 2019.
Dr. David Aslyn
David Aslyn has served as the District Administrator of the School District of Bayfield in Bayfield, WI, since 2012. In this position he’s provided leadership in a broad-based collaborative initiative involving the Bayfield School Board, District staff, students, parents/families and the community in developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic plan. During this time he’s led initiatives involving the use of student data to guide instruction; restructured the school day to provide for daily teacher professional collaboration opportunities and systemic academic interventions for students; and guided the development of five annual District budgets resulting in high quality learning experiences for students while keeping the local tax levy under the maximum allowable level. He is the current President of the Indianhead Conference.
David’s began his career as an education serving as a middle school teacher. Later, he was also a multi-age elementary teacher in a charter school. He has served as a coach and athletic director. His previous administrative assignments include 4K-12 Principal and District Administrator of the School District of Laona in Laona, WI, and High School Principal in Ashland, WI.
During his time in Bayfield, David has been actively involved in the community. He’s served as an Elder at the Bayfield Presbyterian Church, is actively involved with the Bayfield Lions Club, has served as a docent with the Bayfield Heritage Association, serves on the Board of Directors of the Bayfield Community Education Foundation and is the Past Vice President of the New Horizons North Executive Board. He is actively involved in a variety of committees of the Red Cliff Band of the Lake Superior Chippewas.
He is involved in educational organizations at the State level. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Indian Education Association. He serves as a Director on the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Fair Aid Coalition.
David earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Superior (UWS). He also earned a Masters Degree in the Principalship from UWS where he was awarded the University’s Outstanding Graduate Student Award. He completed the Educational Specialists certification program in the Superintendency. As a committed life-long learner, David earned a Doctor of Education Degree from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. His doctoral dissertation research examined the relationship between poverty, per-pupil spending and academic achievement of high school students in northern Wisconsin.
David is committed to supporting the development of the next generation of educational leaders. He serves as a mentor to graduate students studying to be building and district-level leaders. He also serves as a doctoral dissertation advisor.
He served 21 years in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School and was named to the Commandant’s List upon graduating from the U.S. Army Engineer Officers Advanced Course. He served in a variety of assignments including Company Commander, Company B, 724th Engineer Battalion in Hayward and Spooner, WI, where he was award the Meritorious Service Medal. David retired at the rank of Major.
David is an avid outdoorsman and is anxiously awaiting the start of the maple syrup season. He and his dog, Cooper, are a certified Pet Therapy Team and are actively involved in providing pet therapy experiences in Bayfield and Ashland Counties. He is an avid classic car enthusiast and his current project is a 1962 Chevrolet Biscayne.
[Featured image by Holly S. Snyder]
Last Update: Mar 10, 2017 7:13 pm CST
