Allison Schmidt, who has previously served as a teacher in Texas and Worthington and as an administrator at Martin County West, has moved into a new office this year as Blue Earth Area Schools’s director of curriculum and instruction. The district position was created just this year, and Schmidt is enjoying it so far.

The many-faceted field of education continues to produce new career opportunities as it evolves.

Allison Schmidt’s position in the Blue Earth Area (BEA) School District represents one such career.

Schmidt was recently hired as BEA’s director of curriculum and instruction for the current school year.

The position, which is brand-new to the district, allows Schmidt to work one-on-one with BEA’s teachers and serve as an instructional resource.

“I go into classrooms and provide feedback,” Schmidt explains. “I help teachers make sure what they’re teaching is aligned with the standards.”

She concludes, “It is all focused on improving student achievement.” 

Schmidt’s efforts, as her job title suggests, center around providing teachers with effective teaching curriculum. She explains curriculum is “what (teachers) teach and how they teach it.” 

Schmidt’s presence in the district is meant to mitigate the time teachers spend researching and designing curriculum so they may spend more time implementing it in their classrooms and working with their students.

“I provide teachers with resources so they can focus on the instructional piece,” Schmidt says. “For teachers, it gives them someone whose sole focus is student achievement.” 

She adds, “It’s nice to have someone focused, district-wide, on the scope and sequence of curriculum.”

By scope and sequence, Schmidt is referring to the span of curriculum that is taught from BEA’s kindergartners to its high school seniors.

Ideally, research and collaboration ensure K-12 instruction builds effectively upon what has been taught in the past, rather than repeating itself or jumping too quickly from less to more complicated concepts.

When evaluating how effective curriculum is, Schmidt feels it is important that the curriculum is research-based.

“I make sure it is aligned correctly with Minnesota standards,” she says.

Schmidt is referring to the educational standards which each state develops as a guideline for teachers. Every subject is given its own set of standards which describe what students should be able to do by the end of a particular course of study.

A curriculum which is standards-aligned is designed to ensure students are being taught each necessary skill before moving on to the next level.

Schmidt has most recently sought to develop a new K-12 math curriculum which fits these criteria.

“I did a lot of research for the math curriculum,” Schmidt remembers. Because state math standards had changed, Schmidt wished to work alongside teachers and administration to develop a curriculum that was aligned with the new standards.

“I’m hoping to have curriculum training (for teachers) this summer, and to implement the curriculum in the 2022-23 school year,” Schmidt says.

She hopes to work on addressing standards with other departments in the future.

Due to the havoc COVID has wrought upon American schools, efforts to improve curriculum design are perhaps more important than ever now.

“When I look at data from last year, COVID had a big impact,” Schmidt admits.

However, she is pleased to share that one of BEA students’ biggest strengths is their willingness to work hard.

“When you look at test results, COVID definitely had its impact, but when students work hard, they can catch up,” Schmidt says.

She is quick to add COVID’s negative impact is certainly not unique to BEA students; it is affecting America’s schools nationwide.

“It will take time,” Schmidt reasons. “Our focused work on standards, curriculum, and instruction will help.” 

Schmidt brings years of varied experience in the educational field to the challenge.

“I have been an elementary teacher,” Schmidt shares, adding her teaching experience ranges from grades 1-6. She spent three years teaching in Texas, and another three years in a classroom for grades four, five, and six in Worthington.

Following her years as a teacher, Schmidt served as a school administrator, first as a principal, and then as a superintendent at Martin County West.

Now, she is excited to apply all of her experience to a new position.

“I have always enjoyed working with curriculum and with teachers,” Schmidt says. “I like being able to provide the support they need, and being able to focus on that. I don’t have to wear so many other hats.” 

Schmidt, of course, is referring to professional hats. There are a few hats which she dons outside of the work environment in the form of hobbies and activities.

Schmidt particularly enjoys traveling and visiting state and national parks. There, Schmidt can practice another favorite hobby: photography.

Schmidt also has a few favorite pastimes which she partakes of closer to home.

“I love going for walks with Barry (her husband) and the boys,” Schmidt says. Her ‘boys’ are her two small dogs, Scooby and Riley.

Schmidt also spends time indoors once in a while, crafting and reading mystery novels.

Schmidt is very much enjoying her time at work, too, however.

“It’s nice getting to know the staff, and it’s exciting to watch the implementation phase once we’ve chosen curriculum,” Schmidt says.

“It’s also exciting to see how it’s going to impact the students,” she adds. “That’s why we’re all in education: to impact kids.”