Clear Lake schools superintendent named

Doug R. Gee, shared Superintendent at Boyer Valley and Woodbine Community Schools in Iowa, has been offered a contract to become superintendent of the Clear Lake Community School District, pending a background investigation.

The Clear Lake School Board announced Gee as its new leader after interviewing four candidates last week.  There were nineteen applicants for the position.  The School Board anticipates approval of a contract with Gee at its Wednesday, March 30 meeting.  Gee, who has been offered an annual salary of $150,000, plus benefits, will assume the duties of superintendent beginning July 1, 2016.

Gee has served as a shared Superintendent at Boyer Valley and Woodbine Community Schools for the past three years.  While the shared experience has been good, he said he looks forward to focusing on one district.

“Both Boyer Valley and Woodbine are about 450 students each and eight miles apart.  They need each other both financially and academically.  We plan our Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) grant together and are now sharing several classes.  I am very much looking forward to focusing on one school district.  It will be nice to be loyal to one district.  It is hard to decide which athletic or fine arts event to go to when they were on the same night.  I can now focus on bringing the school and community together,” he said.

Gee said his immediate goal will be to get to know the staff, school board and community.

“I want to find out what Clear Lake is doing really well, what they need to improve on, and find out what some of the goals are for the board, staff and community,” he said.   “The next step will be to have a board work session to talk about what I found out by talking to people and then we will set board and district goals.  Then our administrative team will start to

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establish building and district goals.  Once we do that we will continually talk about these goals with the board, staff and out in the community.  Another immediate goal will be to promote the really great things going on at our schools currently.”

School Board President Chyrl Bergvig said Gee was a unanimous choice for superintendent by each of the groups he met with, including the administrative team, community members, students and staff.

“We are excited to welcome Doug Gee.  He has a strong financial background, curriculum knowledge, is enthusiastic and a self-starter,” said Bergvig.

Prior to becoming a shared superintendent for the Woodbine and Boyer Valley School Districts in 2015, Gee was the superintendent and 6-12 principal for Boyer Valley for two years.  From 2008 to 2014 he was assistant principal (9-12) and activities director for the Adel-Desoto-Minburn Community School District.  His experience also includes 16 years as a math and physical education teacher and coach of several sports.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa, Master’s Degree from Drake and Superintendent License from Iowa State University. He and his wife, Nancy, have grown children.

Gee likened his leadership style to that of a coach, or leader by example.   

“I want to help build a strong team among our administrators and staff.  We will work together to find each others strengths and utilize every ones strengths,” he said.   “I work to build trust in people by building relationships.  I get to know people and they get to know me as a person.  Everything in leadership rises and falls on relationships and trust.”

Gee added that he has high expectations for himself and the staff.

“I believe that you communicate those expectations clearly to people and then hold them accountable to those expectations.  I like to challenge people to get better everyday and we will strive to make Clear Lake the best school district in the state.”

Gee said he believes the Clear Lake School District is progressive and innovative, based upon its commitment to technology at all levels.

“The elementary is doing great things with (PBIS) and their “Everything is Awesome,” along with doing projects that keep them on the cutting edge.  I really like what the middle school is doing with their Project Based Learning (PBL).  Things like upcycling furniture, Shark Tank, working with the area businesses on media and marketing and their makerspace projects.  I also like the great variety of high school classes offered, like Personal Law, Entrepreneurship, Creating a Company, Automotive I and II, Building Trades and many more.  This is looking for ways to find classes that students can get excited about,” said Gee.  “Clear Lake has great fine arts and athletic programs and participation.  It is the perfect size district.  It is big enough to offer plenty of opportunities for students, but small enough to get to know students, parents and people in the community.  I am looking for a community that I can get involved in and work together with.  Clear Lake seems like the perfect fit for my wife and I.”

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