Lakeville's New Superintendent Stresses Communication and Collaboration

Dr. Lisa Snyder began her duties as superintendent for on Aug. 15. 

Since then, she has set out on a mission to engage her community in conversation, discussing the school district with everyone from parents to custodians.

Snyder is the successor of Dr. Gary Amoroso, who July 1.

“The number one most important thing is building trust in the organization,” said Snyder.

In order to build that trust, Snyder is taking a collaborative approach to the position. 

Since assuming the role of superintendent, Snyder has doubled the size of her cabinet from four members to eight. She has also created a shared leadership team of staff members from across the district, which includes everyone from secretaries to custodians to teachers. The leadership team meets regularly to discuss the priorities of the district.

“She’s very inclusive in the whole decision making process,” said Linda Swanson, communications coordinator for Lakeville Area Public Schools.

Part of that inclusion consists of communication with stakeholders. Snyder is in the process of hosting several fact-finding round tables with community members.  In October she met with local parents. On November 15 she will hold another round table with non-parents. A third round table with students will follow.

“She is carefully listening to all of the stakeholders,” said Barbara Knudsen, director of teaching and learning services in Lakeville. “As she learns things, she will get that information out into the community.”

One way Snyder will bring information to the community is through the reintroduction of a quarterly print newsletter. 

Snyder’s approach to the superintendent position is built around four focus areas: academic achievement, community connectedness, fiscal responsibility and a high quality workforce.

Incorporating more technology into Lakeville schools is another high priority for Snyder. In particular, she hopes to address equity issues by equalizing students’ technological opportunities. This would be achieved by bringing wireless access to all the school district’s buildings and increasing the use of digital tools and online learning options. 

She would also like to execute a program called “Parent University,” in which parents are taught how to use the technological tools to which their children are granted access.

“They’re looking to be a world-class school district,” said Snyder, in reference to the Lakeville community.  “That’s the kind of school district I want to lead.”