Staff discovered how to work together 'The Metea Way'

At this time last summer, roughly 120 Indian Prairie Unit District 204 teachers were cleaning out their classrooms and preparing to move into the new Metea Valley High School.

And Principal Jim Schmid was eager for their arrival so he could immerse them in "The Metea Way."

A year later, Schmid says he couldn't be happier with the staff's first year and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of about 40 new staff members joining the ranks as the Aurora school expands from a freshman-sophomore campus to one that includes juniors.

Schmid said he appreciates those willing to "be a part of something brand new, a school starting from the beginning."

"Overall we were very fortunate and very excited about the people that came, and I really thought that together we were able to put together some very solid and professional approaches to dealing with students, staff and our community," he said. "I was so very pleased with the flexibility the staff has shown and willingness to remain positive and very focused on the task at hand, helping our students succeed."

New leaders blossomed throughout the year when given new opportunities. Going in, only two department chairs had previous leadership experience.

"There were a number of people who were either liaisons or closely aligned with a strong leadership role that weren't exactly chairs," Schmid said. "So a lot of people worked together on being chairs for the first time and there was a learning curve with that; yet they are very professional, very responsible, very capable and that's an area I believe will continue in the right direction as they all gain more experience."

Joining the crew next year will be 40 staff members coming from Neuqua and Waubonsie Valley high schools and several middle schools.

"There are virtually no external candidates, so they all have a real good idea of the 204 way and we just now need to incorporate them into the Metea Valley philosophy and approach, which is very similar to the district so I don't think there will be a great deal of difficulty in that transition period," Schmid said. "They all know each other so they have a pretty good idea what they're getting into, so I feel good about that."

With all the learning going on between students and staff this year, Schmid found time to learn a thing or two himself.

"I learned not to underestimate the opportunities for teachers and staff to talk and create their own systems for teaching," he said. "You take for granted that Neuqua taught it one way, Waubonsie taught it another way (and), because it's a district philosophy, that they're closely aligned. And they are, but there are a lot of individual nuances and we need to ensure people have the ability to grow together here with the knowledge of both those schools."

Superintendent Kathy Birkett knows a thing or two about staffing a new school. She was principal of Steck Elementary School when it opened in 1992. And in 1997, she was the principal when District 204 opened its $63 million Neuqua Valley High School in south Naperville.

Birkett said Schmid did a "bang-up job" filling Metea with quality people while not decimating the staffs at other district schools.

"I think Jim has done a nice job building a school climate that represents Metea Valley. And I think he's worked very well and collaboratively with the administrators at Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley," Birkett said. "I think it's been a great year that was only bolstered by the great community support we got from the booster group, PTA or parents in general. It truly has been just been a fantastic year."

<p class="factboxheadblack">A look to the future </p>

<p class="News">Metea Valley High School is abuzz this summer. </p>

<p class="News">Educators are preparing for the school's second year. The staff is growing to accommodate a student body that will now include three grades. Athletes and coaches are leading camps to help ready themselves for varsity competition while indoctrinating the next generation of athletes in the new Mustang tradition.</p>

<p class="News">For most high schools, this is business as usual in the summer. At Metea, it feels like a luxury. An honor, if you will.</p>

<p class="News">A year ago, the school site near Diehl and Eola roads in Aurora buzzed with crews continuing construction, workers installing lockers and furniture and staff hustling to be sure the 3,000-seat school would be ready for students just 15 months after breaking ground.</p>

<p class="News">With the $144 million capital project all but complete, Metea faculty and staff are relishing the chance to reflect on the first year and look ahead to building on their successes when the bell rings again in August.</p>

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<li><a href="/story/?id=388755">Dist. 204 officials say they couldn't be happier with Metea Valley's first year <span class="date">[6/21/10]</span></a></li>

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