'Waubonsie guy' opening Metea Valley

When Jim Schmid, a self-professed "longtime Waubonsie Valley guy" was chosen as principal of the new Metea Valley High School in February 2008, he had just five months to flush the gold and green from his system and replace it with black and gold.

Not an easy thing to do, Schmid said, but a move he was ready to make.

"I've proudly worn the green and gold for 15 years so this was a big decision, a big step," Schmid said about accepting the offer to open and lead Metea. "Ultimately I made a personal and professional decision to act on an opportunity that doesn't come along very often in this field."

Schmid began his teaching career in 1977 at Waubonsie. He left the school a year later but returned in 1992 as dean of students. He then served as the school's guidance counselor, director of guidance and assistant principal before being named principal in 2004. On July 1, 2008, he was handed the keys to Metea Valley, a facility that didn't yet exist.

Since that time, Schmid has hired a staff consisting primarily of in-district teachers and administrators, met with incoming students, and overseen the construction and furnishing of the new 3,000-seat high school that opens Thursday on an 87-acre campus at 1801 North Eola Road in Aurora.

Metea will become Indian Prairie Unit District 204's third high school - joining Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley - in a system that serves students from portions of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield.

Despite the lost sleep and gray hairs that have come with the job, Schmid said the opportunity to "build a culture and climate in a new school is both humbling and exciting."

"My big push at Waubonsie and what I anticipate will happen at Metea Valley is to be completely student-centered," Schmid said. "I hope that together with the students, their families and the faculty, we can create a culture and climate of 'Why not try this?' or 'Is this the best way to deliver this set of information to these students?'"

Coming into the job with a "highly competitive" personality and an "athletics-oriented background," Schmid said he doesn't think he'll have a hard time getting everyone on board.

"Together, lets determine that enthusiasm and passion will be at the heart of what we do," he said. "Having pride in what you do and passion happen if you're living in the right place emotionally."

His competitive fire may quickly be put to the test as Metea goes through its growing pains, especially regarding athletics.

"I expect the biggest challenge I'll encounter will be working to create an atmosphere where we're initially going to get knocked around a little bit," he said. "We're starting with freshmen and sophomores, yet we'll still be expected to compete, almost immediately, at the varsity level. It's going to be tough building that tradition or spirit early on when the desired results may not be there."

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