After thirty years of service, Pleasant Valley School superintendent Brian Strusz has decided to retire. Throughout his career, Strusz has shown dedication and devotion to the district. He will leave a lasting impact on staff, students and families in the Pleasant Valley School community.
During his time, Strusz has overseen the significant growth of Pleasant Valley. From the academic growth to the physical growth, and the new renovations, the district has been evolving. Enrollment has consistently increased, and a variety of new opportunities have been created for both staff and students.
Stusz’s journey into education was deeply influenced by his family. “I was very fortunate to have many great role models in my life that inspired me to pursue a career in education,” commented Strusz. “First was my father, as he was a high school math teacher. Second would be my mother, who was not a teacher but always stressed the importance of education and to never take a shortcut when it came to our learning, in addition, my grandmother who was a teacher, one of my uncles who was a math teacher and coach, as well as my older sister.”
But not all of his influence were from his family, “Outside of my immediate family, I remember many great teachers and coaches who made a difference in my life,” said Strusz. “Because of my experiences and relationships, I knew I wanted to give back as well.”
This information may not seem shocking but statistics say otherwise. According to a study done for the current state of K-12 education and how people get into the field, “Only roughly one in 10 teachers reported having been inspired by a former teacher in their own education (13%),” reports Colyn Ritter, a senior research associate.
Reflecting on those earlier days, he would not be able to imagine the memories he would make. “When I received the Iowa Middle School Principal of the Year Award, the reason was not because of the award, but it was the opportunity to share with all the people who made that possible,” shared Strusz. “All the past and current students, teachers, administrators, parents, friends and family have taught me the importance of this great profession.”
Strusz’s administrative legacy consisted of district excellence and joy. “On a less serious note, a fun memory would be the number of times when I was the Junior High principal, where I would be asked to dive into the garbage dumpsters after lunch to go through trash bags to find retainers that students accidentally threw away as they were too afraid to tell their parents,” shared Strusz.
From his years of experience, Strusz offers valuable guidance for the district. “Pleasant Valley is very special because of the people and our commitment to excellence. Never take that for granted. Be humble and always work to make this district a better place.”
Strusz’s legacy has created a sturdy foundation for the future superintendent of Pleasant Valley to follow. His thirty years of leadership, memories, rewards and wisdom have shaped the community into a place that is guaranteed to continue to thrive for years to come.
While his career may be coming to a close, his impact will resonate for years to come.
