Season 3, Episode 11 | Rick Schmitt, Carlsbad Unified School District

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 11 of "Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged."  

Sponsored by a champion of schools, school leaders, teachers and employees - SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union - we have an excellent episode featuring Rick Schmitt, the Interim Superintendent of Carlsbad Unified School District. 

Career Journey

• Rick Schmitt shares his early interest in teaching, starting as a teenager teaching swimming lessons and later pursuing a degree in education.
• Rick discusses his family background, with his mother being a school teacher and his father a lawyer, and how their advice influenced his career choice.
• He describes his curiosity and interest in various aspects of school operations, leading to roles as an assistant principal and principal.

Experience in Various School Districts

• Rick talks about his career in the Bay Area, working in low-income and affluent communities, and his decision to move back to San Diego in 1999.
• He emphasizes his willingness to take on new opportunities and challenges, including working in middle schools and high schools.
• Rick highlights his intellectual curiosity and emotional intelligence, which have been key to his success in education.
• He shares his interest in media and history, influenced by his early exposure to news coverage and significant events like the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam War.

Role of an Interim Superintendent

• Rick explains that this is his first role as an Interim Superintendent, having previously declined similar opportunities.
• He describes his initial approach to the role, expecting it to be part-time and less personal, but finding it to be deeply personal and emotionally invested.
• Rick discusses the importance of community and leadership in Carlsbad, mentioning his long-standing relationships with local educators and school boards.
• He reflects on the personal and intellectual investment required in the role, despite its temporary nature.

Challenges and Changes in Education

• Rick and Drew discuss the significant changes in education since Rick started his career, including the impact of technology and the evolving role of educators.
• Rick emphasizes the importance of educators being curious and open to learning, and the need for students to develop their own critical thinking skills.
• They talk about the challenges of navigating political dynamics in education and the importance of helping students think for themselves.
• Rick shares his approach to teaching social studies, focusing on helping students develop their own perspectives and critical thinking skills.

Parenting and Student Mental Health

• Rick discusses the evolution of parenting in the suburbs, noting the increased involvement of parents in their children's lives and the impact on student stress and anxiety.
• He describes the concept of "helicopter parents" and "special force parents," highlighting the challenges of overly involved parents on children's ability to develop independence.
• Rick shares a story about a best-selling book on the topic, written by the Dean of Admissions at Stanford University, and the importance of allowing children to make mistakes.
• They discuss the mental health crisis in the world and the importance of providing support and resources for students, including social workers and counselors.

Declining Enrollment and School Funding

• Rick explains the factors contributing to declining enrollment, including low birth rates, smaller family sizes, and high cost of living in California.
• He provides examples of how declining enrollment affects school funding and the challenges of maintaining resources and programs.
• Rick discusses the importance of personali