MANISTEE — After 20 years with Manistee Area Public Schools, athletic director and Manistee Middle High School assistant principal Kevin Schmutzler will step down at the end of the school year to become superintendent of West Iron County Schools.
Schmutzler and his wife grew up in that area, so the move will be a homecoming of sorts. Still, Schmutzler said Manistee will always be considered home.
"After 20 years of being here — we've spent our entire adult lives here in Manistee — we just feel like it's time to go back home and be by family. Two of our oldest sons are going to be up in that area now as they start their careers," he said. "It just seemed like a great opportunity. As hard as it will be to leave our friends, our church and the school, it's an opportunity that we can't pass up right now. Opportunities like this don't come along that often."
Schmutzler has worn a lot of hats in his two decades with MAPS. He taught for five years before serving as the principal of Jefferson Elementary and then Kennedy Elementary, eventually ending up at MMHS.
"When I came here, my sons were still in diapers and now they're working in career paths and graduating from college. I spent five years in the classrooms teaching, and I wouldn't take any of that back," he said. "It's been great to be here. It's fun to see some of those students I had in those early days with their kids in the schools now. It kind of makes me feel old, though."
MMHS principal Andy Huber said Schmutzler has done a fantastic job at MAPS, and that he will continue to find success in his position at West Iron County Schools.
"Kevin has had a lot of roles in his time here. He's been a professional every step of the way, at every place he's been," Huber said. "He's a natural educator. He's grown into a leader that I'm sure will be very successful on a district level. I think it's a testament to our district that somebody can move on, be successful, learn the core values that we have in place here and translate those to another place. It's a testament to the district that those are valued by other places."
Schmutzler said being able to work in Manistee has been "a blessing," and he's enjoyed seeing former students go on to start families of their own.
"I'm proud to have been able to serve here in this community," he said. "... I can think back to my first year here, being just a young kid out of college and coaching football, basketball and track, it's come full circle being the AD and watching former kids I coached with kids on teams now. It's been really cool."
MAPS superintendent Ron Stoneman said Schmutzler will be missed.
“As much as we regret seeing Kevin go, we congratulate him on his new position and know that he will create a legacy in his work with his new school district," Stoneman said.
Schmutzler said he's grateful to former superintendents Joel Raddatz and Bob Olsen for bringing him to Manistee 20 years ago.
"All those years and all the people I've worked with, people who've either retired or are still here, my wife and I are just so grateful for our time here," Schmutzler said. "It's really bittersweet. If people think leaving here is easy, it's not. This is a decision that we did not take lightly, but we just know it's the right thing to do at this point.
"It's going to be really difficult to say goodbye to our friends, and all the relationships and people we've met over the years and spent time with," he continued. "... I'll extend an invitation: Anytime anybody's in the Iron River area, they can look me up and they'll get a place to stay and I'll treat you to the best pizza on the planet."
Schmutzler said he is proud to say that he always hired the best candidates during his tenure at MAPS.
"Our students deserved the best," he said. "Some moved away and others have made a career here. I'll miss all of them."
Huber said Schmutzler flourished in his new role as athletic director, despite all the unprecedented challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic.
"He's done a really great job here. I've really enjoyed working directly with him," Huber said. "I did work with him a little bit during my time at Jefferson, but having him come (to MMHS), he really added a lot to our school — taking on his first year as an athletic director in the conditions that he faced was really impressive. He did a really great job organizing and staying on top of an ever-changing landscape.
"I'm going to miss him, but more than anything, I'm really happy for him," Huber continued. "It seems like every Yooper I've ever met wants to get back, and I know this is something that he's been thinking about with his family, and it sounds like all of his family is up there and going back up there. I'm just really happy for him that it worked out."
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