Akron-Westfield welcomes Iowa native as superintendent

Tony Ryan came home to Iowa to become Akron-Westfield Community School's new superintendent at in July.

"It feels good to be back in the state working here," Ryan said Monday.

He grew up in Manly, Iowa and started his teaching career in the Louisa-Muscatine Community School District, in Letts.

"Akron attracted me due to the fact that it was a small-town environment, which both my wife and I have experience in," Ryan said. "We also were born and raised in a small-town atmosphere."

He replaced Ron Flynn, who resigned as Akron-Westfield (A-W) superintendent at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

Ryan spent the last five years, until June 2009, as principal of a kindergarten through fourth grade building at Sherrard Community School District in Sherrard, Ill.

Prior to that he spent two years as principal at a preschool through eighth grade building in the Union Community School District in Biggsville, Ill.

Ryan's diverse professional background in education is one of his qualities that A-W School Board members noticed during the hiring process, said Jim Black, board president.

"We had a lot of very qualified candidates that the search firm brought to the board for consideration," Black said. "Mr Ryan's past experiences with three different districts and being able to bring that experience to our district is one the things that stood out."

Even though Akron will be Ryan's first superintendent position, the school board is confident he's up to the challenge of day-to-day operations, Black said.

"He brought a lot of energy and some new ideas for leading the district," Black said. "He's more than welcome into the district and we're looking for a lot of positive opportunities as we move forward as a district."

Ryan completed his educational specialist degree, which is step beyond a master's degree, to become superintendent in August 2008.

Ryan said he brings to A-W a passion for instructional leadership and leading with ambition.

"The field of education now is leaning greatly on the aspect of being a lifelong learner," he said. "For our leadership team to be successful, we have to be lifelong learners as well."

Moving to Akron with his wife, Michelle and three children, has been a positive experience, Ryan said.

"The community has been more than open to us," he said.

Taking up the reins as A-W's new superintendent has also been a good fit, Ryan said.

"The staff and students have made the transition very easy for myself and family. The students are second to none when it comes to being good people," Ryan said. "It's definitely been a good move for the Ryan family"