Roark Horn, EdD

What drove your interest in your selected discipline?
My parents were both inspirational teachers, and that is all I ever wanted to do as a child, watching the impact that they had on others. Mid-career I decided to go into school administration in an effort to have a larger impact beyond the classroom.

What are your areas of expertise? 
I have a great deal of practical experience in school leadership, having spent 11 years as a practicing administrator. In addition, I also had the privilege of serving five years supporting administrators in their work, and seven more years counseling and providing professional learning opportunities to school leaders statewide. Probably my greatest area of expertise is helping school leaders prepare to be superintendents and supporting them through their transition to that role.

Describe an experience that reinforced why you enjoy what you do.  
Many years after I had last seen him, I had a former student reach out and ask to reconnect with me. We enjoyed a fine lunch together and relived old times. At the end of the meal he handed me an envelope and asked me not to open it until I got home. When I got home and opened it he had written a beautiful letter telling me that some positive words I had said about him in a public arena had saved his life, as he was contemplating suicide until he heard how important he was to me and others. I had no idea at the time that had happened, but it sure reinforced how important everything educators do and say is, no matter what we may think at the time.

What is your teaching philosophy?
Simply put, I want the students to come away from each class I teach feeling like they have the tools they need to be successful. I will try to figure out what motivates each one of them and do my best to provide them the resources they need to maximize their talents.

What do you hope students learn from you?
The best thing I can do is instill the confidence in them that they need to be able to support and lead others. I also want to make sure they know how and where to access resources they will need for success.

Publications: 
Currently and for the next several years, I will be contributing to a column entitled "Ethical Educator" which appears monthly in School Administrator magazine, published by the American Association of School Administrators. Each month I am one of a four-person team who weighs in with opinions and advice on different real-life scenarios that school leaders face.

Previous work experience:

• Executive Director, School Administrators of Iowa, 2015-2022
• Chief Administrator, Area Education Agency 267, 2010-2015
• Superintendent, Hudson Community School District, 2007-2010
• Superintendent, Northeast Hamilton Community School District, 2002-2007
• Principal, Jesup Community School District, 1999-2002
• Teacher Jesup CSD, 1982-1999