Superintendent Theron Schutte of Marshalltown Community School District will receive an Alumni Achievement Award from the Iowa State University College of Human Sciences.

The award recognizes alumni for, “meritorious service and distinguished achievements” in their field. Schutte will accept the award Wednesday night at a virtual ceremony hosted by the Iowa State University Alumni Association.

“Theron Schutte is a premier educational leader whose work enriches the lives of children and their families, and people throughout the state,” the Iowa State University Alumni Association’s award announcement reads. “He is esteemed for building community relationships. As superintendent of Marshalltown Schools, he cultivates partnerships to implement transformational, cross-sector reforms that improve opportunities for historically underserved students.”

Schutte said he was significantly humbled and deeply honored to just be nominated for the award.

“It was a huge surprise quite honestly, but a pleasant surprise,” Schutte said.

He received his undergraduate degree in history secondary education from Central College in Pella before going on to attain master’s degree and education specialist degree in educational administration from Western Illinois University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from Iowa State University.

Upon graduation from Iowa State University with his Ph.D., Schutte received the Jordan Larson Award, given each year to an outstanding graduate in educational administration.

“I would have never expected to be further recognized by the university,” Schutte said.

The Iowa State University Alumni Association lists Schutte’s achievements such as raising funds for STEM education programs as a member of the Marshalltown Business-Education Alliance and the creation of the Junior Achievement and Bobcat Pride programs in Marshalltown.

“I think the thing that brings the greatest value is working with local business partners and city officials to make things happen for our kids and for our families and the community,” Schutte said.

Under Schutte’s leadership, the Marshalltown Community School District became the first school district in Iowa to have students graduate with a Career and College Readiness certificate and offer Seal of Biliteracy certification.

Of the achievements, Schutte said he was particularly honored to represent school administrators as the elected president of School Administrators of Iowa from 2009 to 2010, and by serving on both the governing and executive boards of American Association of School Administrators for 12 years.

“That was a tremendous opportunity to get engaged at a national level on issues that matter to superintendents across the country, and especially to be engaged with our state legislators and some national legislators that head up education,” Schutte said.

The award itself, Schutte said, is also a reflection of his surroundings, and those who have impacted him both professionally and personally along the way.

“I’m being recognized with this award, but it’s really a reflection of people that I work with, because no one person can do everything that needs to be done to make school districts and communities the best that they can be,” Schutte said. “It’s really about what I and other people within the communities I’ve had the honor of serving have been able to accomplish. I’ve just been really fortunate to work with and for great organizations and great people.”

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Contact Trevor Babcock at 641-753-6611 or tbabcock@timesrepublican.com.