By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – "If school districts and schools put kids first, everything else falls under that umbrella."
Robert Orlowski looks forward to detailing his kids first philosophy during his interview for the Brandywine Community Schools superintendent position.
With 34 years of experience, he is ready for the challenges of the job.
"The school funding issues we face are something being faced across the country. In terms of education, state legislators and local leaders need to step back and take a good look at what has been happening. We need to look at all facets of our educational systems to prioritize the tasks that must be accomplished," Orlowski said.
Orlowski is the assistant superintendent of administrative services for the South Bend Community Schools Corp.
He said Indiana has been fortunate in that the dollars were "pretty stable" as far as the state keeping its promises with regard to what the districts could rely on.
"We have seen the ebbs and flows. Our district has gone through two serious budget conditions. To meet the budgetary needs you have to address each aspect of operations and make tough decisions," Orlowski said.
He has the administrative experience of helping to manage a total budget of $219 million dollars in his current position in South Bend. The district is responsible to an enrollment of nearly 22,000 students.
Orlowski first worked for the South Bend system in 1973 when he began as a teacher/counselor with Central Middle School. During the next 21 years, he served as teacher/counselor with LaSalle High School, assistant principal and then principal for Navarre Middle School.
In 1994, he left the urban system to accept a position with the rural New Prairie United School Corp., located in LaPorte and Saint Joseph counties in Indiana. There, he was assistant superintendent until 2001, in a district with an enrollment of 2500 students and a total budget of over $20 million.
"I have been married to my best friend and wife Anne for 33 years. We have five children," Orlowski said.
Daughter Andrea, 30, is a Butler grad in bioscience. Jocelyn, 26, is also a Butler grad in accounting and is a CPA. Kristen is my fine arts student. She crossed the stage with a degree in anthropology and a dance minor and currently owns a Pilates Studio and works as a professional dancer in Minneapolis.
"My son Ryan, 18 is graduating from South Bend Washington High this year with plans to attend Indiana University for a degree in finance. He eventually hopes to work on Wall Street or with an international business. My youngest, Stefanie, 17, is a junior at Washington High."
His educational experience includes a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree. Orlowski has degrees in special education kindergarten to grade 12 and secondary world history. He also has a specialist in education degree with regard to school administration.
Orlowski lists a strong skill set, on his resume, in leadership activities, curriculum and instruction, school finance and facility management. As personal skills he lists communications and organization he said allows him to be effective in the challenging educational environment.
"I look at this as an opportunity to move into a Superintendent position. As a lifelong resident of the area, the proximity makes the position even more attractive. Hopefully, I will be seen as a match for the position.