LAPEER, Michigan — Lapeer Community Schools (LCS) Superintendent Matt Wandrie is among the finalists for the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA) Superintendent of the Year Award. The winner will be announced next month.

The award is presented annually to “an individual who has shown tremendous effort and dedication to enriching the lives of children and the community as a whole … for strong leadership, creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students, communication skills, professionalism, community involvement and the success of students that has taken place during tenure in their district.”

Wandrie was one of 11 candidates brought forward to the MASA State Selection Committee for consideration.

“The Committee was impressed by Mr. Wandrie’s creativity and innovation in bringing positive change to the Lapeer Community Schools in a relatively short tenure with the district,” said William Mayes, Executive Director of MASA.

Wandrie, 38, is now in his fourth year as superintendent. Since taking the reins, the District merged its two traditional high schools, balanced the budget and expanded choice for students to include more academic options than ever before.

During his tenure the District leveraged its campus structure to accommodate transportation for students needing an extra class period before or after school for enrichment and support. At last count, more than 800 students took advantage of these new opportunities.

LCS introduced the state’s only AP Capstone Diploma Program, the nation’s leading STEM curriculum (Project Lead The Way) and opened the Center for Innovation (CFI) at the West Campus. CFI has become the District’s research and development facility, housing numerous programs including alternative education, robotics, Senior Capstone, PLTW, College on Campus and a standardized testing center. LCS is now home to the Lapeer Virtual Learning Center, The Lapeer Homeschool Partnership and the most advanced academic options among its peers.

The District of Choices is far more than a simple tagline. It embodies what the District has become.

Last week, Wandrie presented “Embracing Innovation: The Lapeer Story” at the Innovative Schools Conference in Lansing. He said he is most proud of the process that has led to the progress of the District.

“There has been a groundswell of support for innovation in our community and we’re already beginning to see these new opportunities pay off for our families,” he said. “Innovation isn’t easy. To have made such great strides in a short period of time requires sacrifices at every level of our organization. Our work is not done, but I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished. Our kids are worth it.”

For more information, visit LapeerSchools.org.