A new face will be seen around the Fenton Area. Dr. Adam Hartley, a former teacher turned superintendent, will be looking to make changes in his first year on the job.

“It was just a natural progression into the superintendency,” Hartley said. “I am able to impact many more people, not only in the schools but in the community. I have always been very impressed with Fenton schools, the city and how vibrant and progressive it is. When this position opened up, I was excited for the opportunity to not only be a leader within an educational setting, but to come out and be a leader in the community of Fenton. To have an opportunity to work and live in Fenton with my family, and to also be able to see my son graduate from Fenton Schools, makes me glad.”

Although no structural plans for Fenton schools are in place, Hartley does plan to evaluate the learning environment of the school in hopes of instilling a true culture of learning for youth.

“By next year, I want students to walk into every classroom and understand the culture of learning,” Hartley said. “I want to make sure students are not just going through the motions and jumping through the hoops just to graduate. I want to make sure that the learning environment at Fenton Area Public Schools is true, where every student knows there is a purpose behind everything that they do here. You have some autonomy as a student, no matter what class, there is no complacency issue where you are going just to go.”

Preparing students to enter a world where occupations are continually evolving may be a challenge, he feels, because teachers and administrators want to align coursework to match career trends. Hartley’s goals have always been to help students progress in school so they can be prepared for their futures and to keep students in the forefront of his mind when making decisions that effect the schools.

“What I found once I moved to the central office was that unless you are very intentional about driving to the buildings, you don’t see the students on a daily basis it can be easy to lose track of why I’m here,” Hartley said. “The best advice, and the advice that I am going to follow, is to never lose sight of why I am a superintendent, and that is to make sure that we are here for the kids, that we are doing what is best for the kids, and that we are preparing them to be our future leaders.”

Hartley is looking forward to serving as superintendent, and has the dedication to make a difference in his tenure. Updates on the plans are to come.