April 15, 2025

Award-winning superintendent named co-director of Gerstacker Fellowship

Portrait of man in plaid jacket and red tie

The 2025 Michigan Superintendent of the Year has joined Saginaw Valley State University. Matthew Schmidt, superintendent of Bangor Township Schools, has been named co-director of the Gerstacker Fellowship Program, a selective leadership development program for premier teachers and administrators throughout Michigan. Schmidt’s appointment began April 1.
As co-director, Schmidt will work alongside James Tarr, dean of the College of Education at SVSU, to provide strategic direction and coordinate the curriculum for the program. His responsibilities include coordinating leadership development activities, managing participant selection, and facilitating international educational experiences for the Gerstacker fellows.
Tarr said: “We are thrilled to have Dr. Matt Schmidt as co-director of the Gerstacker Fellowship Program. He brings a wealth of leadership expertise in his decades of service in the education sector. He is an award-winning administrator and, most importantly, is a product of the Gerstacker Fellowship leadership training program. Matt has the experience, expertise, and vision to lead this prestigious program in bold, new directions that will positively impact our region and state.”
Schmidt brings nearly 30 years of experience and considerable knowledge of global education systems to his new role. During his career, he has led strategic initiatives that increased student enrollment, secured a $33 million bond for school improvements and expanded career and technical education programs. He has studied education systems in China, Japan, Taiwan, Italy and Finland, bringing innovative practices to Michigan schools.
Schmidt earned his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Michigan-Flint and a specialist in education degree from SVSU. He completed the Gerstacker Fellowship Program in 2010.
Schmidt is deeply engaged in community service and professional mentorship, serving on multiple boards, including the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bay Area Community Foundation.
The Gerstacker Fellowship Program was established in 2005 with a $1.5 million endowment by the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation. Its purpose is twofold: to provide a leadership development program for a select group of premier teachers and administrators each year, and, create a new cadre of educational leaders throughout the State of Michigan who will increase the quality of K-12 education in their communities.