Milton Superintendent Dr. John Bickhart said his main goal for the school year, his first full one at the helm, is to improve student academic achievement. As Milton continues to move out of the pandemic, the district’s main goal is to have students leave the school prepared for college or careers, he added
According to Dr. Bickhart, school districts are required to have state approved comprehensive plans. He said that the main pieces of that plan are establishing the key goals of the school year, and then the vision behind the comprehensive plan.
Dr. Bickhart said, to achieve academic improvement, “The school needs to be an environment everyone wants to be in.” He added by the time students walk across the stage at graduation, the goal is for them to be prepared for their post-secondary journey.
“As we began this year, we focused on Panther Pride, and the mission of ‘Panther Pride in Everything We Do.’ You’re writing a story, and you’re proud of that story and going to want to do a great job,” said Dr. Bickhart. “If there is something about coming to school that you love, you’re going to have pride in that, you’re going to be motivated, and that’s what it comes down to.”
According to Dr. Bickhart, he first became interested in the position when former superintendent Dr. Cathy Keegan announced her retirement in 2022.
“I’ve always had an interest in leadership, I’ve enjoyed working with adults to maximize student success,” said Dr. Bickhart. “It made me think ‘if I’m going to do this anywhere, I’m going to do it where I live, or do it where my roots are.”
According to Dr. Bickhart, a lot of teachers enjoy just working with children, while he wants to get the best out of adults that, in turn, get the best out of students.
Senior Ryan Bickhart is the oldest son of Dr. Bickhart. (He also has two other younger children.)
“It definitely helps having your kids attend the school district because it can help you understand the student’s point of view on things,” said Ryan. He added the most important factor is having a superintendent who cares about and enjoys being in the district.
“Since my dad got appointed, I think there has been a huge culture shift (for the better) and that students and staff are starting to enjoy being at school more,” added Ryan.
According to Ryan, students and the community expect the superintendent to be present and engaged in the district.
“I would say we, as students, just hope (the board) helps make decisions that help the school, and not take away from it,” he added.
Dr. Bickhart said he was “very fortunate” to join the district as the facility project was underway in the high school stadium and sports center. According to Dr. Bickhart, the first challenge that he was presented with was a “bottom-up” reconstruction of Baugher Elementary School in September of last year.
“It’s a whole different place, and to see teachers go in there and say ‘This is what we want,’ that’s important to me,” said Dr. Bickhart. “It’s not about the change I made; it’s about giving people the opportunity to be part of the decision-making process.”
Following the renovation of Baugher Elementary, Dr. Bickhart said that the district is working on K-5 realignment. He explained that by next year, kindergarten through third grade will go to school at Baugher Elementary, and fourth and fifth grade will be located at White Deer.
Dr. Bickhart added another change coming to Milton by next year is the adjustment from block to period scheduling in the secondary schools. Bickhart said the main benefit to a period schedule is all-year electives for students.
According to Dr. Bickhart, he wants kids to have the opportunity to participate in related arts without having to choose between something they enjoy versus a required credit. He said he wants to discuss those goals within the next two months.
“I hope in the near future, students really start buying into this great school district and start giving new things a try… I also hope the district keeps making changes that benefit everyone,” added Ryan.
Dr. Bickhart said the team he gets to work on is one of his favorite parts about his job as superintendent. According to Dr. Bickhart, he enjoys the principals and administrators he gets to work with, and that they are “phenomenal.”
“I think one of the things I enjoy the most is my office,” said Dr. Bickhart. He added that he enjoys working with the district office staff daily.
Dr. Bickhart said when he walks into his office and sees smiling faces, and added he wants them to feel valued and important in what they do, and that is what gives him energy in his job.
According to Dr. Bickhart, in the role of superintendent, “You can make a lot of people happy, and you can also frustrate a lot of people.”
Dr. Bickhart said one of the hardest parts of his job is being the final decision maker.
“The reality is at times I have to take the information I’m given, and make a decision. Some people may not like that,” Dr. Bickhart said. “They can be kids, they can be adults, but what I try to do with that is I try to listen to as many people as possible, but I also have to respect the fact that, like with any decision, people may not always agree.”
“The thing I would be most proud of is if we can implement change where people feel part of the change and not that it was done to them, and that can be difficult at times,” added Dr. Bickhart.
“The mission, in the end, is that guiding force every day,” said Dr. Bickhart. “In the end we came back to the mission where the whole goal is that people love it, a kid could say it, and we want everybody to be part of that,” he added.
“Panther Pride” is something that has been established at Milton, he said. The ultimate goal of the comprehensive plan is for students and teachers to have “Panther Pride” in everything they do, added Dr. Bickhart.
“I want the ladies in the cafeteria to know that they are just important as anything else we do here.” Dr. Bickhart added the goal is more than for just students to have pride, but everyone in the building.
“If everyone truly has pride, we will only grow and we will only become better versions of ourselves,” said Dr. Bickhart.
