He has big shoes to fill, but new Weaver Elementary Principal Dr. Todd Schmidt is off to a great start, overseeing school innovations in STEAM, Facebook Live events, and Principal RTead Aloud sessions.
Schmidt has to be on his “A-game” because he is replacing the late and beloved Dr. Robert Briggerman, a long-time LAUSD teacher and administrator, who passed away early this year. Schmidt, a 23-year veteran f the education field, comes to Weaver after serving seven years as a Principal at Harbor View Elementary in Corona Del Mar, but prior to that he was a classroom teacher for eight years at Oak Middle School, and two years as an assistant principal at Costa Mesa High School.
At Harbor View, he Schmidt partnered with staff and parents to transform the school’s computer lab and library space to create an Innovation Lab focused on combining literacy with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM).
Since the 2019-2020 school year began, Dr. Schmidt has already made great strides at Weaver:
- Rolled out Weaver’s new STEAM classes with a new part-time teacher solely dedicated to the Media Center; this was in collaboration with FOW, Weaver’s PTA and the Los Alamitos Education Foundation
- Hosted the first-ever Facebook Live “Bed Time Story with Dr. Schmidt” where Dr. Schmidt read a story for the students the night before school began
- Implemented a monthly in-class “Principal Read-Aloud” where he comes into each classroom to read a book with the students
- Working with teachers and staff to find ways to utilize technology as a means of enhancing student learning and teacher efficacy.
Weaver Elementary maintains a long-standing tradition of excellence and pioneering innovative programs that have resulted in the school being ranked #1 in Orange County, and in the top 1% in California for academics. Dr. Schmidt’s goal is to continue this tradition of combining innovation and creativity to provide students a hands-on and integrated learning environment so that they are prepared for middle school and beyond. He is also working closely with Friends of Weaver (FOW), Weaver’s parent-led nonprofit organization, to advance its mission of inspiring a life-long passion for STEAM by tapping into children’s curiosity and drive to explore.
Schmidt has been a busy figure at Weaver’s early weeks. In addition to the above-mentioned activities, he oversaw the school’s Back to School Night activities last night and will probably be equally busy at today’s Ice-Cream social and Welcome back Movie Night.
This article was based in part on a release by Friends of Weaver.
