Dr. Andrew Brooks will turn the keys to the superintendent’s office at Wethersfield CUSD #230 over to his successor, Kurtis Smyth, on Tuesday culminating four years as the school district’s top administrator.
Dr. Brooks came to Wethersfield in 2022 from Delavan, where he also served as superintendent. In a recent interview with The Kewanee Voice, he said he had hoped to stay at Wethersfield longer, but an opportunity opened in Knoxville — the district where he began teaching 28 years ago — to return and take the superintendent’s job after holding teaching and administrative positions in Galesburg, Delavan and Wethersfield.
Dr. Brooks said Wethersfield is as it was when he came, in good financial shape, but predicted that anticipated changes on the state level and a local tax base with little room to expand may be a problem in the future. On the positive side, he said with the TIF designation on Mill Creek Station subdivision expiring soon, the school district could be in for an increase in property tax income of from the current $12,000 to around $60,000.
When asked about his fondest memory from his tenure at Wethersfield, Dr. Brooks said there were a few, but one of the experiences he enjoyed the most was attending the Frank H. Craig Wethersfield Alumni reunion each year and listening to stories told by some of those who attended WHS years ago. He said he will also remember when a student journalist discovered names of former students scrawled on the rafters in the attic of the Blish Building and the huge pile of trophies also found there.
Looking back, Dr. Brooks shared the following thoughts on his time at Wethersfield:
My four years at Wethersfield have gone by remarkably fast. When I arrived in July of 2022, I inherited a district with great people, a proud tradition, and tremendous potential. My goal was never to come in and make Wethersfield into something different. Instead, it was to help strengthen what was already good and position the district for long-term success.
Together, we accomplished a great deal. We improved the district’s financial position, modernized facilities, expanded educational opportunities through tech/music/art additions, upgraded HVAC systems, renovated learning spaces, improved transportation and maintenance operations and secured significant grant funding.
We also focused on student achievement, school culture, safety, and communication. I am especially proud that Wethersfield High School has achieved Exemplary designations from ISBE during my tenure.
Like any superintendent, there are things I would have loved to see completed before leaving. The solar battery storage project remains unfinished because of federal bureaucracy hang-ups, additional facility improvements are still needed and there are always educational initiatives that could be expanded further. The reality is that school improvement is never “finished.” Every superintendent simply advances the work and then passes the baton to the next leader.
What are you most proud of?
Without hesitation, I am most proud of the people.
Buildings, budgets, and projects are important, but they are not what define a school district. What defines Wethersfield are the students, staff, parents, and community members who care deeply about one another and about this school.
I am proud of the culture we have continued to build—one that values relationships, hard work, service, and doing what is best for kids. I am proud of our staff who consistently go above and beyond for students. I am proud of our students who represent this district so well in the classroom, on the court/field and in our community.
If I have learned anything over the last four years, it is that the strength of Wethersfield has never been its buildings or programs. Its strength has always been its people.
Why did you decide to come to Wethersfield and why have you decided to move on?
My family and I moved up to this area to position us closer to family that needed more support from us at the time. At the time, I chose Wethersfield because I saw an opportunity to work with a district that shared my values. I was attracted to the close-knit community, the commitment to students and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Wethersfield has been very good to me these last four years. However, the opportunity to return to Knoxville, where my educational career began nearly three decades ago, was one that I felt called to pursue.
Knoxville is where I first discovered my passion for educational leadership, and the chance to return there as superintendent felt like a unique full-circle opportunity.
My decision was not about leaving something behind. It was about answering an opportunity that I felt was right for me professionally and personally at this stage of my career.
If you could leave a letter to Mr. Smyth in your desk, what would you tell him about his new job?
I would tell him to listen first.
Every district has its own culture, traditions, strengths and challenges. The temptation for any new superintendent is to arrive with solutions. The better approach is to spend time understanding the people, history and values of the community.
I would tell him that Wethersfield is filled with good people who care deeply about students and who genuinely want the district to succeed. Build relationships, be engaged, communicate often and remember that trust is earned one interaction at a time.
I would also remind him that not every decision will make everyone happy. Lead with integrity, keep students at the center of decisions and stay focused on the long-term health of the district. If he does those things, he will do well.
What is your assessment of the school district after your four years as superintendent?
My assessment is overwhelmingly positive.
Wethersfield is a district that consistently performs above what many would expect given its size and resources. There is a strong sense of pride here, and there is a commitment to students that runs throughout the organization.
The district is financially stable, educationally strong, and positioned well for the future. Like every school district, there will be challenges ahead. Enrollment trends, staffing concerns, state mandates, and facility needs will continue to require attention. However, I believe Wethersfield is well-equipped to meet those challenges.
As I leave, I do so with confidence. The district is in a good place. More importantly, it is filled with people who care deeply about preserving what makes Wethersfield special while continuing to move forward.
I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have served this community.
School Board President Steve Newman, in a press release issued last October announcing Dr. Brooks’ resignation, said, “Dr. Brooks has been a steady and visionary leader for Wethersfield. He has guided our district with professionalism, compassion and a clear commitment to what’s best for kids. The Board thanks him for his years of service and leadership, and we wish him continued success as he takes on this next chapter in Knoxville.”
