LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Keith Lewis was nominated by an anonymous colleague.

Mr. Lewis is a fantastic educator, leader, and human being. As the superintendent, he truly cares and advocates for every student in the school district. He has dedicated his life to supporting students and their education. 

• A proven ability to make a beneficial difference in the lives of students
  • Mr. Lewis has filled many roles in DCSD and has impacted each of them. In his current role, he supports and advocates for the modernization of learning. Mr. Lewis participates in instructional walks through each school to monitor each site's progress and ensures that resources are allocated to support the move toward student-centered learning. 
  • Mr. Lewis is very involved in the selection of administrators when vacancies occur. He focuses not just on the management of schools but the instructional leadership of candidates. Mr. Lewis expects administrators to be in classrooms, ensuring that students are receiving the first-rate education that DCSD is known for providing.
• The ability to positively add to the development of the school's atmosphere
  • Having worked in DCSD for 28 years, Mr. Lewis knows almost every staff member by name; teachers, custodians, bus drivers, and kitchen staff. As he walks through each site, he greets and is greeted by staff and students. He prides himself on being approachable and is willing to listen to people when they praise or criticize the district.
  • He leads by example. Mr. Lewis expects administrators and their staff to create and maintain a positive culture at their sites and ensures they have the resources to do so. A big part of this is the expectation that the schools are moving forward with the shift to student-centered learning- which is gaining momentum! 
• Leadership within their school and/or district
  • Mr. Lewis is a fantastic leader. He is approachable and listens to the viewpoints of all stakeholders. He bases decisions on legal requirements and holds all staff to a high standard. Under his leadership, the move toward student-centered learning has gained significant momentum, and our students are receiving a modern education that will prepare them for life beyond school.
• A record of excellent performance at the professional level
  • Mr. Lewis has worked for DCSD for 28 years. He has served as a teacher, Vice Principal, Principal, Executive Director, and Superintendent. He received the DCSD Board of Trustees Excellence in Leadership Award in 2019. His evaluations as superintendent have identified him as "Highly Effective." 
  • Staff, students, and parents highly respect Mr. Lewis. Whether people agree with him or not, they are treated with respect. He has built so many relationships with employees and community members. 
• Commitment to producing a nurturing atmosphere
  • One of the things being focused on to modernize learning is giving students a voice and choice. He believes in empowering students and staff to create optimal learning experiences.
  • Mr. Lewis engages in numerous activities to support a nurturing atmosphere. He ensures there are employee engagement and recognition activities throughout the year. He provides PLC time for administrators to engage with other administrators. Mr. Lewis supports professional learning through annual Forum PL opportunities and by allocating money in the budget for PL outside of DCSD. This creates a supportive, nurturing atmosphere for our staff and models how to do the same for our students! 
• Adherence to high moral and ethical standards
  • There has been a national effort to take away the rights of students under the guise of "safety," including transgender students. Mr. Lewis has continuously supported the rights of ALL students and follows the laws that support them. This has been a challenging road for him, and he knows the ramifications of disagreeing with the beliefs and opinions of others, but he continues to advocate for students. Every. Single. Day.
  • Having two sons of his own with disabilities, Mr. Lewis continues to advocate for respect for people with disabilities. 

Mr. Lewis has the heart of a teacher. In his current role as superintendent, he always considers how decisions will impact students. He weighs the pros and cons of each potential decision and then moves forward with the decision that is both legal and good for kids.

"I feel honored that I get to work with Mr. Lewis and that my children are being educated in DCSD," said the colleague.