By Sarah Light, Staff Writer

GLENVILLE &8212; Although he&8217;s no longer technically in the classroom, former social studies teacher David Vik, who was hired on as the new superintendent-principal at the Glenville-Emmons School District, says he is still a teacher, just in a different way.

Vik became the new Glenville-Emmons superintendent July 1, after a lifelong education career in Minnesota and in other parts of the country and the world.

&8220;I was a teacher and coach all those years, but I feel I&8217;m still a teacher and coach,&8221; he said.

As new superintendent of the Glenville-Emmons school district, Vik said he is going to focus

largely on building relationships with staff, students and parents, while also attracting students to the school and working to improve the environment of the school.

&8220;I think education can provide success for kids while they&8217;re in elementary and high school,&8221; Vik said. &8220;It can be a positive experience they can carry on for the rest of their life. The more education you have, you can be more successful, more positive (and) more happy the rest of your life.&8221;

His own career in education began as a young child in Halma, Minn., when he would go to school with his father, who was a head custodian, and help him clean. From that age on, he said he learned that school can be a positive part of life.

Since, he has received a bachelor&8217;s degree in social studies from Concordia College in Moorhead and a master&8217;s degree in social studies with a minor in English from Moorhead State University. He has also received a specialist&8217;s degree in Minneapolis to become a superintendent.

He has worked as principal and superintendent for several years in Cloquet, Minn., Hendricks, Minn. and Kuwait. This will be his 10th year as a principal and his fourth year as a superintendent. Over the years, he has also taught social studies and coached football, basketball and baseball at other schools in North Dakota and the Cayman Islands.

&8220;I think teaching&8217;s a very difficult job,&8221; Vik said. &8220;A lot of people take it for granted. It gets tougher as our way of life grows exponentially.&8221;

While his job title is not that of an official teacher, he said he thinks he can help students, staff and parents just as much, if not more, in his new position.

&8220;I really enjoy my job,&8221; Vik said. &8220;Every day is different.&8221;

Dean Adams, chair of the Glenville-Emmons School Board, said the board was impressed with Vik&8217;s strong leadership and disciplinarian abilities when they hired him in March for the position. Since Vik started his job July 1, Adams said he has begun to see relationships grow between Vik and the students, staff and parents.

&8220;The kids respect him,&8221; Adams said. &8220;They still like him, but he has a strong strap on things.&8221;

In addition to being a strong disciplinarian, Craig Rayman, physical education and health teacher at Glenville-Emmons High School, said Vik is also a good listener who is respected by other staff members.

&8220;I think the staff enjoys his characteristics and qualities, and they seem pretty enthused by him this year,&8221; Rayman said.

Since becoming superintendent, Vik has also stressed the importance of open communication, whether positive or negative, between staff, students and parents.

Vik is married to Charlene Buescher. Each have three children from a previous marriage.