As the new superintendent of the Glenville-Emmons School District, Mark Roubinek is aiming to draw on the benefits of being in a smaller district to provide quality education for his students.

Hired for the position the third week of July, Roubinek grew up in Pine City, where last year he performed a superintendent internship with the Pine City Public Schools.

He’s been in the education field for 24 years — 17 years teaching and six years as a principal.

He started as Glenville-Emmons superintendent full time in August.

“I think it’s been a very good experience so far,” he said. “It’s been very busy, but people have been very supportive.”

He said he was drawn to Glenville partly because of the school setting. Glenville-Emmons is a smaller school, where the administration is able to keep in touch with the students and shape educational programs, he said. At larger schools this isn’t always the case.

At smaller schools like Glenville-Emmons, the superintendent and the teachers have a greater opportunity to impact students positively and be role models for them, Roubinek said.

His biggest goal for the district is going to help “get people to work together on the same page,” while helping to provide a quality educational experience, he said.

Though a drawback to smaller schools is that sometimes there are less electives and options for the students, a benefit is that there can be more opportunities for teachers to provide hands-on learning in smaller classes.

“I think Glenville-Emmons schools has a lot to offer students,” he said.

During his time in the position thus far, he said he’s already seen how supportive people are and that they take pride in the school district.

“That’s a reflection of the Glenville-Emmons area,” Roubinek said.

Age: 48

Address:

Glenville

Livelihood:

superintendent of Glenville-Emmons Schools

Family:

wife, Sue

Interesting fact: He enjoys making several different kinds of pancakes.

The Glenville-Emmons School District has between 330 and 340 students, with about 185 at the high school and about 155 at the elementary school and about 30 employees.

The superintendent commended the staff, who are interested in providing a good education, and the students, who are interested in learning.

He is one of 11 or 12 new staff members in the district this year.

His wife, Sue, has previously worked in accounting and will soon move to the area as well.

The couple is buying a house and will be moving into it in the coming weeks.

Roubinek said in his spare time he enjoys golfing, biking, camping and other family activities.