In the Administration Office right next door to Kesling Middle School in La Porte lies the office of Dr. Glade Montgomery. He is the Superintendent for La Porte Community Schools. Though Dr. Montgomery is a very busy man, he still took time out to talk to me. As he spoke of his life, his family, and his community, Dr. Montgomery’s caring and calm demeanor shown quite evidently. This is why he is a La Porte County Life in the Spotlight.
Dr. Montgomery was born and raised in Centerville, Indiana. He was a very active as a teenager and participated in various sports at his school. His academic side was active as well. He was a very good student and his favorite subject was math.
After graduating from high school, Dr. Montgomery went to Purdue for for his undergraduate degree in math education. In 1984, he landed his first teaching job at Lincoln Junior High in Plymouth, Indiana. After one semester he went back to West Lafayette where he began student teaching and ended up working there for the next fifteen years as a teacher and a football and golf coach. He decided to go into education because he wanted to be a coach. What he realized after he began to teach was that teaching is coaching, so he changed his perspective and went a different direction. From there, Dr. Montgomery left teaching to get into the administration field. There he held multiple positions.
“I started in administration not because I was unhappy with teaching. I loved teaching,” Dr. Montgomery informed me. “I was just looking for a different leadership challenge in my life.”
Dr. Montgomery was the principal at Lafayette Jefferson High School for three years, then moved into the Assistant Superintendent position for the Lafayette School Corporation. There he stayed for the next 27 years. Two years ago, Dr. Montgomery became the Superintendent for the La Porte Community School Corporation.
“I love it,” Dr. Montgomery said adamantly. “It’s a great community. I work with fabulous people. Outstanding educators, wonderful teachers, wonderful administrators, great employees, and a community that is very supportive of our schools.”
Dr. Montgomery lives just outside of the city of La Porte with his wife. In his free time he enjoys attending community and school events. He also likes to read, take his wife fishing, and spend as much time as he can outdoors.
As an authority figure, Dr. Montgomery feels that it is important to be involved in the community, not only to set a positive example, but to give back to others. His most recent involvement has been in the creation of the Drug Free Task Force, an initiative that is actively trying to prevent drug use and abuse in the schools of La Porte County. He is also an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, La Porte Educational Development Foundation, the PNC Advisory Board, PNC Nursing Advisory Board, Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation, the Rotary Club of La Porte, and the United Way Board of Directors.
Any advice for a person who is looking to better themselves and become more of a positive influence and example?
“There are three things that I’ve always tried to live by: discipline, character, and hard work," Dr. Montgomery stated. “Self-discipline is very important. There comes a time in everyone’s life where you’re going to have to be responsible for yourself. And I think that the earlier that can be taught the better. Character is something that will take you a lot further than others things which you may learn in school. One of the sayings that I have is, ‘Do the right thing. Do what’s right in any circumstance.’ Thomas Edison said it, ‘There’s no substitute for hard work’. Hard work can help you overcome a lot of shortcomings in your life. If you just decide to work hard at something you can be successful. I always tell my kids -they get tired of hearing it- as well as other kids that good things happen to those who work hard. And I’m a firm believer in that.”
And it seems that all the hard work that Dr. Montgomery has done and continues to do is paying off. He seems happy and at peace, both of which are great feelings to achieve.
To find out more about Dr. Glade Montgomery and the La Porte Community School Corporation click here!