Kalmar is top pick for ISD job

Educational experience sited for choice

 

ATTICA — The Lapeer County Intermediate School District has a new leader.

Following in the footsteps of former ISD Superintendent Steve Zott, Dr. William Kalmar is hitting the ground running in his new role as the ISD Superintendent.

“Mr. Zott has been great,” Dr. Kalmar said. “Since I was selected back in May, Mr. Zott has been right there by my side making sure the transition is seemless, and it doesn’t impact the programs or students at all.”

Dr. Kalmar is no stranger to being involved with education, having served in various positions for the past 30 years.

“I began my career in education as a teacher with Imlay City,” Dr. Kalmar recalled. He has served in numerous administrative roles with the Imlay City district prior to accepting the superintendent’s position at Almont beginning in 2016. He served in the Almont district until 2023 and was eventually replaced by current Superintendent Kimberly VonHiltmayer.

“Having been at the two school districts, I was quite familiar with the Lapeer County ISD and what they offer to the local schools and to the students that attend their facility,” the new superintendent said.

Part of his new role will be to, “serve and support the local districts,” he said. “We (ISD) will continue to provide opportunities for all students, including those that may have special needs.”

Although Dr. Kalmar doesn’t officially begin his new role until September 1, he added, “I have been working closely with Mr. Zott in getting to meet the staff and I must say, the ISD has great personnel leading the way for students, and I am looking forward to working alongside with them.”

At the ISD, Dr. Kalmar said his #1 priority will be to be aware of the needs of staff and students alike. “The ISD is in a good place and has great staff throughout the facility.”

He went on to add, “Mr. Zott is a very sound person when it comes to finances and he is leaving the ISD in a great position financially. We are in a good place with excellent resources. I really couldn’t ask for a better mentor than Mr. Zott. He is a man who is a servant leader, who understands and supports all of the local school districts. One of my goals is to be the same way. I am here to do what I can for the locals (district) while still overseeing the ISD operation.”

Dr. Kalmar estimates there will be roughly 1,000 students involved in the various programs offered by the ISD, with over 800 registered for the Education and Technology program.

“We have replaced all of the old equipment with new, state-of-the-art machinery,” he explained. “Now, when the students work on a lathe, it will be the same equipment they would see in a tool and die shop and make the transition easier for them.”

Dr. Kalmar went on to praise the program overall, saying, “we have an amazing Ed-Tech program and the instructors have some fun activities for our special needs students too. We are all looking forward to a new school year.”

Dr. Kalmar has been married to his wife, Gretchen, for 25 years and they have two children, Will who is 19 and a sophomore at Michigan State University and a daughter, Olivia who is 17 and beginning her freshman year at Saginaw Valley State University.