It was a night where Rick Schneider couldn’t help but wear an ear-to-ear smile.

The retired Pasadena ISD superintendent visited with students, old friends and colleagues as they paid tribute to him at the formal dedication of Rick Schneider Middle School recently. More than 300 people attended the special ceremony that featured personal reflections about the school’s namesake and performances by the school’s band, choir, orchestra and dance team.

The fifth-sixth grade campus is the first to be opened in the district as part of the middle school concept. Construction of Schneider Middle School was approved by district voters as part of the 2004 bond program and has helped alleviate overcrowding problems at surrounding campuses.

“It is only fitting that we dedicate this campus in his honor,” said Nelda Sullivan, president of the Pasadena ISD Board of Trustees. “Rick took on the leadership role of this district and made it rise to success through compassion, concern and vision. He successfully accepted the challenge of running our ‘big business’ with lots of heart for the individual.”

Schneider told those in attendance that he was humbled when the Pasadena Board of Trustees decided to name the school after him last spring.

“I know I have said this before, but I feel that new school buildings are about more than bricks and mortar,” he said. “It is the innovative teaching and learning inside that makes a school come to life.”

Schneider knows a thing or two about success stories. He was the longest serving superintendent in the district’s history, leading Pasadena ISD for 13 years. Overall, he served Pasadena ISD for 20 years, having worked as Deputy Superintendent for Instruction and Associate Superintendent for Personnel.

As a result of his leadership as superintendent, he helped elevate the district as one of the leaders in academic achievement in the State of Texas. The district received ratings as a Texas Recognized District for seven years of his tenure. In addition, three campuses were named National Blue Ribbon Schools during his time as superintendent.

“I feel my biggest accomplishment over the years was watching students achieve and watching students learn,” he said.

In his time in the top administrative spot, Schneider saw the district grow from a student population of 37,000 to almost 50,000. He helped lead the successful passage of three bond programs valued at $600 million for new schools and major renovations.

The district’s staff development program also became one of the state’s best under Schneider’s leadership, as the program has equipped teachers with innovative instructional strategies to reach students’ minds and hearts.

“Rick’s focus was always on doing what was best for kids,” Pasadena ISD Superintendent Kirk Lewis said. “In any decision he made, he did so with the focus of how it would benefit students.”

Known among his colleagues as one of the top instructional leaders in the state, Schneider was named the Region 4 Superintendent of the Year in 2002 and was a finalist for Superintendent of the Year honors for the State of Texas.

Schneider received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of New Mexico and his Master’s Degree from New Mexico State University. He earned his Doctorate from Texas A&M University.

Schneider and his wife, Collette, have two grown daughters, Kristee and Brindi, and sons-in-law, Tom and Brian. They also have three grandchildren, Madison, Andrew and Luke.