Don retired as Superintendent of Finneytown Local School District 2000. Prior to that Dr. Schmidt was a teacher and elementary principal and high school principal for Northridge High School in Dayton from 1976-1980. He was an assistant superintendent in Trotwood-Madison City School District in Trotwood, Ohio from 1980-1984. He was named Finneytown Local School District Superintendent in 1985.

Dr. Schmidt earned his B.A. from Muskingum College with his M. Ed. and Ph.D. from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

He has devoted his life to being a teacher, administration and superintendent. Since September, 2000 he has been actively involved in the design and implementation of professional development activities in the area of leadership. Dr. Schmidt is currently leading the Educational Leadership Team at the Hamilton County Education Service Center focusing on the design and implementation of leadership training for administrators and teachers.

He has been instrumental in planning and implementing a pilot program for the alternative licensure of school principals in the state of Ohio. The program is now independent and fully operational. He has assisted in organizing a multi-district health consortium and has served on its advisory board.

He is a member of the executive board and legislative committee of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators. He is also an adjunct professor at Xavier University and Wright State University. He is a SAY and Select Youth Soccer coach and active in the Cincinnati Marlins Swim Team.

Don is married with five children and enjoys jogging, training, reading and traveling.