For Kurt Schuett, an accomplished educator and coach, leadership begins by showing up.
A 1997 graduate of Culver-Stockton College with a degree in English with secondary education, Schuett was recently inducted into the college’s Academic Hall of Fame, recognizing decades of impact as an educator, researcher, coach, and mentor.
His career reflects a commitment to academic excellence and helping students maximize their potential in a rapidly changing educational landscape.
During his time at Culver-Stockton, Schuett graduated summa cum laude and immersed himself in campus life. He competed in baseball and held many leadership roles. His achievements earned multiple honors, including academic and literary awards that foreshadowed a lifelong dedication to both scholarship and storytelling.
He later earned a master’s degree in education and a doctorate of education, further strengthening his impact in the classroom. Since 2000, Schuett has taught English at East Leyden High School while also serving as an AP Research instructor within the College Board’s AP Capstone Program. In addition, he teaches as an adjunct professor at Concordia University Chicago, where he was inducted into the NSLS in 2020.
His recent induction into Culver-Stockton College’s Academic Hall of Fame celebrates not just his accomplishments but the generations of students he has influenced along the way.
As an educational researcher, Schuett has focused on one of the most pressing issues facing today’s classrooms: digital distraction.
“Through my research into digital distraction inside the secondary classroom setting, I added to the canon of educational research literature in order to help maximize the learning potential of students,” he says.
His scholarship aims to support both students and practitioners navigating technology’s evolving role in education. “I hope my research has been beneficial in assisting educational practitioners learn how best to mitigate digital classroom distractions while helping students achieve higher levels of metacognition when learning.”
Schuett is the author of Beyond Digital Distraction: Educating Today’s Cyber Student, a book that explores strategies for teaching and leading effectively in digitally saturated environments. The work reflects his broader mission: helping educators foster deeper thinking and intentional learning in an era of constant connectivity.
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Beyond the classroom, Schuett has built an impressive coaching legacy. Since 2005, he has served as head varsity softball coach at Leyden, guiding teams to record-setting seasons, conference titles, and state-level success. In 2024, he was named Illinois Coaches Association Softball Coach of the Year.
Yet for Schuett, coaching and teaching are inseparable from his leadership philosophy.
“A historical figure I have always modeled my teaching and coaching after would be Socrates because of the Socratic questioning method,” he says. “Getting students to share their personal insights by examining their thoughts, checking their assumptions, and challenging inconsistencies through critical questioning and collaborative discourse has become the hotbed instructional strategy for me as a veteran educator.”
That commitment to inquiry over instruction shapes how he leads both athletes and scholars, encouraging them to think deeply, question thoughtfully, and grow intentionally.
Schuett traces much of his drive back to lessons learned in high school.
“When I was first introduced to the American Transcendentalists as a high school student, I discovered the importance of seizing and ‘maxing out’ each day,” he says.
He now passes that mindset along to his own students. “I often remind my own students not to be a ‘would of’ or a ‘could of’ or a ‘should of’ because living, and even worse dying, with regrets, should not be part of an individual's goal-setting vocabulary. I try to be a ‘do more’ educator and coach because education isn't a job; it's a career.”
That philosophy shows up in tangible ways. Each year, Schuett writes an average of 25 collegiate letters of recommendation for graduating seniors, in addition to workshopping dozens of personal statements and scholarship applications, often for students he no longer teaches.
“Year in and year out, my goal is to help as many of my students achieve their next destination per their career pathway, and for most this is college or technical school acceptance,” he says. “I pride myself on helping students attain this, especially since so many of them are first generation higher education students.”
Schuett believes strong leadership is sharpened through thoughtful resistance.
“Leaders who surround themselves with sycophants, whether doing so intentionally or not, are fostering hollow organizational guidance, which stifles true leadership growth.”
His connection to the NSLS reflects that same belief in collaborative growth. “The NSLS continues to bring quality folks together, allowing them to collaborate, share, and network around common goals and causes,” he says.
Looking ahead, Schuett plans to continue teaching, coaching, and researching (and he is also currently working on a memoir). Whether through scholarship, storytelling, or sport, his focus goes back to his leadership tenets: showing up and being present, asking better questions, and helping others max out every day to reach their fullest potential.
Schuett encourages leaders to seek out voices that sharpen their thinking rather than simply affirm it.
“My advice would be to surround yourself with professionals who will push back on your ideas and suggestions, challenging you to check your own biases and inconsistencies as a leader,” he says.
He emphasizes that growth requires humility and honest feedback. Leaders, he cautions, must resist the temptation to seek comfort over challenge, and above all leadership starts by being available to help others.
“Leadership means being present, both physically and mentally,” he says. “When you show up for others, it matters. Oftentimes, your physical presence as a leader, coupled with an empathetic ear, is just the sound board your students and colleagues need.”
Schuett’s leadership philosophy mirrors the heart of the coaching leadership style: helping each individual grow and succeed. Learn more about the coaching leadership style and how it can shape stronger teams.