Ryan Deem joins Fort Zumwalt School District as the Director of Student Information Systems and Data Management. Deem, who started in the Ferguson-Florissant School District as an elementary school teacher in 2011, also worked as an instructional coach and building administrator before moving to the district level in 2016, where he has been focused on student data management.
“In this new role, I’m really looking forward to making a positive impact by helping the district use data to support student success and smooth daily operations,” Deem says. “I’m excited to work closely with different departments, modernize our systems, lead a great team, and put strong data practices in place. I’m also looking forward to learning and growing professionally while seeing the difference this work makes for our schools and community.”
Deem puts a priority on connecting with staff by being approachable, listening to their needs, and working together to find solutions that make their day-to-day work easier. “Building strong, trusting relationships is important to me,” he says. “And I’m excited to collaborate, offer support, and create opportunities for staff to feel confident and empowered when using our systems and data.” He adds that he is excited to improve how district systems work together.
“I’ll also focus on supporting academic and operational planning with clear, reliable reports, while keeping our SIS running smoothly and protecting the accuracy, privacy, and security of all our data.”
A graduate of Southern Illinois, UMSL and Missouri Baptist Universities, Deem spends his time outside of work with his wife and teen-aged children, attending their baseball and softball games as much as possible, tuning in to the Cardinals and Blues when he can, and travelling. Recently, he says, he has also spent a lot of time exploring AI.
“I’m especially interested in how AI can be used to improve student outcomes and streamline district operations.” Deem says. “I’ve been exploring how AI tools can enhance data analysis, automate routine tasks, and provide more personalized insights for staff and students.”