When four new Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school board members assumed office at the start of 2023, it was assumed there would be changes.  That has been the case, particularly in school administrators.

Many will remember the September 2023 resignation of Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes with the board agreeing to pay the remainder of her contract (several months).  Other central office administrators have also chosen to leave.  They include: Kim Lippe, now principal at Brownsburg High School….Nataki Pettigrew left as Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Director at HSE to assume the same position with Washington Township Schools in Marion County (the new HSE superintendent says the DEI position will be eliminated here)…Michelle Brittain-Watts left HSE to take the job of President and CEO of Edison School of the Arts in Indianapolis.

At a recent HSE Board meeting, approval was given to the resignations of Katy Dowling as Chief Financial Officer and Jimmy Lake as Chief Operations Officer.  The board document attached to the meeting agenda indicated the remainder of their contracts will be paid in full.

With the exception of Dr. Brittain-Watts, I came to know each of those administrators and admired each for their professionalism and dedication to their duties as HSE Schools.  I wish them all well in their future endeavors.

There was one resignation that did not come from the HSE Central Office but will have a major impact on students attending Fishers Junior High School.  Dr. Crystal Thorpe has left her position as principal at FJHS to accept a central office position with Washington Township.  I was very impressed with Dr. Thorpe after recording a podcast with her about 3 years ago (listen here).  A significant measure of a building principal’s effectiveness comes from the teaching staff, and the feedback from the FJHS teachers tells me they are all very sorry to see Dr. Thorpe go.

With the new majority on the HSE School Board in office just over a year, one should expect more changes to come.