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Chew honored as Principal of the Year
INDIANAPOLIS -- Every year, the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) highlights both principals and assistant principals who stand out for the contributions within and outside of the schools they lead.
In recognition of his leadership at North Putnam High School and in the community, Jason Chew was one of 12 high school principals who represented school districts throughout Indiana during a banquet held by the IASP in Indianapolis on Friday.
Chew was joined by Superintendent Nicole Singer, North Putnam principals Beth Waterman, Rodney Simpson and Scott Miller, agriscience teacher Kate Skirvin and North Putnam School Board President Ron Spencer as he was honored as a High School Principal of the Year.
The IASP is divided into 12 geographical districts throughout the state, each with its own leadership and contacts. Chew was chosen to represent District 8, which includes Putnam, Clay, Greene, Hendricks, Owen, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties.
Since becoming principal at North Putnam High School in 2014 after previously serving as dean of students and as assistant principal, Chew has spearheaded advancement initiatives at both the local and state level.
Chew has led the development of North Putnam University, a collaboration between North Putnam High School and Ivy Tech Community College which brings professors to the building to teach dual-credit courses. He has also fostered a partnership with Cummins Behavioral Health, which has provided two full-time therapists and three full-time life skills specialists who work with students at each school in the corporation.
As a member of a principals’ focus group, Chew worked with the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) on the development of Graduation Pathways, which allows students to tailor graduation requirements to their post-high school goals. He also helped establish North Putnam’s Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate, which connects potential employers to students. This certificate will be awarded for the first time at North Putnam next May.
“Jason receiving this award is a great honor for North Putnam,” Singer told the Banner Graphic Monday morning. “He’s about positive student engagement and providing every opportunity possible to our kids, and does it by thinking outside the box.
“I think it’s often rare to find an administrator who also cares about everyone in the other buildings like he does,” Singer added. “I think he would say that he’s only as good as the people who stand behind him.”
Tom Harmas, principal of Carmel High School who represented District 5, was selected as the IASP’s Principal of the Year. He will represent Indiana when the National Association of Secondary Principals (NASSP) selects its National Principal of the Year for 2021 next October.