Gibboney to helm Greencastle Schools

Jeff Gibboney

Coming at the end of a long process, a short meeting Monday evening punctuated the search for a Greencastle Community Schools superintendent.

The school board unanimously named current Bloomfield Supt. Jeff Gibboney the new superintendent.

“This is the final step in the long process that started about two weeks after the first of the year and became very difficult about two months ago,” Board President Mike White said. “During the process we sought input from staff members and community members on what you would like to see in your next superintendent.”

What was nice about that process, White said, was learning that the board, the staff and the community wanted the same things, including a good communicator, someone who’s going to be active in the community, a good financial leader, a good curriculum leader and “someone who’s not afraid to think outside the box.”

White said that Gibboney kept rising to the top of the list.

“There were a few candidates that met those markers but we realized we kept coming back to Mr. Gibboney,” White said. “One thing that sets Mr. Gibboney apart is his temperament. We just feel that he is going to be the best fit for Greencastle Schools.”

Board member Brian Cox added that he likes what he sees in Gibboney’s commitment to continually planning for the future.

“We’re excited about Mr. Gibboney coming on. We’re excited about the leadership he’ll bring and the planning he’ll bring,” Cox said. “He’ll have a three-to-five-year plan that will be rolling all the time. I’m excited that Jeff is coming on and it will be a good step for the Greencastle school system.”

Following those comments, board member Russell Harvey made the motion to hire Gibboney, which was seconded by Cox.

The motion passed 5-0, with White, Bill Tobin and Dale Pierce adding their affirmative votes.

For his part, the new superintendent is excited at the chance to lead Greencastle Community Schools.

“I’m really thankful to be given the opportunity by Mr. White as well as the rest of the board,” Gibboney said. “I’m just really eager and excited to get started and work with our staff. There are a lot of things already taking place. I’m really eager to throw my support behind all our activities and academics. I’m also really excited to work with the staff and the board to bring new opportunities to our school and our community.”

Gibboney resides in Spencer with wife Amanda and their children. Amanda is also an educator with Spencer Owen Community Schools.

“We’ve really devoted our life to serving youth,” Gibboney said. “That’s what we’re most passionate about.”

Gibboney began his education career as a student teacher at Warren Central Schools in Indianapolis. While there, he had the opportunity to spend a year teaching special education and was on the coaching staff for a pair of state championship football teams.

If his name is familiar in Putnam County, it may be from his time as a middle school health and PE teacher at Cloverdale Middle School, where he was also an assistant coach for the Clovers.

He got his start in administration at Eminence Community School, working his way up to principal of the junior-senior high school.

Gibboney then spent a short stint working for the Indiana Department of Education, but returned to Eminence, where he spent two years as superintendent before taking the Bloomfield position.

“I’m proud to say I’ve worked in one of the largest urban districts and for small rural districts,” Gibboney said. “I have a well-rounded background. Even my experience at the Department of Education was valuable, but I really felt like I belonged in a school community.’

In his comments during the meeting, Gibboney expressed his excitement but also his desire that the meeting could have happened with more in attendance.

“I wish this meeting could have been conducted face to face but I appreciate everyone’s flexibility in making this happen,” Gibboney said. “We’re doing what we can in this unprecedented time.”

However, he said he knows things will begin to open up, at which time he hopes to really become more familiar with the community.

“Hopefully at some time in the future we’ll be able to get together for an informal meet and greet,” Gibboney said.

He expanded on these thoughts later.

“Hopefully soon when things open up I can get out to some community events and become a part of the community even more and learn about what they love about Greencastle and also some of the hopes that they have for the future,” Gibboney said. “I really feel like the Greencastle community is on the rise. I’m just so excited to become a part of it and become a part of the community and organizations already in place.”