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Becky McPherson named new GMS principal
When the time came to hire a new middle school principal, Greencastle Community Schools hired from outside the district but did not have to look far.
On Monday, the School Board approved hiring Becky McPherson as the new GMS principal. McPherson has spent the last four years nearby as principal of Monrovia Middle School.
It is the second time in recent years that GCSC has gone to that well, as in 2018 Yolanda Goodpaster was also hired from Monroe-Gregg Schools as Greencastle High School assistant principal.
The new principal, her husband Mike and sons Jackson and Luke were in attendance on Monday, and welcomed by the board upon approval of the personnel report.
McPherson has been in education for 18 years, 11 in the classroom and seven as an administrator.
She earned her master’s degree and educational specialist degree from Indiana State University.
“Mrs. McPherson believes that building relationships with the staff, students, parents and community is one of the most important factors in promoting student success,” Supt. Jeff Gibboney said in a statement on the school’s social media accounts. “Mrs. McPherson and her family are excited to meet the wonderful people of Greencastle Community School District.”
McPherson replaces Scott Weltz, who spent six years as GMS principal and 17 years in the district overall before accepting the position of assistant superintendent at Community Schools of Frankfort.
The hiring of McPherson leaves one open administrator position for GCSC in the form of Ridpath Primary School principal. While Emily Johnson’s resignation became publicly known early in June, it could not be formally accepted by the board until a public meeting.
At the other end of the spectrum from McPherson, whose tenure with GCSC formally begins on July 1, two veteran Greencastle educators were honored on the occasion of their retirements.
High school art teacher Robin Johnson and primary school physical education teacher Liz Spencer were honored for their long service to the corporation, 40 and 32 years, respectively.
With Johnson in person to receive the honor, both women were presented with a plaque and and will also receive a golden pass — a lifetime pass to Greencastle School Corporation events.
The board, which was represented Monday by a quorum of Vice President Russell Harvey, Brian Cox and Dale Pierce, approved a rather lengthy list of personnel matters that also included:
Resignations: Jennifer Finnerty, GHS science teacher; Jennifer Heithaus, Ridpath special education teacher; Amanda Standers, GHS special education teacher; Cassidy Holt-Spencer, GHS English teacher and Spell Bowl coach; Kelly Plott, Deer Meadow special services teacher; Carol Clark, Central Office custodian; Jessica Draper, Ridpath cafeteria assistant; Tiffany Trissel, GMS instructional assistant; Amanda Schroeder, Deer Meadow nurse assistant; Emily Johnson, Ridpath student council co-sponsor and Movement Club co-sponsor; Ben Wells, GHS boys’ C team basketball coach.
Leaves of absence: Jennifer Riggle, intermittent FMLA as Deer Meadow second-grade teacher (spring 2022); Carmen Coons, FMLA as Tzouanakis third-grade teacher (fall 2022).
New hires: Isaac Combs, GHS social studies teacher; Jessie McKean, GHS science teacher; Megan Miller, Tzouanakis third-grade teacher; Rachel Crosby, GHS media assistant; Jessica Greenwell, GMS instructional assistant math support; David Tiedemann, part-time mechanic;
Transfers: Meredith Bee from Ridpath kindergarten teacher to Ridpath special education services teacher; Stacy Allen from Ridpath Title 1 teacher to Deer Meadow second-grade teacher; Levi Hoffman from GHS media assistant to GHS instructional assistant.
Summer School: Katherine Asbell, approved as principal on duty at Deer Meadow; Mary Katherine Asbell, hired as Deer Meadow instructional assistant; Dana Clavert, Laylah Downing and Alyssa Campfield, approve as summer cafeteria assistant.
Substitute: Dennis Weir hired as long-term substitute for GHS life skills teacher (2022-23 school year).
Extracurricular activities: Isaac Combs hired as GHS C team boys’ basketball coach; Brody Whitaker and Collin York approved as GHS volunteer boys’ assistant basketball coaches; Pam Carrington approved as GHS volunteer cheer coach; Tom Hamilton transfer from GHS assistant football coach to GMS assistant head football coach; Bailey Jones approved as GHS volunteer assistant volleyball coach; Evan Crow hired as GMS boys’ soccer coach; Annette Munoz approved as GMS band director, GMS summer band instructor and music department chair; Ross Hanson approved as GMS choral director and GMS musical director; Amy Weliever approved as GMS yearbook sponsor and GMS technology department chair; Alisa Isaacs-Bailey approved as GMS drama performance sponsor; Stacie Stoffregen approved as GMS science department chair and science Academic Super Bowl sponsor; Courtney Smith approved as GMS social studies department chair and social studies Academic Super Bowl sponsor; Denise Meyer approved as GMS English department chair; Jane Roberson as GMS math department chair and math Academic Super Bowl sponsor; Ben Wells approved as GMS PE department chair; Amy Robinson approved as GMS art department chair; Jessica Briones approved as GMS guidance department chair; Amy Howard approved as GMS special services department chair; Jessi Koosman approved as GMS student council sponsor; Melissa Knipp approved as GMS Spell Bowl sponsor; Kristien Hamilton approved as GMS Math Counts sponsor; Tanis Nicklasch approved as GMS English Academic Super Bowl sponsor; Brooke Lewis approved as Tzouanakis honor council sponsor; Carrie Hamilton approved as Tzouanakis dram performance director and musical director; Emily Dickey approved as Tzouanakis Spell Bowl sponsor and Math Bowl sponsor; Shelby Aguirre approved as Tzouanakis Spell Bowl sponsor; Aaron Nance approved as Tzouanakis Science Bowl sponsor and STEM Club sponsor; Jacob Hopper approved as Tzouanakis Math Bowl sponsor; Brad Phillips and Carmen Coons as Fitness Fanatics co-sponsors and fitness intramurals co-sponsors; Shannon Green approved as Tzouanakis makerspace/art club spring sponsor; Lara Inlow-Shields approved as Tzouanakis Spanish enrichment sponsor; Julia Stevens approved as Tzouanakis running club/fall cross country sponsor; Jamy Whitaker, approved as Ridpath student council sponsor; Tonia Dibble and Courtenay Hayes approved as Ridpath Be Nice Be Kind co-sponsors.