Gardner focused on people, progress at South Putnam MS/HS

Tona Gardner

As she is set to take over as principal at South Putnam Middle/High School, Tona Gardner is looking to advance further on its successes and improvements.

In succeeding the leadership of Levi Yowell, the veteran educator and administrator wants the focus to remain on the people who make the building the effectual center of the South Putnam community.

A 1994 Greencastle graduate, Gardner earned a Bachelor of Science in English from Indiana State University and began teaching at South Putnam in the fall of 2000. After seven years in the classroom, she got her certification as a library media specialist and moved into that role at the middle/high school.

After then-principal Kieth Puckett told her he was excited about her renovating and updating the library, Gardner worked with teachers on professional development and began delving into the administration side. Technology in turn became an interest.

“That was a time of technology and innovation in education; it was playing an even more important role in schools,” Gardner reflected. “Some of that work came out of being in the library and transforming that space from print to digital resources and catalogs.”

Gardner then earned her master’s in learning design and technology from Purdue University, and took over as South Putnam’s director of curriculum and technology integration in 2014. She led the exploration of resources and tools as its one-to-one plan took shape and was rolled out in 2016.

“Knowing that technology just has a role in education, the foundation of good learning begins and ends with people,” Gardner said, “and never losing a focus on connecting people to information and building knowledge together.”

Wanting to be close to students and see things from a corporation level as well as a building-level culture, Gardner was tapped as the middle/high school’s assistant principal in 2019. She later transitioned into the associate principal role in 2021 to reflect her leadership in both schools.

The time since has been challenging but exciting for Gardner. Working with Yowell and her colleagues, it all reinforced again a focus on people, and how students can be prepared for their paths after high school with the educational tools available.

“I’ve always had a passion for getting kids prepared for their next step,” Gardner said about high school being an on-ramp. “Honestly, when we think about our educational leadership, that’s what high school’s really about.”

Building on its AP offerings and dual-credit opportunities through Ivy Tech, Gardner is looking forward to an early college program at South Putnam. A military educational track is also being devised for students planning to enlist. These are beside an extensive expansion of the building now being planned.

Wanting to further encourage a culture that puts people and progress forward, Gardner rather sees potential challenges as opportunities. More clarity as to how these opportunities fit together would be an extra-focus.

“When our parents come to parent meetings and they’re trying to help their students choose courses, I want to be able to lay that out in a meaningful way that’ll be easier for them to understand,” she said.

Aside from them being prepared, Gardner’s other goal locally at the middle/high school is for students to have a positive experience and participate in a variety of activities. This, she suggested, has to be foundational to their growth as individuals.

“I want them (parents) to know that we care deeply about their kids,” Gardner summed up. “We take that trust seriously. We want both their children and themselves to feel welcome in our building and in our community.”