Donald
Stinson - Superintendent of the Metropolitan School District
of Decatur Township, Indianapolis, Indiana
Leadership Team, Original Member Core Team
Don
Stinson Selected Indiana Superintendent of the Year INDIANAPOLIS
- October 6, 2004
Based
on a wide range of academic and innovative programs, the Indiana
Association of Public School Superintendents selected Donald H.
Stinson, superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Decatur
Township, as this year's State Superintendent of the Year. In August,
Stinson was selected District V Regional Superintendent of the Year.
The state award, valuing public school superintendents who think
outside of the box, makes Stinson eligible for the American Association
of School Administrators' National Superintendent of the Year Award,
to be announced in February 2005.
Stinson, a 1968 graduate of Decatur Central High School, became
superintendent of the MSD of Decatur Township in 2000 and in four
years has lead the school district through a strategic leadership
and facilities planning process that has resulted in $50 million
of construction and renovation projects.
During the past four years Decatur Central High School has raised
its graduation rate from 79 percent to 94 percent, a change of 15
points. Decatur Central has also experienced a 43 point increase
in its Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, which got the attention
of Indianapolis mayor Bart Peterson.
"This year, the entire city was proud when Decatur Central
High School posted the largest gains on the SAT in the city," Peterson said.
Other innovations led by Stinson include a new charter school, local
business partnerships and a community center. The Decatur Discovery
Academy is a small, non-traditional high school with different approaches
to learning. Decatur received a Gates Foundation grant in support
of this effort and is seeking the first chartered public school
designation in Indiana.
Stinson also partnered with commercial developers, Holladay Properties,
to house the new high school academy, the Challenger Learning Center
of Decatur Township and the Decatur-AmeriPlex IVY-Tech State College
campus inthe AmeriPlex business complex's Mitchell Building, near
the MSD of Decatur Township campus.
Also attributed to Stinson's leadership is the new Decatur-Mars
Hill Community Center, located in part of the renovated Stephen
Decatur Elementary School. This unique facility plans to open in
2005.
"Don Stinson brings common sense and uncommonly good leadership
skills to public school administration," Dr. John Ellis, executive
director of IAPSS, said. "He continues to provide leadership
to the MSD of Decatur Township through major programming efforts
to benefit student learning."
While
Stinson's achievements single him out as Indiana's Superintendent
of the Year, all eight District Superintendents of the Year have
lead their school corporations to greater achievement. The other
seven district winners are: Dr. Michael P. Benway, Valparaiso Community
Schools; R. Stephen Gookins, Delaware Community School Corporation;
Dr. Terry P. McDaniel, Spencer-Owen Community Schools; Dr. Tom Miller,
Washington Community Schools; Monty Schneider, North Harrison Community
School Corporation; Dr. Jerry Thacker, Logansport Community School
Corporation and Dr. Steven L. Yager, Northwest Allen County Schools.
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