Betts
Whiteland Community High School’s principal has taken an administrative position at Franklin schools.
Benji Betts will leave his position at the end of the month to serve as Franklin Community School Corporation’s executive director of operations. He will replace Jeff Sewell, who is leaving for a job in the private sector after six years in the role, said David Clendening, superintendent of Franklin schools.
The Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation Board of Trustees will name Betts’ replacement during their July 5 meeting, spokesperson Rick Hightower said.
As operations director, Betts will work with school resource officers, Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran and Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess. He’ll also work with the school district’s transportation department and oversee the maintenance of grounds and school buildings. Additionally, he’ll be in charge of monitoring the timely delivery of materials for construction projects, Clendening said.
“On the education side, he knows what it takes to lead a building,” he said. “Whiteland (High School) is a big building and he was at Center Grove before that. He was an assistant principal at our middle school. That shines bright because he knows the community. He’s really good with people, he’s good with understanding the needs of the community and he will be a good liaison to work with vendors and architects.”
Betts departs Whiteland’s high school as the district prepares for a $235 million renovation project to add an entirely new wing and upgrade the school’s old classrooms, auditorium, pool, cafeteria, band and choir spaces. It is the most expensive capital project in Clark-Pleasant schools’ history, and is being in done in preparation for anticipated student population growth, school officials have said.
Betts wasn’t actively looking for another job, but said the opportunity presented itself and he now looks forward to a new chapter in a 17-year administrative career he’s spent at Edinburgh, Franklin, Center Grove and Clark-Pleasant schools.
“This is a much different role. I wasn’t actively looking for anything, and it was a really tough decision to leave here, but this is the next progression in my career,” Betts said. “It’s an opportunity to learn about something new in education. I have not had the opportunity to work in a central office, so that intrigues me. It gives me the opportunity to learn something new in education.”
Betts spent eight years, almost half of his administrative career, in leadership at Whiteland High School. He was an assistant principal for four years before his most recent four years as principal. During his time as principal, he had to lead the school through challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this past school year, multiple student deaths and an EF-3 tornado that ravaged Whiteland.
“I think the biggest thing for all of that is being here for the community and the families. You can see how the community pulls together for people in times of need,” Betts said. “I think in any of those times, being the leader of a big building, part of it is showing people you care and being present for them. That’s the thing I learned from all the people I’ve worked with in my career.”
During his time at Whiteland High School, Betts said he’s most proud of building trust with his coworkers and students.
“I think some of the biggest things I’m proud of working with our staff, building curriculum and looking at what teaching looks like,” Betts said. “On the other side of things, working with kids to give them the best experience possible here. It’s not easy being a high school kid. You’re a teenager trying to figure out what you want to be in life. To help those kids out is the best part of our job.”
