Edsell
A familiar face in Johnson County took the top job at Clark-Pleasant schools.
Tim Edsell was named the new superintendent of the Clark-Pleasant Community School Corp. Wednesday evening. Edsell has been the superintendent at Indian Creek schools for the last nine years. With his departure, the Indian Creek School Board is now tasked with searching for a new superintendent for their school district.
Edsell’s contract was approved by the Clark-Pleasant School Board at a Wednesday special meeting. He will make a beginning annual salary of $180,000, with potential annual increases considered by the board each year. His contract lasts until June 30, 2026.
With the move, Edsell will be managing a larger school district. Clark-Pleasant is more than triple the size of Indian Creek, with around 7,000 students enrolled, compared to Indian Creek’s roughly 2,000. Clark-Pleasant is the second-largest school district in Johnson County with six elementary schools, a middle school, high school and a preschool.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Edsell began his career as a math teacher and later worked as a principal and superintendent in several Indiana school districts. He also brings higher education experience serving as an adjunct professor for Indiana Wesleyan and the University of Southern Indiana. Preparing students for their future education beyond K-12 is important for Edsell, he said in a statement.
“I believe, especially for our high school students, we need to always be pointing them to their next educational opportunity. For some, that’s a four-year college. For others, a vocational certification or other opportunities to learn and to grow their skills and passions,” Edsell said.
Edsell received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Cedarville University in Ohio. He then went on to obtain a doctorate and educational specialist degree at Indiana State University and a master’s degree at Ball State University.
Some accomplishments of his career that made Edsell stand out to the school board include his creation of a diverse marketing plan to attract over 400 transfer-tuition students and annually increase student enrollment; implementing K-12 STEM courses and robotics teams; and negotiating competitive teacher contracts for annual pay increases, a Clark-Pleasant news release said.
During his tenure as principal at Northwestern High School in Kokomo, he received national and statewide recognition, including a National Blue Ribbon School Award and an Indiana Four Star School Award for four consecutive years. Also throughout his 30 years as an educator, he’s served as a head football coach and assistant baseball coach at several schools.
“I feel fortunate to have had some wonderful, yet challenging opportunities to this point in my career. I look forward to continuing and building upon the successes of the Clark-Pleasant Board in this new role,” Edsell said.
Board members were additionally impressed with Edsell’s leadership at Indian Creek schools, where he oversaw construction of a new elementary school building and a multi-mullion dollar expansion to Indian Creek High School. At Clark-Pleasant, Edsell will oversee the completion of the massive $235 million Whiteland Community High School expansion and renovation.
“To find someone of Tim’s caliber and leadership abilities right here in the county is a win-win for our school community,” School Board President Dave Thompson said in a statement.
In his free time, Edsell loves spending quality time with his wife, three daughters, son-in-law and grandson. He’s also a Pittsburgh Steelers and Nittany Lions fan, the news release says.
“It’s an honor and privilege to have been selected as the next superintendent of the Clark-Pleasant Community School Corp. I believe in the 3 R’s of Education: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. We will strive to provide exemplary leadership, effective communication, creative visionary skills, true collaboration and sound fiscal responsibility,” Edsell said. “I am ready and very excited to serve the Clark-Pleasant School community, Let’s Go Warriors!”
