Roberson
Indian Creek’s interim superintendent has 20 years of experience leading school districts.
The Indian Creek’s school board approved the contract of Mary Roberson during a public work session on Aug. 14. Roberson will be paid $1,000 a day for each day she serves in the role, and will serve a maximum of three days a week in office, with Assistant Superintendent Andrea Perry completing the superintendent duties on the other days, school board president Greg Waltz said.
Indian Creek was left without a superintendent to start the school year after Tim Edsell left for a superintendent position at Clark-Pleasant schools, with Perry stepping in to fill his responsibilities until the board hired Roberson. Superintendents are responsible for hiring and firing principals, central office administrators, business managers, custodial staff, nurses, athletic coaches and other school employees, according to Indiana law.
Indian Creek officials are currently collecting applications for the permanent superintendent position. School officials are looking for a candidate with central office or building-level leadership experience, a minimum of three years of public school teaching and a strong working knowledge of community relations, among other qualities, according to the school district’s website. The application deadline is Sept. 8.
Earlier this month, school officials conducted a survey asking community members about the qualities they’d like to see in the permanent superintendent. The goal is to find a permanent superintendent before the start of the spring semester, spokesperson Kate Taylor said.
Roberson is coming out of retirement to serve as interim superintendent. She has 20 years of experience as a full-time superintendent, leading Perry Central Community Schools in southern Indiana for 17 ½ years and Sheridan Community Schools for 2 ½ years. This is her first time serving in an interim capacity, she said.
In her interim role, Roberson said she wants to support administrators and staff members in the transition period until school board members hire a permanent superintendent later this school year. Knowing her role is temporary, she said she’s not interested in making any significant changes at the school district.
“I know my role is very different and I will do everything I can to support the great team in place here and keep things on track and in good shape, so when the permanent superintendent comes on, things are in good shape,” Roberson said. “I’d like to use my experiences to help in any way I can so teachers, staff and administration feel helped at this time. Transitions can be tough and I want people to know they’re supported.”
Along with her experience as a superintendent, Roberson owns Bower Consulting, a firm that provides school districts with professional development opportunities, according to a news release from Indian Creek schools.
“Education is constantly changing so we want to work through our best practices and latest research, but a big part of it is the humanistic side of it, helping people through that process so they know they’re appreciated and supported,” Roberson said.
Roberson said she’s been working to get to know people within the school district since she started last week. She brought donuts to school bus drivers and helped out at a Gleaner’s Food Bank distribution event.
“It’s such a great community. When I looked it up and started researching it, even before I came on campus, I was so impressed with what’s going on here,” she said. “When you meet the students and staff, it’s such a wonderful, caring community, and of course you want to be part of that.”
Candidates interested in applying to be Indian Creek schools’ next superintendent can visit indiancreekschools.com/superintendent-search.
