Pleasant Crossing Principal Abbie Oliver poses for a photo with Superintendent Tim Edsell at the August Clark-Pleasant school board meeting. The board presented her with her District 9 Principal of the Year certificate. Provided by Clark-Pleasant
A Clark-Pleasant principal was recognized as one of the best principals in the state.
Abbie Oliver, principal at Pleasant Crossing Elementary, was named District 9 Principal of the Year. She earned this distinction after first being named Clark-Pleasant’s principal of the year and then being chosen by her peers at the Indiana Association of School Principals to receive the District 9 honor.
She is one of 12 principals chosen as the best in their district by IASP, which recognizes school leaders from each Indiana district who have provided high-quality learning opportunities and have made significant contributions to the profession, according to IASP.
Oliver is also now in the running for the state’s elementary principal of the year.
When Oliver got the message that she was chosen as the Clark-Pleasant Principal of the Year, she deleted it, something that would not surprise her bosses, she joked. So when she got a second email, she took a closer look.
Oliver is grateful for the award, but would have never asked for the attention, she said.
“The profession in general is hard and it’s amazing and rewarding and all the things wrapped in one,” Oliver said. “But I think, really trying to stay humble and remember that a lot of people go home the same tired … We all go home the same tired, we all work hard. So, I’m grateful for the kindness, but it isn’t necessary.”
Celebrating the nomination is another way to “highlight education and the hard work that goes into it,” Oliver said. It almost feels like she’s sharing the recognition and kindness with hundreds of other principals and teachers who are doing the same things daily, she said.
But, just the thought that someone would take the time to nominate her made her appreciative, she said.
Oliver is proud to come from a family of educators, she said. Her parents, her husband and his parents are all a part of education in some fashion. Mostly as teachers, but also as school leaders.
Oliver started her career 25 years ago as a special education teacher at Center Grove Schools. From there, she went to Brown County High School as an assistant principal before moving on to principal at Sprunica Elementary in Brown County. This is her seventh year at Clark-Pleasant schools and her 19th year as a principal.
Ultimately, everything is for the students, Oliver said. She couples her duty to do the right thing and advocate for students with her passion to want to do so. Showing up the same for every student, teacher and parent is what is important to Oliver, she said.
“Sometimes some parents may know more about a certain area than another, but that doesn’t mean we should just do more for the one that knows more,” Oliver said. “If you constantly do the right thing by all, then you don’t have to worry about that.”
Having good people in spaces helps make the job easier on the hard days, she said. Oliver loves supporting different stakeholders in the community and getting to work with students, teachers and staff collaboratively and honestly.
“I always tell parents, you may not like what I have to say, but I will always tell you the truth. I treat staff the same way,” Oliver said.
Every so often Oliver likes to remind her bosses that she loves her job, even when it’s hard. Working with teachers and administrators at Clark-Pleasant fuels Oliver’s passion to become not only a better leader, but a better person as well, she said.
“I love what I do and I really love the people I work with,” Oliver said. “So I have the best colleagues ever. These are hard jobs, so people can make the difference.”
Superintendent Tim Edsell said Oliver builds strong relationships with her staff, students and families at Clark-Pleasant and she cares deeply about every student. She also has high standards of expectation when it comes to behavior and academic learning, he said.
“Those are qualities that are essential in strong school leadership, along with her years of experience. She has done a great job in leading Pleasant Crossing during her entire tenure because she has that passion to really help kids get better,” Edsell said.
Pleasant Crossing Assistant Principal Penny Inskeep said Oliver has years of experience and knows how to trust people as professionals.
“She’s one of the most supportive people I’ve ever worked with. She’s great at listening to not only the needs of the staff but also hearing everyone’s voice,” Inskeep said.
