Rockport Elementary has a new principal
by Kathy Tretter
As the song goes, school’s out for summer — but while that means there is a break for students it doesn’t mean there is a pause in the work that goes into education.
Which is why members of the South Spencer School Board of Trustees meet throughout the summer and held their first meeting since the end of the 2024-25 school year last Monday, June 9.
Of prime importance — a new principal is needed at Rockport Elementary following the resignation of Rick Hunt.
Superintendent Brad Schneider introduced Corbe Hill, explaining that of the 12 applicants for the position the selection committee chose four to interview. After they conducted the interviews they were unanimous in their choice of Hill — who most recently served as principal at Evansville Day School.
Hill was in attendance with his family — his wife, Kymber, daughters Harlow, age 6 and Wren, turning four and son Eldon who was a day old at the meeting and behaved like a champ, sleeping through the entire session.
Watch for more about Hill in an upcoming issue.
Much of the meeting was focused on a report from Connie McDaniel, support training specialist with the Indiana Literacy Cadre.
What is that?
Simply put, the Indiana Literacy Cadre works to help Indiana’s students read proficiently by the end of third grade, offering comprehensive support for school leadership and instructional coaches, and providing in-school training and coaching support to implement the five pillars of reflective reading instruction.
The mission of the cadre is to have 95 percent of Indiana children reading proficiently by 2027.
Amy Chapman at Luce and Jamie Denham at Rockport served as school liaisons and coaches for the two year program, which is winding to an official close.
According to McDaniel the program aligns with a 50 year body of research on the science of reading, with weekly zoom meetings and monthly visits to the schools. It all began with a camp of sorts, bringing national experts in to share their knowledge and create a collaborative network of support and learning.
With a goal of 95 percent by 2027, educators were thrilled when 100 percent of Luce Elementary third graders passed the IRead exam and 84 percent of second graders passed the same test designed for third graders. To put it in perspective, the state average pass rate for grade two is 40 percent.
Rockports numbers were equally good, with 94.4 percent of third graders passing and only two special needs students who did not pass. That number is not yet final as those two students will retake the test this summer.
Of the second graders at Rockport, 84 percent also passed, and that included those in general education as well as special ed.
Both schools will expand the program next year up to fifth grade and Denham will continue to coach.
Superintendent Brad Schneider said he wishes the school had the funds to retain both as coaches, adding, “I’m super excited about the track we’re on. If you want good students you need good readers, and great readers make great students.”
McDaniel thanked the board and teachers for the opportunity and for their commitment to continuing to pursue the program, adding, “We know it works.”
Board member Tyler Hermann concurred. “I’ve got a first grader reading us out of house and home. He read four books when we were at the beach!”
The school board also:
• Approved the resignations of Sarah Garrett as SSHS Prom sponsor and Olivia Booher as SSHS summer band woodwind and visual tech instructor.
• Declared 63 computers and lots of other items as surplus and obsolete. The items will either be sold or disposed of.
• Set the 2026 school budget calendar.
• Will hire a head custodian for all four schools to oversee maintenance with a start date of August 1 and an hourly wage of $18.20.
• Approved a wrestling team trip to Rose Hulman for June 21 to 27.
• Adopted McGraw Hill’s Inspire Science textbook for SSMS.
• Will allow $510 in interest income to pay for Spell Bowl competition fees.
• Hired the following: Colton Plymale as Chemistry teacher at SSHS; Samantha Hawes as Daycare Aide at Luce; John Hurley as Assistant FFA sponsor; Zach Shelton, Bruce Green, Dustin Utzman, Jacob Lauer, Jaylen Taylor, William Barclay and Jacob Huf, all as assistant football coaches; Zach Blanchard as head eighth grade football coach; Jared Light-Autry as middle school football helper; Salma Gonzalez and Karlee Frobeter as SSHS volleyball varsity head coach and assistant coach, respectively; Lara Hancock as eighth grade volleyball coach and middle school cheer sponsor; and Erin Trogden as varsity/JV assistant cheer sponsor — all effective with the 2025-26 school year.
As the meeting wound to a close, School Board President Melissa Middleton invited all South Spencer families to the annual Back to School Bash, to be held on July 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at South Spencer High School.
The next regular South Spencer School Board meeting will be held on Monday, July 14 at 6 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at South Spencer High School.
FEATURED IMAGE: A celebration of sorts was held during the South Spencer School Board’s June 9 meeting at the conclusion of the two year Indiana Literacy Cadre program. While the program came to an end support will be ongoing and South Spencer schools will continuing using everything learned and expanding the program up to fifth grade. Pictured from left: Cadre Instructional Coach Connie McDaniel, Rockport Elementary Coach Jamie Denham, who will continue in that role for the corporation, Luce Elementary Principal Trent Martin and Luce Coach Amy Chapman. The two coaches received certificates for their respective schools.
Photo by Kathy Tretter
