VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Dr. Michael Shaffer, a resident of Northwest Allen County where Chris Himsel served as superintendent for 12 years, says that Himsel is the perfect person when a community needs a peacemaker, a person who can bring a sense of calm and a ‘we can do it’ attitude.
Chris Himsel is the new superintendent of Vigo County School Corporation (VCSC).
“When Dr. Himsel came here (NW Allen Co.) in 2010, the district was running a 6-million-dollar deficit,” Shaffer said.
Himsel faced that deficit and turned it around. Over a decade of growth and creating a sense of community were also attributed to Himsel’s time at the corporation, by Shaffer.
“Whenever there was an event, you could count on the fact that Dr. Himsel was going to be there,” Shaffer said. And not as a standoffish kind of person who was saying ‘You know, I’m here because I have to be.’ He was there because he was involved. He was part of this community.”
Himsel’s time at Northwest Allen County was eventually met with pushback as the nation faced the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Was it difficult in school board meetings? Yes,” Shaffer said. “Because there were people who were coming, not even from the school district but from all over. They kind of put out word and bus them in from everywhere else trying to cause issues. But those issues were not related to what he was doing, they were issues that were everywhere and he followed the mandates. And I appreciate that because to me that says, he was a man of integrity, he was impeachable, he was not to be bought or persuaded by whoever spoke the loudest. He listened to what the governmental authorities said to do. And there were people who didn’t like that.”
Shaffer said it was a hard blow to the community when Himsel and Northwest Allen Co. parted ways.
“I look at 12 years of solid, strong leadership. And during the time he was here, he was named superintendent of the year for the whole state of Indiana,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer went on to say that there are over 290 school districts in the state of Indiana.
“To be named superintendent of the year doesn’t happen accidentally,” Shaffer said. “It doesn’t happen to just everybody. Dr. Himsel was named Superintendent of the Year because he was a great superintendent here. And nobody’s ever going to take that away from him. So, when we lost him as a superintendent, it hurt.”
Shaffer said that their loss is Vigo County’s gain. One local resident is optimistic about the new chapter at VCSC.
“We welcome him to our community; we really truly do. We’ve been through quite a few superintendents here lately, so we’re just wishing him the best, for my kids and my grandkids and the future,” Margaret Atkinson said.
“In ten years from now, what are we going to look back at and say about Vigo County? You keep Chris Himsel at the helm, then what you’re going to find out is that your district is going to do things you never thought possible,” Shaffer said.
