PARKE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — One local superintendent received some statewide recognition for his leadership and vision for the school corporation.
The Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents named Dr. Phil Harrison of the Southwest Parke School Corporation the District 4 Superintendent of the Year. The district includes 15 different counties. Harrison says the award honors the work of everyone across the school corporation.
“I’m humbled that people would look at us and say, ‘they’re doing good work’ but the proud superintendent in me wants to say we are doing really good work,” Harrison said. “We’ve got a great staff, we’ve got a great school board, we’ve got a great vision for learning here in Southwest Parke.”
That vision includes renovations and new programs at local high schools like Riverton Parke. Principal Kyle Kersey says the corporation is appreciative of Harrison’s efforts.
“I’ve invested my career in this school corporation,” Kersey said. “Our buildings are old and they need repair and it’s very exciting and refreshing to see the investment being put back into our building to benefit our staff and our students and our community.”
With winter break approaching, Harrison says it is an exciting time to be part of the Southwest Parke School Corporation.
“We want our community to be proud of everything that we’re doing with Southwest Parke,” Harrison said. “With our facilities, with our academics, with our social and emotional programming, we want kids to love it here, we want parents to love it here, and we would love it if folks from outside of our district looked and said, ‘that’s the kind of place I want my kid to be.'”
Harrison is in his ninth year as superintendent in Southwest Parke, but he says there is a lot to be excited about in the near future.
