The principal at a Franklin elementary school was named one of the best in the state.
Mark Heiden, principal at Creekside Elementary School, was named 2018 State Elementary Principal of the Year by the Indiana Association of School Principals.
Heiden was named the District 9 winner in May, allowing him the chance to compete for the state-wide award. The district includes Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Monroe and Morgan counties.
He has been the principal at Creekside Elementary since 2009 and is the high-ability program coordinator for the district. Administration officials credit his work with the high-ability program as a reason the district was recognized by the Indiana Department of Education as a Promising Practice in High Ability school district.
“We are extremely happy for and proud of Dr. Heiden,” David Clendening, superintendent said. “We feel fortunate to have a leader of his caliber in our district.”
The high-ability program needed improvement when Heiden began working on it. He was tasked with helping find services that would help students who were not challenged by a regular curriculum.
Heiden worked with Clendening to help add classes and curriculum for students who needed services in high ability, he said.
“We had great teachers, but, had not really defined those services,” Heiden said. “It is something I enjoy doing across Franklin schools.”
Heiden taught in the classroom at Manchester Community Schools for three years and Hamilton Southeastern Schools for five years. His job leading Creekside Elementary School is his first administration job.
“I felt like I could impact more than one classroom of kids,” he said.
District Elementary Principals of the Year are elected by their peers. From 12 district winners, Heiden was chosen as the overall 2018 State Elementary Principal of the Year. He will represent Indiana at the National Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principal Recognition Program next fall.
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Mark Heiden was named the 2018 State Elementary Principal of the Year by the Indiana Association of School Principals. He is the principal of Creekside Elementary School.
Other educators in the county were named District 9 winners.
They include:
Craig Bruns, Greenwood Community High School, was named AP Teacher of the Year.
Scott Johnson, Center Grove Middle School North, was named Middle School Principal of the Year.
Thomas Zobel, Whiteland Community High School, was named the High School Principal of the Year.
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