An assistant principal in Huntington will become Clifty Creek Elementary School’s new principal July 1.
The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. has hired Michael Parsons, 35, for the job, taking over for Gina Pleak, who has been Clifty Creek principal since 2014. In March, Pleak was named the district’s director of title services.
Parsons, who also serves as athletic director at Riverview Middle School in Huntington, attended Monday night’s BCSC school board meeting with his wife Arlene and their two children, 2 1/2-year-old Natalie and 4-year-old Caleb.
He said he was humbled by the opportunity and that he was looking forward to connecting with colleagues at Clifty Creek and the 550 students who attend the school.
Superintendent Jim Roberts said Parsons’ strong leadership talents will be valuable to the corporation. Thirty two applicants had applied for the principal’s position, he said.
“I believe it’s an opportunity that presents excitement and challenges and I’m ready to get started,” Parsons said of his new job. “I believe education is the one unique career field where you can make a difference and see the difference in the life of a child.”
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Age: 35
Education: Bachelor of arts in secondary social studies education, Taylor University; master of arts in special education and in educational leadership, Ball State University; working on a doctorate in educational leadership/policy studies at Purdue University
Work history: Parsons taught at Huntington County Community Schools Corp. in August 2006, teaching seventh grade world geography and eighth grade U.S. history at Riverview Middle School. He transferred to Huntington North High School in 2010 to serve as a special education teacher. In 2011, he left Huntington for a job at Career Academy in South Bend, where he served as the director of curriculum and special education services. Parsons returned to Huntington in 2014 to become assistant principal and athletic director at Riverview Middle School.
Family: Wife Arlene and their two children, 2 1/2-year-old Natalie and 4-year-old Caleb.
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