Vogel
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. has approved two major administrative appointments, along with a new school principal.
The school board voted Monday to appoint Nicole Leach as director of English Language Learning (ELL), Jessica Vogel as director of special education and Patrick Mahaffey as principal of Clifty Creek Elementary. All three individuals will move into their new roles on July 1.
According to BCSC officials, Leach’s experience includes serving as a Spanish and ENL teacher with the Clark Pleasant School Corp., EL and Dual Language Immersion Specialist with the Indiana Department of Education, Senior Federal Grants Specialist with the Indiana Department of Education and EL teacher of record at Clark Pleasant, which is her most recent position.
Leach collaborated with BCSC during the launch of Clifty Creek’s Legado Spanish Immersion Academy. She has also presented about ELL across the state and nation, said Superintendent Jim Roberts.
“I’ve admired this district,” said Leach. “I’ve admired the work at Clifty Creek, and I am so thrilled to be able to come and join this team.”
Her appointment comes just a few weeks after the official termination of former ELL director Denise Recarte.
Vogel, the new director of special education, has served as assistant director of the department since 2007, BCSC officials said. Prior to this, she was a special education teacher at Northside Middle School and Clifty Creek. She is a graduate of Columbus North High School.
“BCSC is truly a unique and special school corporation, and I am reminded of that when my own kids leave for school every morning,” said Vogel. “I look forward to continuing the work in BCSC that we are doing here to create inclusive environments for all students.”
George Van Horn, BCSC’s current director of special education, has been with the school corporation since 2001. According to school officials, he will retire at the end of the school year.
Mahaffey, currently the assistant principal at Clifty Creek, will replace outgoing principal Michael Parsons, who is set to become the new principal of Columbus East High School in July.
Mahaffey previously served as assistant principal at Schmitt Elementary and a Spanish teacher at Northside, as well as World Language Department Coordinator at the school and athletic director for a time.
“We have some amazing things going on, and we have some amazing staff,” Mahaffey said of Clifty Creek. “And I am beyond eager and excited to lead the charge in supporting them as we continue to work hard each day to not only better ourselves, but to better our community.”
Board member Jason Major abstained from voting on Mahaffey and Vogel’s appointments. He explained that he did not have time to read through their biographies, due to not realizing he had received Mahaffey’s and not receiving Vogel’s until Monday evening.
