Mike Wolanin | The Republic Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation Superintendent Jim Roberts addresses guests during the annual CommUNITY Breakfast celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at The Commons in Columbus, Ind., Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent Jim Roberts will retire at the end of this school year and move to a new role as vice president of the Community Education Coalition in Columbus in July.
Roberts, who has been BCSC superintendent for eight years, said the decision came after considerable reflection with family and careful consideration of an opportunity to continue to serve the educational community, focusing on equitable access to early childhood, K-12 and post-secondary education.
“These past eight years as the leader of our school corporation provided me with an opportunity to partake in an extraordinary journey. Collectively, I feel we have appropriately navigated the ever-evolving landscape of education, celebrated numerous successes, and tackled challenges with resolve. It has been a privilege to lead and collaborate with a team of exceptionally talented educators, dedicated support staff members, and committed school board members,” Roberts said.
Kathy Oren, coalition president and CEO, said the coalition is thrilled to welcome Roberts. “A dedicated servant leader committed to enhancing lives through education and community development, Jim’s collaborative and innovate leadership has left an indelible mark on students, families and the entire community. The CED is fortunate to have Jim stepping into this role, where he will continue to make a lasting impact on education and economic mobility in our community and throughout the region.”
Roberts said he had planned to retire as BCSC superintendent in 2025, but when the coalition posted the coalition vice president role, “I decided to apply because it was more than a role to me; it’s being deeply rooted in our community and making a difference beyond my time as superintendent. I have admired the work of the CEC from the time I was in Batesville and its use of the CivicLab stakeholder engagement process. I wanted to incorporate this approach into my work as superintendent at BCSC, and we have made great strides in service to students using this way of thinking. Our BCSC team, and the broader CEC partnership, have done so much together to positively impact the lives of students, their families, and the broader community. I greatly look forward to serving the community and including BCSC well into the future in my new role.”
Before BCSC, Roberts served as superintendent of Batesville Community School Corp. for nine years and spent 23 years there as an administrator. He previously served as a math and computer science teacher at Hauser Junior-Senior High School in Hope for six years.
A native of Nashville, Roberts attended Brown County High School, then went on to study secondary education at Indiana University – Bloomington. He also attended Indiana University to earn his master’s degree in school administration, then enrolled at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to earn his doctorate degree in educational leadership.
Throughout his time at BCSC and more than 37 years in education, Roberts has received a number of educational, community and state-wide accolades for his student-first attitude. Most recently, he was awarded the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Wellness Volunteer Award for his work with the Wellness Council of Indiana and 2023 AASA/CoSN EmpowerED Superintendent of the Year.
He credits much of these recognitions to the team he works with each week. “I am proud of the work we have done together. Any successes we have achieved are a direct result of our staff and school board’s unwavering support and the collaborative spirit that characterizes our school system,” Roberts said.
In his new leadership role at CEC, Roberts will work to establish robust partnerships and to advance growth of the AirPark Columbus College Campus. He will be instrumental in enhancing program outcomes and applying CivicLab’s stakeholder engagement model in his work. The overarching aim of his leadership is to bolster various community-focused programs, cultivating a more inclusive, educated, and economically prosperous community.
Roberts said the announcement is being made now to help ensure a smooth transition in leadership and he continues to lead BCSC for the next five months.
“As I transition to my new role, I am comforted by the knowledge that the corporation is in capable hands. The foundations we have built together are strong, and I am confident that BCSC will continue to thrive and grow, turning our opportunities into strengths and positively addressing any new challenges that surface. In the coming months, I am committed to ensuring a smooth and effective transition and greatly look forward to serving the community, including BCSC, well into the future in my new role.”
Jim Schacht, CEC board chair, described Roberts as a “visionary leader who leads with compassion and commitment in all that he does. His vision for educational growth and economic empowerment aligns seamlessly with the CEC’s objectives, making him an ideal leader for us. Under Dr. Roberts’ stewardship, we expect to achieve new heights in educational excellence and economic opportunity in our community.
Jack Hess, executive director of CivicLab, said, “Jim passionately believes that having equal access to educational opportunities is essential to achieving the American dream. He is the epitome of CivicLab’s stakeholder approach to leadership, demonstrating his willingness and ability to build relationships and internalize the interests and voices of the whole community into his decision-making process.”
For more information
For more information about the Community Education Coalition and its initiatives, visit https://educationcoalition.com/.
BCSC superintendents
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. was created in 1965. District superintendents since that time include:
1965-1975: Clarence Robbins (superintendent of Columbus City Schools before creation of BCSC)
1975-1985: Dr. Lawrence Heyerdahl
1985-1989: Ralph Lieber
1989-1995: Steven Snider
1995-2002: Michael Copper
2002-2003: Rosemary Rehak (interim)
2003 – June 30, 2016: John Quick
July 1, 2016 — July 2024: Jim Roberts
