Stories from Scott 2
Your story matters. You matter.
April 8, 2016
LES principal takes position as Scott 2 Director of Elementary Education
After more than 25 years at Scott County School District 2, Chuck Rose was ready to retire at the end of the school year. He was eligible for full retirement and recently turned 60 years old. But, his life took another direction when he was recently named Director of Elementary Education for the school district, starting for the next school year.
“You get some surprises in life at the age of 60,” the Lexington Elementary School principal said. “Instead of moving to the front porch, I’m moving to the central office.”
For the last 16 years, Rose has been at the helm of LES, directing the school through staffing changes and state mandates. Despite all of the adjustments, Rose will move forward on a high note: Lexington Elementary School was nominated by the Indiana State Superintendent of Public Instruction for the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award.
LES is one of eight schools in the state selected by Glenda Ritz for the award; if awarded, LES will be one of a handful of public schools south of Bloomington to receive the distinction in the 34-year history of the Blue Ribbon Award.
“That’s kind of the icing on the cake,” Rose said. “That honor goes to the staff.”
The U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award is not a competitive award — it is based on merit — so all eight schools chosen by the state could potentially receive the award. The National Blue Ribbon Award is given to schools who demonstrate overall academic excellence or demonstrate progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The national award shows how the school strives to help all students reach the top.
“It’s been rewarding to see our test scores continue to improve,” Rose said. “We’ve done some good things at the elementary. We have a lot to be proud of in District 2.”
In September, LES will be notified if the school receives the national award. The principal and one teacher will travel to Washington, D.C., to accept the award.
“It was a great school when I got here,” Rose said about LES. “It’s going to be a great school when I leave.”
After Rose leaves LES at the end of the school year, he will move to the central office in his new role as Director of Elementary Education for the school district. As the director, Rose will coordinate with the elementary schools; will work on Title I, curriculum, and staffing; and will become the district attendance officer and the hearing officer. Rose’s work experience will also help guide some of the new principals at LES and JES, who will be starting next school year.
“You spend your first few years on how you want your school to look,” Rose said about being a principal.
Rose remembers back when he was first hired as an administrator — he started as the assistant principal of Scottsburg Middle School, which at the time was the William H. English Middle School. That year Rose was hired at SMS, Kristin Nass was hired as principal.
“We learned a lot that year together,” Rose said about his time at SMS with Nass.
When the principal position at LES opened, Rose applied.
“I wanted to lead a school. It’s been very challenging and very rewarding,” Rose said. “I don’t regret it one bit.”
Along with his new position at Scott 2, Rose will continue to serve the Scottsburg City Council. He has been a city council member for 18 years, winning the election in November 2015.
“I like being involved in things that will benefit our city,” Rose said.
Rose has worked on projects for the city, such as Mid-America Science Park. MASP is a science park that includes a business incubation and acceleration center, training and workforce development center, and worldwide communications and conference center. Students at Scottsburg High School use the center for workforce training, where students learn manufacturing and advanced manufacturing skills.
“I’m a big believer in education,” Rose said. “I hope to see more of that. I want to move jobs back in the area.”
Because of his passion for education, Rose also helped start the Good Faith Preschool in Lexington. The preschool provides free early education for Lexington residents; the 4-year-olds enrolled in the preschool attend two days each week in order to prepare for kindergarten. The preschool is funded through community grants and uses volunteer help.
“[This community] sees a need and pitches in to help,” Rose said.
Rose’s leadership and vision helped shape Lexington Elementary School into what the school is today. His leadership and vision will continue to shape the district when he starts his position as Director of Elementary Education. At Scott County School District 2, Rose’s story is our story. Your story matters. You matter.
Your child’s safety is a top priority at Scott 2
Leaving your kindergarten-age child behind for the first time — or even every day — at school can be scary for some parents and guardians.
At Scott County School District 2, administrators, teachers, and the school board continuously work to provide a very safe learning environment for your child during the school day. Administrators regularly meet with local and state law enforcement to continually prepare and plan for safety issues on campus. Teachers and principals have undergone training with local and state police officers to be sure what to do in the event of an emergency.
“Our district has taken great measures to provide a very safe learning environment for our students school-wide,” said Lindsey DePriest, a kindergarten teacher at Lexington Elementary School.
“Everyone in the building has radios that we are in constant communication on. All doors remained locked during the day; there are multiple cameras inside and outside of our school,” said LaKynn McDonald, a kindergarten teacher at Scottsburg Elementary School. “We have a safety committee that meets frequently to make sure SES is safe as possible.
All classroom doors remained locked all day and students and staff are all prepared in the event of an emergency.”
Scott 2 schools only have one entrance for parents, guardians, and members of the public to enter during the school day. During the school day, the doors of the school are locked and the front office staff has to electronically open the doors for visitors to enter.
“All of the buildings in SCSD2 have all been updated to try to make the buildings as safe as possible,” McDonald said. “We recently put in a new office and entrance into SES to assure safety. All buildings have the Raptor System in place where everyone has to have their ID scanned and approved before being allowed in the building.”
Also, everyone who enters the school has to go through the Raptor System, which scans state-issued identification and driver’s licenses. The system will detect if a visitor has a criminal background as a sexual predator. Scott 2 officials are also able to create lists in Raptor that helps them identify those with a criminal background, restraining orders, custody issues, suspended or expelled students, known gang members, or for any custom alert the school has created.
“Our world is a scary place, but I can’t think of a safer place than Vienna-Finley Elementary School,” said Brittany Banister, a kindergarten teacher at VFES. “Not only do we provide a very safe learning environment, but our staff is also highly trained in school safety.”
Along with the training, equipment, and other safety measures, kindergarten students also are carefully monitored by staff members and a registered nurse is available to care for ill or injured students. A school counselor is also at the schools to help with any emotional needs students might need to be addressed.
“To speak more specifically to kindergarten students, [they] are rarely without adult supervision — exceptions being walking to the bathroom or nurse. At the end of the day, at Lexington, students are placed in the pick-up line or on the bus by their teacher. We take great care and precaution to ensure their safety every day,” DePriest said.
“Kindergarteners are surrounded by caring teachers and staff. There is a nurse available for any emergencies and a counselor is also available to speak with students is needed. All entrances to the building are locked during school hours and all visitors must be ‘buzzed in’ and cleared by office personnel,” said Robin Burns, a kindergarten teacher at Johnson Elementary School. “Procedures are in place and practiced often to provide a safe learning environment for the safety of all students during an emergency.”
At Scott County School District 2, we want to help you through the process — from answering all your questions, to how to go through the registration process, to all the questions along the way during the first year of kindergarten.
For more information on registering your child at Scott 2, visit our kindergarten information page at http://choosescott2.com/kindergarten.
Upcoming District Events
Event: School Board Meeting
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Administration Office Board Room (Scott County School District 2)
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Event: Kindergarten Roundup Registration
Time: 4pm to 7pm
Location: Meyer Gymnasium (Scott County School District 2)
Event: 5th Grade Music Program
Time: 6:30pm
Location: McClain Hall (Johnson Elementary, Vienna-Finley Elementary, Scottsburg Elementary & Lexington Elementary)
Friday, April 15, 2016
Event: Kindergarten Roundup Registration
Time: 8am to 1pm
Location: Meyer Gymnasium (Scott County School District 2)