Vigo County Schools names new superintendent

The board of trustees for the Vigo County School Corp. on Thursday named Chris Himsel as the district’s next superintendent. Himsel previously served in the same role at Northwest Allen County Schools and the Kokomo School Corp.

Himsel left the NACS last year after taking a leave of absence for “personal health concerns,” he told our partners at WPTA-TV. He led the district for 12 years.

Amy Lore, president of the Vigo County School Corp. board, said she knew Himsel was the person for the job within minutes of meeting him.

“He brings deep experience, knowledge and joy for education,” Lore said in a news release. “He exemplifies the leader our community asked us to find and the Board has been unanimous in supporting his candidacy.”

Himsel was named the state’s Superintendent of the Year in 2017. In addition to his time as superintendent, Himsel has also served as an assistant professor at the University of Indianapolis, principal at Jefferson High School and Tecumseh Middle School in Lafayette, and a math teacher at the Metropolitan School District of Perry Township in Indianapolis.

“This is a leader who instinctively builds up,” Lore said. “As we vetted Dr. Himsel, we found countless stories of his servant leadership and devotion to students. He has the energy, vision, and heart to move us in the right direction.”

Himsel is also familiar with Vigo County, having earned two degrees from Indiana State University.

The district will hold a public hearing on the details of Himsel’s contract on June 5 at 6 p.m. at the Vigo County School Administration Conference Center. Himsel is slated to begin his new role in early July, pending board approval.