FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Two Fort Wayne Community Schools employees have been announced as members of a state commission to develop teacher recruitment and retention techniques.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz's “Blue Ribbon Commission on the Recruitment and Retention of Excellent Educators” consists of educators, key stakeholders and lawmakers throughout Indiana, and is geared toward fighting the recent drop in people seeking teacher licenses. Indiana has seen an 18% drop in teacher licenses issued over the past five years.
The Commission will meet for the first time in Indianapolis on September 11. A full list of the members is below.
Leadership
Co-Chair: Glenda Ritz, NBCT, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction
Co-Chair: Dr. Maryann Santos de Barona, Dean, Purdue College of Education
Members
| Dr. Celeste Allen | Perry Township Schools (retired) |
| Ellen Augustine | Middlebury Community Schools |
| Dr. Melanie Beaver | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College |
| Mary Beth Borkowski | MSD Washington Township |
| Commissioner Steve Braun | Department of Workforce Development |
| Charles Cammack, Jr. | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| Dr. Sandi Cole | Indiana University – Center on Education and Lifelong Learning |
| Ashley Cowger | State Board of Education (staff) |
| Carey Dahncke | Charter Schools |
| Laurie Davies | Avon Community Schools |
| Dr. Hope Smith Davis | Indiana University – South Bend |
| Joshua Francis | Indiana Tech |
| Stephen Gainey | MSD Warren Township |
| Keith Gambill | Indiana State Teachers Association |
| Ginger Giessler | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| Dale Groves | New Prairie United School Corporation (school board) |
| Nancy Hannah | Middlebury Community Schools |
| Dr. Kandi Hill-Clarke | Indiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education |
| Karin Huttsell | Northwest Allen County Schools |
| Dr. John Jacobson | Ball State University |
| Dr. Lisa Lantrip | Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents |
| Dr. Angela Lupton | Butler University |
| Dr. Marvin Lynn | Indiana University – South Bend |
| Alicia Madeka | School City of Hammond |
| Dr. Sandra McCormick | Perry Township Schools (retired) |
| Tim McRoberts | Indiana Association of School Principals |
| Jeannette Melcic | School City of Hammond |
| Dr. Jon Milleman | Indiana Teacher Appraisal and Support System |
| Dr. Colleen Mulholland | University of Indianapolis |
| Kathy Nimmer | Tippecanoe School Corporation |
| Kimberly Osborn | MSD Lawrence Township |
| Melanie Park | Huntington County Community School Corporation |
| Dr. Paul Parkinson | University of Evansville |
| Keana Parquet | MSD Washington Township |
| Steve Perkins | MSD Washington Township |
| Representative Gregory Porter | Indiana House Democratic Caucus – Indianapolis |
| Matthew Presley | LaPorte Community School Corporation |
| Marjorie Ramey | Westfield Washington Schools |
| Diane Scott | Lebanon Community School Corporation |
| Sally Sloan | American Federation of Teachers Indiana |
| Dr. Brian Smith | Indiana School Boards Association |
| Zach Smith | Commission for Higher Education |
| Dr. Shenia Suggs | Indiana Urban Schools Association |
| Vickie Thomas | School City of Hammond |
| Representative Randy Truitt | Indiana House Republican Caucus – West Lafayette |
| Scott Turney | Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association |
| Tony Willis | Cathedral High School |
