At this evening's school board meeting, several staffing changes were approved, and we wanted to share the news with our school families at the same time we're sharing it online. These are exciting and positive changes for our district and we hope you'll join us in congratulating everyone involved in these long-term, strategic moves. What follows is the official announcement.

At it’s monthly meeting, the Board of School Trustees of the Plainfield Community School Corporation tonight approved several personnel changes that will take effect over the next 18 months.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mary Giesting will, beginning July 1, 2018, move to the newly created role of Director of the Imagination Lab. Mary has been instrumental in the vision and development of the Imagination Lab, and her passion for this first-of-its-kind elementary center will ensure its success.

Former PHS teacher and instructional coach, Tracy Ballinger, returns to Plainfield this July, as the Administrative Assistant for the Imagination Lab. Tracy will oversee the day-to-day details of planning curriculum, ordering equipment and supplies, developing schedules and working with teachers to prepare for its opening in the Fall of 2018.

PCMS Principal Pat Cooney will transition to Assistant Superintendent, Student Learning, over the next 18 months, with the title becoming official July 1, 2018.

Replacing Pat at the middle school will be Kyle Tutterow, current Assistant Principal for Student Learning. A search will begin in Spring 2018 for a new assistant principal at PCMS.

“While the concept for the Imagination Lab grew out of ongoing discussions about changing the focus of student engagement,” stated Superintendent Scott Olinger, “Mary has taken the concept to new levels. She is the perfect leader to oversee the launch of the Imagination Lab, which is a rare opportunity to create something from nothing,” he added.