Plainfield Superintendent Named Among Nation's Top Educational Leaders
This week, Mr. Scott Olinger received national recognition as one of just seven Leaders of Distinction in the country from District Administrator magazine—a prestigious honor for him and Plainfield Schools.
Olinger's journey through education reads like a roadmap of the American school system itself. He started as a teacher and coach, moved up to assistant principal, then principal, and has now spent 17.5 years as superintendent of Plainfield Schools. That path—touching every level of education over 40 years—has given him something rare: a complete understanding of how schools really work, from the classroom up to the boardroom.
A Conversation That Changed Everything
Sometimes the biggest ideas come from the smallest moments. For Olinger, it happened at his own dinner table. When he asked his daughters about their school day, they answered with the word that should worry any educator: "fine." Not terrible, not exciting—just fine.
That one word sparked a revolution. Olinger realized that if his own kids were just going through the motions, countless other students probably felt the same way. He brought the problem to the school board, and together they created a new mission for Plainfield Schools: "Bringing joy to learning."
But here's what makes Olinger different from most administrators—he didn't just put those words on a poster and call it done. He helped rebuild the entire system around that idea.
Building Labs Where Learning Comes Alive
Plainfield became the first school district in Indiana to create a complete STEM Lab program from kindergarten through high school. Instead of one lab tucked away somewhere, Olinger designed a progression that grows with students: The Imagination Lab for elementary kids, The Idea Lab for middle schoolers, and The Innovation Lab for high school students.
Add in more than 20 Project Lead the Way classes, and you've got a complete system where students aren't sitting in rows listening to lectures. They're building things, testing ideas, solving real problems, and getting excited about learning in ways their parents' generation rarely experienced.
The change shows in the students themselves. Teachers report seeing more confidence, more curiosity, and more students who can think for themselves and dream about their futures.
Turning Requirements Into Opportunities
When Indiana introduced new "Portrait of a Graduate" requirements, most schools scrambled to comply. Olinger saw an opportunity instead.
Plainfield already had partnerships with Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes University, and Indiana WorkOne through a facility called M.A.D.E. Instead of treating the new requirements as a burden, Olinger expanded these partnerships so students could earn actual college credits while meeting their work-based diploma requirements. It's the kind of advantage private schools advertise in glossy brochures—except Olinger made it happen in a public school.
Leadership That Listens
What sets Olinger apart isn't just good ideas—it's how he brings people along. Teachers get the spaces and support they need for bigger, more ambitious experiments. Administrators at every level help shape the changes rather than just implementing orders from above. When everyone has a stake in the outcome, real transformation becomes possible.
His approach to leadership is straightforward: listen carefully (even to a simple "fine" at dinner), think holistically about how all the pieces fit together, and bring everyone into the process of creating change.
A Legacy of a Leader
The true measure of leadership isn't found in awards or accolades—it's found in the lives that continue long after a leader's tenure ends. Scott Olinger's legacy lives in every Plainfield student who walks into school eager to discover something new, in every graduate who approaches challenges with confidence rather than fear, and in every future generation that will benefit from the culture of joyful learning he established.
This week's national recognition as one of seven Leaders of Distinction acknowledges what Plainfield has witnessed firsthand: authentic leadership begins with a willingness to listen, grows through the courage to reimagine what's possible, and endures in a transformed educational culture where learning feels like discovery rather than obligation.
After 41 years in education and 17.5 years leading Plainfield Schools, Olinger has proven that the legacy of a leader isn't measured in buildings or programs—it's measured in the countless students who now approach their education and their futures with joy, confidence, and limitless possibility. That's a legacy that will echo through generations, long after the awards have been presented and the recognition ceremonies have ended. It's the kind of lasting impact that defines true educational leadership and exactly why Scott Olinger stands among the nation's finest.