Mrs. Danielle Bell, Mr. Jud Wolfe, and Mrs. Jessica Elston, school board members for Plainfield Community School Corporation, have been recognized by the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) with Exemplary Governance Awards (EGA) for calendar year 2025 for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to student success and professional learning.
Mrs. Danielle Bell – Level 4 Exemplary (highest individual award)
Mrs. Jessica Elston – Level 3 Distinguished
Mr. Jud Wolfe – Level 1 Commendable
These board members are three of only 314 school board members in the State of Indiana to earn an award through the EGA program this year.
The awards are conferred annually by ISBA across four levels of distinction, based on points earned for attending ISBA seminars, workshops, conferences, and other learning events. This year’s group of honorees includes 124 Commendable Awards (Level 1), 71 Advanced Awards (Level 2), 60 Distinguished Awards (Level 3), and 59 Exemplary Awards (Level 4).
In addition, the entire PCSC Board of School Trustees received the Commendable distinction, an honor bestowed upon boards whose majority of members are Level 1 Commendable or higher. In addition to the individual accolades, 120 school boards earned board-level awards, which are based on the points earned by each school board member, as well as the completion of certain additional criteria, such as a retreat with an outside facilitator and goal setting to elevate student achievement outcomes.
“On behalf of ISBA, I would like to commend this dedicated group of school board members,” said ISBA Executive Director Terry Spradlin. “School boards perform a vital public service, and members who actively participate in professional learning are better equipped to govern effectively and meet the needs of students.”
Award recipients were formally recognized at ISBA’s Spring Regional Meetings during the month of April.
“We are proud to celebrate these school board members for their exceptional leadership in the pursuit of excellence in education,” said ISBA President Steve Corona.
ISBA provides its members with a full range of professional learning opportunities. At dozens of events throughout the year, ISBA informs and educates board members about governance best practices, legislative advocacy, policy, school law, and more. More than 115 hours of professional development were available from ISBA for members in 2025.