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Assistant Principal Ronda Eshleman to leave CHS

Assistant Principal Ronda Eshleman opens the door to leave her office. Two weeks ago, Eshleman announced that she would step down as assistant principal and leave CHS.
Assistant Principal Ronda Eshleman opens the door to leave her office. Two weeks ago, Eshleman announced that she would step down as assistant principal and leave CHS.

Saying goodbye can be tough. For Assistant Principal Ronda Eshelman, the saying holds true. Eshleman has been a Greyhound for practically her entire life. She went to CHS starting at the age of 14 and has worked at CHS for 20 years. This year will be her last. Eshleman announced two weeks ago that she would step down from her position as assistant principal and leave CHS after helping the new assistant principal transition into his or her position.

Eshleman applied for and was selected for a position at the Online Academy which is operated by Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC), according to Superintendant Jeff Swensson.

“This was just a unique opportunity that I had to take advantage of,” Eshleman said. “(The job) was something that I thought would be a real challenge, so I just had to accept.”

Assistant Principal Ronda Eshleman opens the door to leave her office. Two weeks ago, Eshleman announced that she would step down as assistant principal and leave CHS.

Senior and senator Sara Towle said, “I didn’t really know her, so I’m not necessarily heartbroken. I just know that she was a really nice woman, and I am sure that she made a difference. I think her leave will be a loss to the school.”

“I really appreciate what Mrs. Eshleman has done for CHS. She has done a great job as an administrator,” Swensson said. “We are sorry to see her go, but happy for her professionally speaking. We wish her good luck, and now we are looking forward to meeting the person to take her spot.”

Swensson said he is unsure how long it will take until a new assistant principal is hired, and the time depends on the amount of applicants and interviews.

According to Swensson, the school corporation has posted Eshleman’s job for about one week, and the window for applying is for two weeks. Once two weeks are over, Principal John Williams leads the review of the applications, and the people whose skills align with the job description will be interviewed. Williams will then set up several rounds of interviews until the number of applicants is narrowed down to the top two or three candidates. Finally, Swensson will meet with each of the top applicants and will decide who will be the next assistant principal.

(For a story on the interviewing process, click HERE.)

Swensson said, “Of course, teachers and other administrators from CHS, Mr. Williams and administrators from the central office are involved in the process. We are looking for people with previous experience that like working with young people and are smart in terms of curriculum and instruction.”

(UPDATE: Assistant Principal Brooke Weekes will replace Eshleman. For more information, click HERE)

An assistant principal oversees the curriculum for all the subject areas, professional development for teachers and all testing, according to Eshleman. Other duties of an assistant principal include overseeing lunches, watching the halls, and attending afterschool events. In addition, an assistant principal works with the principal, teachers and department chairs throughout the building.

“It’s just a very important job to continue the tremendous things that happen at CHS in terms of instruction in curriculum,” Swensson said. “We are looking forward to whoever the new person will be who will fill that role. I am confident that teachers and staff members at CHS will just be excited for whoever the new member of their team is and more importantly, that students at CHS will benefit greatly from the work of our new colleague.”

Towle said she hopes the new assistant principal will care as much as Eshleman did. “I have only interacted with Ms. Eshleman a couple times during (school) events,” Towle said. “But what I do remember is that she was always really nice and really believed in kids a lot. She actually legitimately cared.”

“I am really going to miss (CHS), especially working with students. I really think that CHS is the best school in the state,” Eshleman said. “I’ve been a Greyhound my whole life, and I’ll always be a Greyhound. I’ll be back for events like “Holiday Spectacular” and football games. I don’t think there is any place like this, and I am just so lucky to have been a part of it.”

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