Superintendent retires after 15 years in district, leaves unfinished business for successor

By Nina Underman
<[email protected]>

On Dec. 31, Carmel Clay Schools will say goodbye to Superintendent Barbara Underwood. Underwood will retire after 15 years in the district, the last eight of which she served as its superintendent. The school board has narrowed the search for her replacement down to two candidates.

School board president Andrew Klein said Underwood’s legacy will be a strong one.

“She’s leaving behind a very strong school system,” Klein said. “She leaves with student achievements at an extraordinarily high level. Her successor will have big shoes to fill.”

Underwood, who came to Carmel Clay Schools in 1994, said she never intended on becoming superintendent. “That was not something I ever planned to do in my career,” she said. “In fact, I resisted it for years and years.”

Underwood said there were some unusual circumstances that led to her finally taking the job. She said she was Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum when the current superintendent at the time, Ernest Husarik, resigned.

“Things just didn’t work out like everybody planned, and so after about 10 months that individual left,” she said. “We spent about six months without a superintendent. When the board initially asked me (to be superintendent), I said no. Then they asked me to think about it, and I thought about it and figured I might as well do it for three years. I told them I’d do it for three years, and I did it for eight.”

Underwood said she has enjoyed many aspects of her job, but said her favorite part over the years has been working with curriculum to evaluate current programs and create new ones.

“What I enjoy most is still looking at curriculum programs,” she said. “I enjoy looking at how are we doing, monitoring our progress and working with not only central staff, but also principals and teachers on how we can continue to get better. This is a district where people are very receptive to that idea, that even though we’re awfully good, we can still improve.”

Klein said communication and strong leadership have been some of Underwood’s strengths.

“The fact that she has overseen a district where student achievement has been so high in every level and in every aspect is something that she deserves a lot of credit for,” Klein said. “Obviously, teachers deserve a lot of credit and students deserve some credit, but she’s been the leader during a period in which students in this district have performed at a remarkable level. I think you have to give the leader of the district credit for our achievements.”

Underwood said, although the district has been successful lately and under her direction, the new superintendent will have to deal with issues including budget cuts and teacher contracts.

“I don’t like making budget cuts,” she said. “I’ve proposed cuts that the school board won’t act on until after I’ve left, but it looks like there may be the need for a tax referendum in the spring, which the new superintendent would have to manage.”

Karin Uhlenhop, English teacher at this school for six years, said she hopes the new superintendent will focus on resolving the teacher contract issue. “I hope that whoever is hired makes resolving teacher contracts the top of the priority list,” Uhlenhop said.

Underwood said she is extremely proud of the caliber of teachers and administrators she has hired over the years, as well as her role in pushing for the International Baccalaureate program at this school. She said she will miss the constant problem-solving and activity that comes with the job and the interaction with the Carmel Clay Schools community.

“What I will miss most are the people,” she said. “I have such great people that I work with throughout the entire school district.”

Underwood said she has no immediate plans following her retirement. She said she and her husband, who is also retired, may travel a bit and catch up on some unfinished housework.

“I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do,” she said. “I’m OK with the fact that I’ll have plenty of time to figure out what to do next.”

Underwood said she has truly enjoyed her time here being employed as superintendent. “I have enjoyed it immensely,” Underwood said.

“I am so glad I got the opportunity to do it. It’s not an easy job, but Carmel is a great place to be a superintendent.”

—

SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE #1: JEFF SWENSON

Jeff Swensson is currently the Assistant of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Carmel Clay Schools.

Before he came to the Carmel school district, he worked at MSD Warren township schools as an Associate, Deputy Superintendent and in 2001, served as Interim Superintendent for Warren township schools.

Swensson completed his B.A. at Amherst College, earned a Masters from Northwestern University and completed his Ph.D. at Indiana University. BY PRIYA PATEL

SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE #2: MICHAEL BENWAY

Michael Benway was announced as the second finalist for the position of Carmel Clay Schools Superintendent via the Carmel Clay Schools Web site.

Currently, Benway is the Superintendent for Valparaiso Community Schools, a position he has held since 1990.

According to a message posted by Andy Klein, president of the Carmel Clay Schools Board, Benway received his B.A. from the University of Vermont and earned both an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Indiana State University. BY PRIYA PATEL