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Superintendent Derek Arrowood highlights teacher pipeline, SROs, athletics in monthly update
Summary
Hamilton Heights Superintendent Derek Arrowood used the Sept. 18 monthly update to spotlight a teacher pipeline with IU Kokomo, school resource officers in every building, cross-country course improvements, FFA competition wins, an undefeated unified flag football team and a middle-school fundraiser.
Derek Arrowood, superintendent of Hamilton Heights School Corp, outlined five priorities for the district during the monthly update on Wednesday, Sept. 18, including a teacher pipeline partnership with IU Kokomo, the placement of school resource officers in each building, recent extracurricular achievements and a fundraiser for middle-school athletics.
Arrowood said the district's Tomorrow's Teachers program with IU Kokomo enrolls juniors and seniors who take IUK classes for college credit and gain classroom experience at Hamilton Heights elementary, middle and high schools. He named current participants and called the partnership 'really cool,' saying it helps students earn college credit while preparing for teaching careers.
On safety, Arrowood announced that each building has a school resource officer: Kevin Neal at the high school, Josh Ireland at the elementary school and John Bridal at the middle school. He said all three are deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and praised a recent demonstration by a deputy that simulated impaired driving to teach students about safety.
Arrowood also recognized volunteers and students who improved the district's cross-country facilities. He credited longtime volunteer Ron Walker and freshman Will Monnen, who completed an Eagle Scout project that added signage and course markers. Arrowood noted the school hosted the Landis Invitational and described the cross-country program as a strong part of district athletics.
Emily Carson, the district's agricultural teacher, and Hamilton Heights' FFA teams earned several placements at recent Hendricks County events, Arrowood said, including a first-place senior team. He listed multiple students who competed and said several qualifiers advanced to the state level.
Highlighting inclusive sports, Arrowood reported the unified flag football team is undefeated and has beaten several larger programs; a home game was scheduled the evening of the update. He acknowledged coaches and staff who support unified sports and named finalists for the district's Husky Bean awards, which recognize students 'caught doing good.'
Finally, Arrowood asked the community to support a middle-school athletics fundraiser: a trash-bag sale running through Sept. 24. He said proceeds support broad participation in middle-school sports and thanked middle-school athletics supervisor Dan Smith and other longtime program leaders.
Arrowood closed by restating his role as superintendent of Hamilton Heights School Corp and encouraging community support for the district's programs. Upcoming dates he mentioned included Homecoming on Oct. 4 and a weekend induction and celebration on Oct. 5.
