Students showcase art and leadership; district announces new CTE director

The district spotlight at the May board meeting emphasized student creativity and leadership. Dr. St. John opened the superintendent art project update, noting framed student artwork selected by art teachers will be displayed in central office for the next 12 months.

Students from elementary through high school described their pieces — materials, inspiration and process — including an Aboy Elementary sea turtle built from 1,269 canned goods (part of a Canstruction project that raised awareness about food insecurity and earned awards), middle‑school acrylics and high‑school oil paintings. Dr. St. John praised the breadth of student talent and noted art teachers and parent‑teacher committees helped frame and prepare the displays.

The board also heard a Whispering Meadows presentation led by Mrs. Vite and 16 student leaders on a peer‑mentoring program. Presenters said 22 student leaders are paired with 22 kindergarten/first‑grade buddies, working on reading, phonics, math and handwriting; one student reported a buddy’s literacy score improving from 11 of 20 to 17 of 20 on red/green word checks.

Administrators also introduced Jennifer Reef as the newly hired CTE director. Dr. St. John said Reef comes from Whitley County Consolidated Schools, where she served as CTE director, and previously served as a high‑school principal, and welcomed her to the district as the CTE program moves into a design phase for a future CTE center.

The program concluded with trustees recognizing art teachers and student leaders and inviting families to view the central‑office exhibit over the coming year.