Greencastle board cancels teacher Dana Carr's contract after finding student left unsupervised

The Greencastle Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees voted March 16 to cancel the regular teaching contract of Dana Carr after concluding that Carr failed to supervise a student on Jan. 6, 2026.

The board's written findings say Carr left a student in a sensory room unsupervised and did not close and lock the sensory room door as required by the faculty handbook, which the board said resulted in the student remaining in the building until about 8:35 p.m. Principal Yolanda Goodpaster and Assistant Principal McMickle reviewed surveillance video that the board said substantiated the grandmother's report that the student did not arrive home until late on Jan. 6.

The board noted the decision followed a statutory procedure: Carr requested and received a superintendent meeting and a hearing on March 11, 2026, where evidence and stipulated exhibits were admitted. The board's findings cite Indiana Code A7 20-28-7.5-1 as statutory authority for cancellation for "neglect of duty" and "other good or just cause." Counsel for the parties were recorded in the administrative record: Andrew Manna represented the superintendent; Shane Grimes and Nancy Guyott represented Carr; Michelle Cooper served as board counsel.

The board's written decision states that, while there was a broader history of performance concerns, the decisive issue was Carr's failure to supervise the student on Jan. 6. The findings state that Carr "admitted that she violated the faculty handbook by leaving a student unattended." The document also states, quoting the board's view of the record, that "Mrs. Carr attempted to blame Student A for her mishaps, which is highly disappointing to the Board," and that the board found the claim groundless.

Board President Ed Wilson introduced the administration's recommendation at the public meeting and a motion to approve the cancellation was made by Vice President Jimmy Beasley and seconded by Secretary Megan Inman; the motion carried at the March 16 meeting. The board entered its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decision into the minutes and resolved that Carr's regular teaching contract was cancelled as of the date of the decision, March 16, 2026.

The board record indicates parties were permitted to submit proposed findings by March 13 to allow the board's consideration at the regular public meeting; the board stated the standard of proof as a preponderance of the evidence. The findings note that the faculty handbook and board policy require teachers to maintain supervision and to lock rooms and that Carr acknowledged awareness of those policies.

No further administrative penalties or employment details beyond the cancellation date were specified in the public minutes.

The board's decision followed a public hearing on the matter; the hearing record and the board's written findings are part of the minutes and administrative record.