LINDEN — For those in attendance at Saturday’s North Montgomery High School graduation ceremony, one observer kept dabbing her eyes. Superintendent Dr. Colleen Moran sat in her usual place on the stage and beamed with pride as each student’s name was called to receive a diploma. For the 19th and final time, Moran was watching her students take the next step of their lives.
Moran announced her pending retirement over one year ago. The date is now set — June 18.
Moran admits this is an emotional time for her because her relationship with the North Montgomery community has turned into a love affair. She knows she will miss the place she has called home for 25 years, which includes 16 years as superintendent.
“I feel it is time to pass this to younger people who can bring fresh ideas and continue to make North Montgomery even better,” Moran said nearly a year ago when she announced her plans at a school board meeting.
Moran will miss the people and relationships the most. She has hired all the principals in the corporation’s five school buildings. She has hired a majority of the teachers and staff. She is leaving a positive mark on her schools.
The Western Boone High School graduate received her undergraduate degree in education from what was formerly IUPUI. She earned a master’s degree in education administration from Butler and her doctorate at Indiana State University.
Moran started teaching in 1991 at Frankfort’s Kyger Elementary School.
In 2001, she received a call from the late Dr. Robert Brower who was the corporation’s superintendent at the time. The phone call was a surprise.
“I really had not been looking and I only knew Dr. Brower as an acquaintance and at first I was hesitant,” Moran said. “He wanted me to come visit and I decided it would be good to visit and talk with him.”
She made the trip to the former corporation office in Linden and she wasn’t impressed.
“That building was not in good shape and it gave me doubts about the corporation,” Moran admits. “But Dr. Brower explained he wanted me to fill a new spot as Director of Teaching and Learning. I love developing principals and teachers so he convinced me to give it a try. I also admit Tom Mellish, who was the principal at Sugar Creek Elementary played a hand in me deciding to come to North. He was a principal I respected very much and the fact he was here helped me make my decision.”
Moran worked under Dr. Brower for nine years until he called her into his office again. This time he announced he was retiring and he wanted her to be his successor.
“I had witnessed all the improvements Dr. Brower had led and I was happy to witness all the renovations we had made,” Moran said. “Dr. Brower also got North Montgomery through a very tough economic period when most school corporations were having money problems. Dr. Brower led us through all that and left us in good financial shape with awesome buildings and athletic facilities.”
Moran became the North Montgomery Superintendent in 2010. She finds satisfaction in the success of the corporation during her tenure.
“We have made great strides and have become a leading high school in the area for academics and won many awards,” Moran said.
Her successes include guiding the corporation through the challenges of the Covid pandemic as well as investing in renovated buildings that are ready to move into the future, all while leaving the district in good financial shape. She led a couple of high school renovation projects, a middle school renovation and outdoor facility improvements.
Of all the successes, Moran points to the creation of the Early Learning Academy in 2006 as her most prized program. ELA allows three- and four-olds the opportunity to attend preschool. It started in one school, Pleasant Hill Elementary, and has now expanded to all elementary schools.
“ELA has given hundreds of children a great start in learning,” Moran said. “From one small class of 12 students to classes in every elementary means so much. We have proof that the kids who get to attend the ELA are getting a high-quality learning experience. Our elementary teachers love the head start the ELA students receive and say they make a positive difference in the classrooms.”
Looking ahead, Moran is pleased that former Assistant Superintendent Dr. Anthony Tharp will take over the helm. She also is happy to have Craig Reich, another one of her hires, as the new Director of Curriculum.
“I feel good that with these two men taking the corporation is in good hands,” Moran said. “I am pleased I can leave the corporation in better shape than how I first found it 25 years ago.”
Moran said the building of relationships with corporation leaders has been an impactful part of her job.
She showed appreciation for Brower, Mellish and former business officer Jim McBee, whom she is proud to have worked with. She has appreciation for all the school board members she worked hand-in-hand with.
Moran also lists Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton, Crawfordsville Superintendent Dr. Rex Ryker, former Southmont superintendent Dr. Shawn Greiner and present Southmont superintendent Stephanie Hofer as being instrumental in the county’s educational foundation and she appreciates the working relationship with community leaders.
“To educate our students, we have to have a good relationship will the other school districts and we have that in Montgomery County,” Moran said. “That cooperation makes a big positive difference.”
Although she is retiring from her role at North, Moran is not ready to stop working. She has accepted the position as executive director of the Wabash Valley Education Service Center in West Lafayette. The purpose of the center is to provide guidance and professional development to administrators in 40 area school districts, including all three Montgomery County school districts.
“I will always be a Charger and my heart will always be here,” Moran said. “I am happy my new job will keep me in touch with North and the other two county school districts. I know my last couple of weeks here will be emotional, but I am excited to watch the corporation grow and do great things.”
Moran and her husband Dan will remain living near her 90-year-old parents beside the family home place. Moran sees living near her parents, who still live in the house Moran grew up, as a blessing and one that she cherishes.
At Tuesday’s surprise retirement breakfast at the high school, Moran’s tears welled up again as she walked into the commons full of teachers, staff, present and former board members, friends and family.
Tharp spoke at the breakfast calling Moran a great friend and mentor.
“Because of Dr. Moran it is not difficult to measure the impact Colleen has had on this community because of her influence on the lives of the people,” Tharp said. “Her impact lives in the students because she believed in them. It lives on in the staff because she encouraged and supported them. It lives on in families and our communities strengthened by her leadership. It lives on with the excellence and compassion she helped build at North Montgomery. She led with humility strength and heart and reminded us schools are more than buildings but rather places where lives are shaped and futures are built.
“Perhaps her greatest accomplishment is the respect she earned from those around her. Dr. Moran, thank you for your leadership, your dedication, your compassion, and belief in the power of education. Your work has mattered and your legacy will continue for generations to come.”
