Debra K. Howe, Ph.D.

Experience

- Superintendent, Tri-Creek School Corporation (2011 - 2018)

- Superintendent, Rochester Community Schools (2005 - 2011)

- Assistant Superintendent, Portage Township Schools (1997– 2005)

- Principal, Kenwood Elementary, School City of Hammond (1991– 1997)

- Principal, Boone Grove Elementary, Porter Township (1988– 1991)

- Elementary Physical Education Teacher, Highland (1986– 1988)

- High School Physical Education/Health Teacher, Highland   (1979– 1986)

- Adjunct Instructor in Physical Education, Valparaiso University (1977– 1979)

- Graduate Assistant in P.E, Indiana State University (1976– 1977)

Education

- Ph.D., Administration and Supervision, Indiana State University   (2001)

- Ed.S., Administration and Supervision, Indiana State University (1993)

- M.S., Administration and Supervision, Indiana State University (1988)

- M.S., Area Physical Education, Indiana State University (1977)

- B.S., Secondary Physical Education, Indiana State University (1976)

License

- Superintendent, Administration and Supervision (1994)

- Principal, Elementary Administration and Supervision (1988)

- Teacher, Physical Education and Health (1976)

Certification

- Hallmarks Leadership Coach (2012)

- Humanex Principal Interview, Teacher Interview (2010, 2012)

- Common Formative Assessment Facilitator, Leadership & Learning Center (2011)

- Hallmarks Chorus Leadership (2010)

- AdvancEd Lead Examiner for District Accreditation (2006, 2010)

- McGrath Supervision (2005, 2012)

- NCA Ambassador for District and School Accreditation (2004)

- Advanced Practicum Supervisor, William Glasser Institute (1996)

- Basic Practicum Supervisor, William Glasser Institute (1995)

- Reality Therapy, William Glasser Institute (1994)

- Indiana Principals’ Leadership Academy (1992)

- Teacher Perceiver, Gallup, INC. (1991)

- Youth Perceiver, Gallup, INC (1992)

- Mastery Supervision, UCLA (1989)

Presentations

- Indiana State University Leadership Law Conference – Leadership (2017)

- Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents – Technology (2013)

- Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents – Balanced Calendar (2013)  

- International Center for Leadership in Education Model Schools Conf. (2009)

- Economic Outlook Guest on WNIT (2009)

- Inside Indiana Business Guest (2009)

- New Technology High School Study Tours (2007-2009)

- Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning Annual Conference (2007, 2008)

- National Rural Education Association National Conference (2008)

- Indiana NCA-CASI Fall Conference on District Accreditation (2007)

- Indiana School Board Association Fall Conference on NCA District Association (2007)

- NCA-CASI Annual Conference National Presentation on District Association (2007)

- NCA-CASI Indiana State Conference on District Accreditation (2006)

- NCA-CASI Indiana State Summer Conference on District Association (2006)

- Indiana Department of Education regional presentations on Continuous Improvement and Strategic Planning (2001)

- National School Boards Conference “Focus on the Talent” (2001)

- Institute for International Research presentation on “Restructuring For Quality Education:  A Collaborative Approach (2000)

- National School Boards Association Conference presentation on “Restructuring for Quality Schools: A Deming Approach (2000)

- North Central Accreditation Visitation Team Chair (1997)

- Quality Schools (1993-1994)

- Effective Instruction (1989-1993)

- Climate Audits (1993)

Offices & Appointments

- Indiana Teacher Shortage Taskforce (2017)

- Indiana Superintendent Advisory Board for the College Board (2016-2018)

- Indiana NCA-CASI (AdvancED) Advisory Council (2016-2018)

- Region 1 Works Council - appointed by the Governor (2014-2018)

- Indiana High School / College Advisory Board (2007-2010)

- Indiana New Tech High Advisory Board (2007-2010)

- Purdue Woodrow Wilson Fellows Advisory Board (2007-2010)

- I.U. Center for P-16 Research/Collaboration Advisory Board (2007-2010)

- Indiana State University ELAF Advisory Board (2005-2010)

Awards

- Lorin A. Burt Outstanding Educator Award by the Indiana School Boards Association (2018)

- Circle of Corydon Award by the Governor (2018)

- Induction in Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators, Ivy Tech (2016)

- Apple Distinguished Program (2016)

- AdvancED National Innovation Award (2011)

- NSBA Technology + Learning “20 To Watch”Award (2010)

- NEA-UAW-Saturn Award for exemplary labor-management relations (1999)

Community Involvement

- Lowell Chamber Board of Directors (2016 - 2018)

- Lowell Rotary Founding Member (2015 - 2018)

- Legacy Community Foundation Board (2012 - 2015)

- Tri-Creek School Corporation Education Foundation Board (2011 - 2018)

- Leadership Northwest Indiana (2011 - 2012)

Memberships

- Indiana Chamber of Commerce

- American Association of School Administrators

- Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development 

- Indiana Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development

- Phi Delta Kappa

- Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents

- Indiana Association of School Business Officials

Professional Service

- Legislative Testimony – Distributive Generation (2017)

- Legislative Testimony- Teacher Shortage (2016)

- IAPSS Professional Development Committee (2012 - 2015)

- New Tech Network Envisioning Team (2012- 2014)

- State Superintendent Study Council (2009 – 2012)

- New Tech High Study Tours (2007 – 2011)

- Indiana DOE Testing Advisory Committee (1999-2005)

- AdvancED/North Central Association:

District Accreditation Lead Evaluator (2006 – Present)

- Richmond Bean-Blossom, Indiana – Vice Chair (2016)

- Butler County Schools, Kentucky – Chair (2013)

- Bradley County Schools, Tennessee – Chair (2012)

- Magnet Cove Schools, Arkansas – Chair (2012)

- Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana – Vice Chair (2009)

- MSD Pike Township Schools, Indiana – Chair (2009)

- Brownsburg Community Schools, Indiana – Vice Chair (2008)

- Spencer Owen Community Schools, Indiana – Vice Chair (2007)

- Bexley City Schools, Ohio – Team Member (2007)

- Prince William County Schools, Virginia – Member (2007)

Accomplishments

- Construction of an Advanced Manufacturing Facility that included a solar array dedicated in spring 2018

- Developed a solar project with 6,026 solar panels over 4 schools completed in summer 2017, that will offset over 80% of our costs from the general fund by around $250,000 per year over 30 years

- Developed Alternative to Suspension and Expulsion Program thereby keeping students in school which led to a graduation rate increase from 87% to 99.3% for Tri-Creek School Corporation in 2015 and remained over 96% since

- Completed career and technical education pathways and integrated them into the academic program so that we increased CTE funding from approximately $430,000 to $1,200,000 over 6 years

- Increased dual credit courses from 2 to 44

- Increased the number of students earning dual credits from 89 to 1151 

- Increased the number of dual credits earned from 46 to 2897

- Lead 2 school districts through transformation to the New Tech Instructional Model

- One of inaugural 3 school districts in Indiana to transform to the New Tech Framework (2007)

- First school in Indiana and nation to implement a complete conversion of a comprehensive high school (First graduation class 2011)

- Lead 2 school districts through the AdvancED accreditation process with high scores

- Implemented Balanced Calendar for Rochester Community Schools in 2007

- Developed partnership with IVY Tech, and built a Learning Center, in which IVY Tech rents half, in Rochester - completed in 2011

- Wrote and received grants @ $1M for technology, distance and PBL learning