WABASH, Ind. – Wabash City Schools board celebrated its Kathy Swan Award winners during an eventful meeting Monday, Mar. 19.
Swan was a longtime teacher at Wabash High School who, according to Superintendent Jason Callahan, embodied the relationships that the school district wants out of its staff as it pertains to students.
Swan loved kids, and would seek out those students who worked hard and had a kind, good spirit, and would advocate and champion them.
Tragically, she was lost in a plane crash in 2005.
“As (board member) Tony (Pulley) said, the board wanted to do something to keep her memory alive, and what she stood for alive” Callahan said. “This has been an amazing award.”
Freshman Zack Reed, sophomore Dana Hueston, junior Brendan Pearson and senior Jack Gatchel were honored with Swan Awards for their diligence and perseverance as students.
“I think, what we most love about it is that no kid applies to it,” Callahan said. “It’s staff identifying kids who embody those principles that Kathy stood for. It’s a great night.”
Also, at Monday’s meeting, it was revealed that Athletic Director Matt Stone would assume Assistant Athletic Director duties, while adding the title of Transportation Director to go with his duties as Chief Financial officer.
“Matt has been here. He’s the longest tenured administrator,” Callahn said. “He’s worn a lot of hats. He’s coached a lot of different things. He’s the anchor of our administrative team. And, we’re excited. Rhonda Daniel did a fantastic as our Transportation Director for a long time. Matt’s had an opportunity to work with Rhonda. Matt’s got a long history of being able to take programs and do good things with them. This will be no different.”
Floyd McWhirt, who had previously served as Assistant Athletic Director, will move into the Athletic Director’s position, resigning as the high school’s Industrial Tech teacher.
“Floyd McWhirt has been with us since 2006,” Callahan said. “We recruited him as a Project Lead the Way teacher/coach. He’s done a fantastic job in those programs. Floyd was instrumental in changing the direction of our Wabash High School football team and getting kids to buy into working hard and never giving up on themselves. Last year he came on as an assistant athletic director as we’ve taken on more athletics, and was mentored by Matt. We’ve been very pleased with his development. We have a hire to retire philosophy, and I feel like this embodies that. He came on as a teacher, and now is moving on to that athletic director position. He’ll be phenomenal.”
It was also revealed at Monday’s meeting that board president Brandon France will be resigning his position with the board due to the fact that he is moving out of the school district.
“Brandon came back and filled an appointment of (Jordan) Tandy when Tandy became the board attorney,” Callahan explained. “Brandon has done a fantastic job. He’s been committed to all of our kids, our programs, our community. He and his wife have kids in our system. They’ve just really bought in and are engaged in what we’re doing. Although I hate to lose him from the board, I know he’s going to remain engaged and involved in what we’re doing.”
In his place, the board and the Wabash City Council approved France’s replacement, Bill Konyha, to take his place.
Konyha has previously served on the school board, and was also the former Wabash County Econonic Development Group Director, and also served as the Director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
“Bill has served several terms as a board member for Wabash City Schools,” Callahan said. “… When we have that appointment responsibility, we always try to get somebody who has that experience. Bill has some of the best experiences. We’re glad that he was willing to take that back on.”