PATHWAYS TO PASSION

It’s not very often that an educator becomes superintendent for the same school in which they have served for 20 years, since the beginning of their career in education. Dr. Jake Allen will celebrate just that when he transitions into the role of Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation Superintendent on Jan. 1.

“To be able to go from a student teacher to superintendency in one district with no breaks in between, I think that is pretty special,” Allen said. “I remember when I first got here, I knew it was a place I wanted to be for a long time because of the people I met, the culture of the community and the schools. When I student taught, the students were amazing. They were so accepting, kind, and compassionate. We have the best kids around. It’s been easy for me to stay for 20 years. I’ve built a lot of relationships that will serve me well as superintendent.”

Allen will replace Superintendent Randy Taylor as he retires this year. The school board voted in approval of Allen’s new role at its Nov. 14 meeting. Allen said that he has big shoes to fill, with Taylor leaving the school district in great shape.

“I am honored and blessed to be able to follow him and carry that forward and continue to appreciate the history and embrace the future,” Allen said. He later continued, “I would like to (express) my appreciation to the Board of Trustees for providing me with this opportunity. Dr. Roberson, Jen Reed, Tim Cummins, Dave Oberle, and Matt Saner do so much for our school community and I can’t thank them enough for having faith in me to lead our school corporation moving forward.”

Apart from his academic responsibilities and volunteer engagements, Allen, along with his wife Keely, owns Danville Family Eye Care, where Keely practices as an optometrist. The couple has three dogs and enjoys traveling to different places when they can fit it into their busy work schedules. In the schools, Allen enjoys it when he gets to go into a preschool or elementary classroom and read to the students there.

BUILDING A CAREER & RELATIONSHIPS

Allen grew up in Southern Illinois, moving to Indiana to attend Indiana University Bloomington for its teacher education program in 2002. His first student teaching experience was as an English teacher at Mooresville High School. He was hired the following year, the 2003-04 school year. He taught for several years at the high school before becoming principal at Paul Hadley Middle School, a position he held for nine years. He was then promoted to assistant superintendent and, later, associate superintendent.

In addition to his involvement in the school system, Allen is active in the Morgan County community, having been on the board of directors for the
Mooresville Chamber of Commerce, Morgan County Redevelopment Commission, Mooresville Redevelopment Commission and volunteers at Morgan County Leadership Academy and Churches in Mission. He’s also served on the alumni board of directors for Indiana University School of Education and has spoken at four different graduation ceremonies. That opportunity, he said, allows him to help prepare the next generation of teachers and provide them with as much support as possible. Those teachers can then join the school district where they’ll continue to grow and develop.

“I love being involved on different boards and being able to help,” he said. “I’m a high relationship to get high results driven person. I believe in building strong relationships, working together to set high expectations, and working diligently together to accomplish our goals. The best way to lead – whether you are a superintendent, principal, teacher, or in any other capacity – is to build genuine relationships.”