02-21-2006Dr. Robert Haworth begins his duties as Warsaw Community School Corporation’s new superintendent no later than July 1.
But even though he most recently lived in southern Indiana, he already has ties to this area, including a grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins.
The Warsaw School Board approved Haworth’s three-year contract at its regular meeting Monday night. According to Board President Ron Yeiter, Haworth, 40, will receive $115,300 per year plus benefits. While that is more than Warsaw has paid superintendents in the past, Yeiter said that is comparable to what Goshen, Concord and Huntington school corporations pay. The amount also is less than the average of what school corporations of Warsaw’s size pay – $117,300.
“I think this money will be an investment in our community,” said Yeiter after the meeting. “This man is sharp. We couldn’t ask for a better candidate.”
Haworth is the current superintendent for Springs Valley School Corporation, French Lick.
After the school board approved Haworth’s contract, board member Chuck Sauders said, “He is the man we want here. He will lead Warsaw to the next plateau.”
Haworth thanked the school board and Interim Superintendent Ralph Bailey for the opportunity. He said he always strives to create unique, rich moments in the lives of others and will continue to do so.
“Warsaw Community Schools has a great reputation statewide,” Haworth said. He said he’s been flooded with e-mails and calls about how great the school system is. “I feel very fortunate to be in this position,” he said, and wants to continue providing quality education for students at Warsaw Schools.
He and his wife, Amy, have two children – a daughter, Olivia, 7 years old, a first-grader; and a son, Eric, 2-1/2. And while he already has family in the area, he said he looks forward to building more relationships in the community, finding a home and a church.
In an interview after the meeting, Haworth said there were a number of reasons why he wanted to be a superintendent at WCS. First, he has family living in the community. Secondly, the community has economic diversity. And he said he wanted to be a part of the school corporations’ pursuit of excellence.
He has two years of experience as a superintendent, four years as assistant superintendent and 18 years in education.
“Any position you come into, you want to come into with an open mind,” he said when asked about challenges he will face. “I think when you are superintendent, you bring a certain skill set with you.”
Warsaw has an ongoing building project and the elementary schools are facing issues. He said he will approach them with an open mind.
Spring Valley was a small school corporation. “I’m very hands-on,” he said. “Very accessible. You’ll see me at a lot of different activities. ... That won’t be an issue.”
Warsaw began its search for a new superintendent in September. After meeting with representatives of the Indiana School Board Association and a university team, the school board held interviews with candidates, narrowing down the field of 11 down to Haworth and Dr. Terry Barker, the superintendent at River Trails School District, Mt. Prospect, Ill., School District 26.
According to the Springs Valley Web site, Haworth received his bachelor’s degree from Greenville College, Greenville, Ill., in 1988. In 1995 he completed his master’s degree, and completed an educational administrative internship in 1999 from Indiana University Southeast, New Albany. Haworth served as a social studies teacher, coach and summer youth activities coordinator for Washington Township Schools, Valparaiso, in 1988. In 1990, Haworth accepted a position at Northeast Dubois High School, where he served as a social studies teacher and coached several sports teams. In Spring 2000, Haworth took a position with Springs Valley Community School Corp. His duties included assistant superintendent, athletic director and boys varsity basketball coach. In 2002 he was granted permission to participate in the Indiana State University Wednesday Residency doctoral degree program in educational leadership. In 2003, he resigned his position as boys basketball coach to complete his dissertation and pursue a position as public school superintendent. In January 2004, Haworth was named superintendent of schools for the Springs Valley Community School Corp. He received his doctorate from ISU in 2004.
Haworth is a member of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the Indiana High School Basketball Coaches Association.
On July 27, by a vote of 6-to-1, the Warsaw School Board accepted the settlement agreement with, and resignation of then-superintendent Dr. Dave McGuire. Ralph Bailey, Columbia City, later was named interim superintendent. Bailey will remain interim superintendent until Haworth starts.
McGuire served WCS for 19 years as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent for three years. During his tenure as superintendent, he presided over the decision to close three elementary schools – Claypool, Atwood and Silver Lake. McGuire’s superintendent contract was to expire June 30, 2007, and he had an indefinite teacher contract with Warsaw Schools. The agreement allowed his contracts to be terminated “effective the close of business July 27, 2005,” and McGuire served as a consultant for the school corporation until Jan. 13. During the extended employment period, McGuire received the same salary, retirement and insurance benefits to which he was entitled under his superintendent contract – approximately $64,000.
Members of the Warsaw School Board are Yeiter, Dan Robinson, Gene England, Tammy Dalton, Deb Wiggins, Chuck Sauders and Cathy Folk.