Outstanding Boardmanship Award
2023 ISBA Outstanding Boardmanship Award Winner
Beth McFadin Higgins, M.S.D. of Mt. Vernon School Board
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Beth McFadin Higgins, school board member for the Metropolitan School District of Mt. Vernon, was recognized by the Indiana School Boards Association as school board member of the year for 2023. The ISBA presented her with the Outstanding Boardmanship Award at its annual conference in Indianapolis on September 25. During her 23 years on the school board, Beth has been instrumental in restructuring the elementary schools, facilitating corporate partnerships to provide students with internships and mentorships, and substantially increasing teacher salaries. She has overseen the renovation of athletic facilities, revitalization of the performing arts department, and improved student pickup and drop-off following an elementary school traffic accident. She is respected for her analytical abilities and sound judgment. “Beth researches every issue at hand and from all angles before making a decision,” said M.S.D. of Mt. Vernon School Board President Joe Rutledge. The Outstanding Boardmanship Award is conferred annually by the ISBA to a school board member who exemplifies the best attributes of effective governance.
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Outstanding Boardmanship Award Past Recipients
- 1974 John C. Wagner | South Bend
- 1975 Mann Spitler, Jr. | Valpariso
- 1976 William A. Gitlin | Bluffton-Harrison
- 1977 Luise Schnakenburg | Evansville
- 1978 Iverson C. Bell | Terre Haute
- 1979 Terry Lehr | South Bend
- 1980 James Weaver | Columbus
- 1981 Phyllis Tully | Merrillville
- 1982 Kenneth Simmons | Blackford County
- 1983 Leon Trachtman | West Lafayett
- 1984 John E. VonPein, Jr. | Richmond
- 1985 Dr. Mary E. Busch | Indianapolis
- 1986 S. Suzanne Zinser | Carmel-Clay
- 1987 Richard Jensen | Elkhart
- 1988 Berbard D. Carmin | Marion
- 1989 James H. Black | Clark-Pleasant
- 1990 Carolyn L. Tate | Vincennes
- 1991 Sylvia E. Tramm | MSD of Pike Township
- 1992 Joyce Hall | Center Grove
- 1993 Phillip T. Ross | Franklin Township
- 1993 Kenneth D. Barlett | MSD of Decatur Township
- 1994 Phillip E. Buecher | Greater Jasper
- 1995 Dale “Woody” Emmons | Mishawaka
- 1996 Nancy McNabb | DeKalb County Central
- 1997 Phyllis Lewis | MSD of Wayne Township
- 1998 Ann D. Schaefer | MSD of Washington Township
- 1999 Diane M. Black | Franklin
- 2000 John Payne | Blackford County
- 2001 Carl Johnson | Fort Wayne
- 2002 Fran Milo | LaPorte
- 2003 John Heerema | Kankakee Valley
- 2004 Stephen Maple | MSD of Perry Township
- 2005 Dale Petrie | Crawfordsville
- 2006 Susan Switzer | MSD of Warren Township
- 2007 Nancy Habig | Greater Jasper
- 2008 Lisa Tanselle | North West Hendricks
- 2009 Richard Anderson | Griffith
- 2010 Patricia G. Heiny | Richmond
- 2011 Todd Marshall | Springs Valley
- 2012 Terry Jo Lightfoot | East Allen
- 2013 Linda Singer | Western
- 2014 Linda Y. Day | Tippecanoe
- 2015 Mark Iunghuhn | North Gibson
- 2016 Charles Sprague | Franklin County
- 2017 Jane Troup | Goshen
- 2018 Bill Wilson | Clarksville
- 2019 Terry Butler | Hobart
- 2020 Richard Shail | New Prairie United
- 2021 Scott Flood | Plainfield
- 2022 Karen Springer | West Lafayette
- 2023 Beth McFadin Higgins | MSD of Mt. Vernon
