District News
At the January board meeting, the Greater Jasper Consolidated School Corporation Board of Trustees appointed Mary Roberson as the interim superintendent. This appointment follows the resignation of Dr. Tracy Lorey, who has served Jasper’s youth for 32 years and is now stepping into the role of Deputy Secretary of Education for the State of Indiana.
“The GJCS Board of Trustees is confident in having Mary Roberson serve as our district’s interim superintendent,” said board president, Greg Eckerle. “She brings years of experience as a superintendent and came highly recommended by Dr. Tracy Lorey. Mary is very familiar with how to navigate the challenges of running a school system. She is well-positioned to continue our district’s success as we search for the next superintendent.”
Mary Roberson has been appointed as the interim superintendent, bringing 20 years of experience as an Indiana Superintendent, having served Perry Central Community Schools and Sheridan Community Schools. She is the owner of Bower Consulting, a firm dedicated to assisting school districts fill short-term superintendent positions, grant writing, mentoring, professional development, and more. Prior to her role as superintendent, Roberson worked as a classroom teacher and building administrator. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University Southeast, as well as an Education Specialist (EdS) in Language Education and Curriculum from Indiana University Bloomington and completed coursework for an Indiana Superintendent License at Indiana University Bloomington. Roberson holds an Indiana superintendent’s license and elementary administration and teaching licenses.
“I am grateful to be part of this phenomenal school community and am eager to get to know students, staff, and community members. I know my role is to keep the district on the strong and steady path that has already been charted,” said Roberson.
The Greater Jasper Consolidated School Corporation warmly welcomes Mary Roberson and looks forward to continuing the Jasper Great tradition. We extend our best wishes to Dr. Tracy Lorey as she embarks on her new role.
- GJCS
- Ireland Elementary School
- Jasper Elementary School
An exciting project is underway at Ireland Elementary School and Jasper Elementary School. Mayor of the City of Jasper, Dean Vonderheide, has proclaimed January 31 at One Book, Two Schools Day. Students kicked off Friday morning with a video from the mayor, explaining this proclamation.
What is One Book, Two Schools? This exciting project allows students at both Ireland Elementary and Jasper Elementary to participate in an all-school book club. Students at all grade levels at both schools will be listening to and/or reading the same book from January 31st to February 21st.
Today students received their own copy of Mysteries According to Humphrey. A recommended reading schedule was shared to allow students to discuss the book with their peers in class over the next three weeks. On the school website, there are recordings of the readings from each day, read aloud by teachers. There will also be daily trivia during lunch. Nearly 50 Dubois County businesses and groups will also have trivia questions. Students should look for participation posters on doors and windows of local businesses and let an employee know they are reading Mysteries According to Humphrey and politely ask if they have a question for them.
With the support of families and the community, GJCS aims to build a community of readers and make the next few weeks
- Book Club
- Elementary
- IRE
- JES
- One Book, Two Schools
- Jasper Elementary School
Jasper Elementary School 4th graders have been working on a very exciting project over the past few months that included a presentation to Representative Shane Lindauer and Senator Daryl Schmitt.
Jasper Elementary School fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Donato, said, “As educators, our goal is to instill a sense of wonder in our students. Last year, while teaching Indiana history, my students learned about a second-grade class in West Lafayette that proposed and eventually passed a bill for the Say’s Firefly to become the state insect. One student in my class asked whether Indiana had a state fruit. This question sparked curiosity, and the entire class began researching. They soon discovered that Indiana did not have an official state fruit. Initially, they proposed the Pawpaw, as it is native to Indiana. However, they later found out that Ohio designated the Pawpaw as their state fruit in 2009”.
With a goal in mind of proposing the persimmon as the state fruit for Indiana, students got to work. Persuasive writing is a standard skill for fourth graders, so this project was an excellent opportunity to teach those skills. Students had to find three or more reasons why the persimmon should be the state fruit. Students researched various aspects of the persimmon, and the top four reasons identified were: Indiana currently lacks a state fruit, persimmons are native to Indiana, the health benefits, and the potential for the fruit and its wood to boost the state’s economy.
On Friday, January 24, 2025, five students (Grant, Mackenzie, Sophie, Ariel, and Sawyer) volunteered to create and present a slideshow. JES Principal Kent Taylor, Assistant Principal Ryan Erny, GJCS Superintendent Dr. Lorey, Representative Shane Lindauer, Senator Daryl Schmitt and all the fourth grade classes attended the presentation.
What ate the next steps? Representative Lindauer introduced House Bill 1618 to the committee, which aims to designate the persimmon as the state fruit. The students will present their argument orally to the committee on February 10th at the Indiana Statehouse. Regardless of the outcome, this project-based learning experience in civics will be something the students always remember.
Students learned how to write a persuasive essay, expanded their knowledge of persimmons, gained skills for making oral presentations, and understood the state-level process of how a bill becomes a law. They also learned how to work collaboratively and discovered that while they are young, they can still make a different through perseverance and hard work.
As a Leader in Me School, Jasper Elementary students and teachers are always incorporating habits into their learning. When asked about what habits this project highlights, Mrs. Donato said, “The two key habits highlighted in the project are Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind and Habit 6: Synergize. For Habit 2, the students found inspiration in the Say’s Firefly project at Cumberland Elementary, envisioning what the result could be. Our students enthusiastically embraced the challenge of bringing this project to life. It was wonderful to witness their engagement and excitement during their research and writing. Many students even asked if they could come in before school or skip recess to work on their writing tasks. For Habit 6, the project evolved into a collaborative effort among the fourth graders. Each class either worked together to write an essay or allowed individual students to create their own essays. Additionally, students who wished to contribute artistically designed drawings of persimmons to serve as covers for their writings or displays. We are fortunate to have such incredibly talented students!”
The project is still unfolding, so stay tuned for exciting updates!
JES Fourth Graders after giving their presentation.
A student in Mrs. Hedinger's Class completed the artwork for the project.
JES Fourth Grade Students with Senator Schmitt, Representative Lindauer, and Mrs. Donato.
- 4th Grade
- JES
- Jasper Elementary School
- Ireland Elementary School
The GJCS Staff Member of the Month Award honors staff members that show exemplary leadership, unwavering dedication, utmost professionalism, excellence in their roles, and their consistent willingness to exceed expectations for the betterment of GJCS.
The January Staff Member of the Month is Mrs. Andrea Ackerman, art teacher at Ireland Elementary School. A fellow GJCS employee commented, "I am honored to nominate Mrs. Andrea Ackerman for Staff Member of the Month. Andrea truly enhances art classes with her incredible talent, dedication, and creativity. Thanks to her efforts, our hallway is filled with vibrant, inspiring displays of student artwork. Andrea goes above and beyond to make every student feel like a true artist by showcasing their work in thoughtful and meaningful ways. The kids love seeing their creations displayed, and Andrea spends countless hours ensuring each piece is hung up for the students to see. Her hard work and passion for art education are evident in everything she does. Andrea, you bring life and color to our school, and your commitment to celebrating our students' creativity is truly remarkable. Keep up the amazing work—your impact does not go unnoticed."
Thank you, Mrs. Ackerman, for all you do to make Jasper GREAT!
Andrea Ackerman, Ireland Elementary School Art Teacher, with the Staff Member of the Month Award.
From left to right: Shannon Bauer (Ireland Elementary School Principal), Andrea Ackerman (Ireland Elementary School Art Teacher), Dr. Tracy Lorey (GJCS Superintendent).
- IRE
- Ireland Elementary School
- Staff Member of the Month
- Jasper High School
The GJCS Staff Member of the Month Award honors staff members that show exemplary leadership, unwavering dedication, utmost professionalism, excellence in their roles, and their consistent willingness to exceed expectations for the betterment of GJCS.
The December Staff Member of the Month is Mrs. Julie Henke, teacher at Jasper High School. A fellow GJCS employee commented, "I'm delighted to write a recommendation for Julie Henke who has been an exceptional special education teacher for many years. Having worked closely with Julie with several students, I can confidently say that she is one of the most reliable, diligent, and professional individuals I have had the pleasure of collaborating with. Julie consistently goes above and beyond expectations in all aspects of her work. Whether tackling complex behaviors or repeatedly refocusing students, she brings a high level of dedication and attention to detail in everything she does. Her ability to manage multiple situations simetaneously while maintaining the highest quality of work is truly impressive. Julie approaches every day with a positive attitude and is always willing to lend a helping hand or share her knowledge with others. Her comforting personality fosters a collaborative and supportive environment, making her a joy to work with. Julie demonstrates a strong sense of responsibility and a genuine passion for her work, making her one of JHS finest."
Thank you, Mrs. Henke, for all you do to make Jasper GREAT!
The December Staff Member of the Month, Julie Henke.
From left to right: Dr. Tracy Lorey (GJCS Superintendent) and Julie Henke (Jasper High School Teacher).
- JHS
- Jasper High School
- Staff Member of the Month