The Carmel Clay School Board voted May 6, to hire Dr. Rhonda Peterson as the district’s new Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. Peterson will replace Dr. Martha McFarland, who retired in April 2019. Dr. Peterson will begin the position July 1.
Peterson
Dr. Peterson’s role will focus on working collaboratively with administrators, teachers, staff and other stakeholders to ensure academic growth for all CCS students. She will research, plan, develop, implement and evaluate K-12 curriculum and instruction to ensure that it is rigorous and responsive to students’ needs.
“I am excited to recommend Dr. Rhonda Peterson as the new Carmel Clay Schools Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction,” said Dr. Amy Dudley, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. “Through an extensive interview process, Dr. Peterson’s knowledge, experience and student-centered, enthusiastic and visible leadership style stood out among a field of highly qualified applicants. Dr. Peterson will be a great addition to the Carmel Clay team.”
Prior to Carmel Clay Schools, Dr. Peterson served 13 years as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at CSC Southern Hancock County Schools in New Palestine, Indiana as well as two years as an elementary principal at Brandywine Elementary School. Throughout her tenure at Hancock County Schools, she realigned and expanded the district’s high ability program options, helped develop a teacher evaluation program and directed programs that fostered growth and development for hundreds of educators. She is an active member of the Indiana Association of Curriculum and Instruction, Indiana Association of School Principals and is a mentor at the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute.
“Dr. Peterson has a rich background in curriculum, instruction, and assessment with the added value of working with high performing students for many years,” stated Superintendent Dr. Michael Beresford. “I believe she is the perfect fit for CCS and will embrace and enrich the culture of continuous improvement across the district. We are fortunate to have a person of her caliber join the CCS family.”
Dr. Peterson earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Ball State University, a Master’s Degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University, an Education Specialist Degree in Education Administration and her Ph.D in Education Leadership at Indiana State University.