Noblesville Schools announced on Tuesday that it has appointed a new full-time safety director, district mental health coordinator and, through its partnership with the City of Noblesville, a Noblesville Police Department (NPD) lieutenant to oversee the district’s team of school resource officers (SROs).
The new staff is as follows:
- Heather Hendrich, Safety Director
- Michele Whaley, Mental Health Coordinator
- Shane Ginnan, NPD lieutenant
Hendrich
Hendrich brings extensive experience to her role as safety director, having served as an Indiana school safety specialist for 10 years, as a Western School Corporation assistant superintendent responsible for safety for seven years, and as a former principal. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Ball State University, where she earned her doctorate in education.
“Heather rose to the top of a very competitive safety director selection process by clearly demonstrating her experience in the school safety arena, her strong analytical background and her ability to successfully collaborate with our law enforcement partners at NPD,” said Noblesville Schools Superintendent Dr. Beth Niedermeyer. “In addition to all that, she is also a Noblesville Schools parent who had a child at Noblesville West Middle School during the shooting that occurred there last year. She fully appreciates where we have been as a community regarding school safety and where we are going.”
Whaley
Whaley joins the district in the new position of mental health coordinator from her role as a social worker and behavior specialist for Indianapolis Public Schools. She will be responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive, district-wide mental health system to benefit all students.
A graduate of both Ball State University and Indiana University, Whaley has also been elected as the next president of the Indiana School Social Work Association.
“Michele’s leadership experience, data-driven focus to problem solving and passion in supporting what’s best for kids were key attributes that set her apart from other applicants,” said Niedermeyer.
Ginnan
Ginnan has served with NPD for 18 years and has started in his position overseeing the SROs already. He is actively out in schools working with the team of dedicated NPD school resource officers who have received additional law enforcement and school safety training and are assigned full-time to protect Noblesville Schools. Additionally, his role will partner closely with Hendrich.
“We’re excited to welcome these new team members to Noblesville Schools,” said Niedermeyer. “We set high expectations for our leaders and our selection panel feels confident that these individuals will be great additions as we continue to pursue safety and mental health enhancements to best protect our students and staff.
The district is able to add the positions thanks to the additional safety and mental health funding provided by the community’s passage of the November 2018 Noblesville Schools referendum.
Whaley is expected to begin in April and Hendrich this summer.