It’s official. Andrew Shelby is out and Amy Duckworth is in as principal at Mt. Carmel Junior/Senior High School. At a special District #348 school board meeting this morning, the board approved a separation agreement with Shelby and accepted his resignation as MCHS principal..a position he has held since July 31st of 2021. Shelby has been the target of criticism from teachers at recent school board meetings. Last week, the MCHS website changed to remove Shelby from the staff section and instead listed Amy Duckworth as principal and Logan Crum as assistant principal even though neither of those changes had been approved by the school board until this morning. The board this morning also approved promoting Crum to assistant principal.
In a statement provided to WSJD, Duckworth said, “I am honored to be selected as the next principal of MCJSHS. I have bled maroon and gold since I graduated in 1995. While my professional endeavors took me away for a period of time, I was honored to be welcomed back two years ago as assistant principal. To be given the opportunity to lead the junior/senior high schools now is an incredible honor. I look forward to leading with a positive mindset so that we may achieve greater things. I will honor the foundations that have been long established before me, while recognizing that the education profession is ever evolving. I want Wabash District 348 to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind when they think of excellent schools. I have an amazing team with amazing teachers, and I look forward to getting to work with them and our district administrative team.”
Terms of the separation with Sheby were not disclosed. It is the second separation agreement the school board has approved in recent months. Earlier this year, the board approved a separation agreement with former administrator Steve Holt.
Other items approved by the school board this morning include accepting the resignations of Teresa Spencer as MCJHS 7th grade classroom assistant; Kevin Sweat as day custodian at MCJSHS; and Andrew Shelby as MCJSHS principal. The board hired Brittany Downes as MCGS individual assistant.
WSJD File Photo: Amy Duckworth