After seven years with West Lafayette Community School Corp., Rocky Killion has been selected the 2015 superintendent of the year for District 4 by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents.
He is one of eight district winners. District 4 consists of Benton, Clay, Fountain, Greene, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo and Warren counties. Administrators from the surrounding counties consider the qualifications and accomplishments of area colleagues and their instructional leadership.
Killion also stood out because of his financial crisis resolution.
Killion assumed his role in 2007 after working as superintendent of Lake Central School Corp. At the time, the West Lafayette district had been in deficit spending. A reduction in state funding in 2009 added to the urgency.
With help from the West Lafayette Community Foundation, the district created the Save Our School campaign. The one-time fundraiser garnered $217,000 and saved five teaching positions. A general fund referendum was passed in May 2010.
The superintendents group noted that Killion also helped produce “Rise Above the Mark,” a documentary that examines issues confronting public education.
Killion has been published in a number of education journals and serves on several community boards and organizations.
“I hope I can continue to make a difference to ensure all children, regardless of where they live, have a world-class education system,” he said.