The principal of Memorial Park Middle School is stepping down this summer to take a new position as superintendent of a school district in western Indiana.
Brian Smith, 38, will assume his role as the new superintendent of North Newton Schools on July 1. He has been principal of Memorial Park for the past five years and was an administrative intern at the school for one year before that.
“I think it’ll be really exciting to be able to have a positive influence and effect in the children of an entire school district,” Smith said.
The Fort Wayne Community Schools board is scheduled to approve Smith’s resignation at Monday’s board meeting, spokeswoman Krista Stockman said.
“We’re sad to see him go, but this is a great opportunity for him, and we wish him all the best,” Stockman said.
Smith, who graduated from Northrop High School in 1989, has been an educator for 14 years, all with Fort Wayne schools. He started teaching at Lane Middle School and Kekionga Middle School, then moved into administration.
He obtained his superintendent’s license about 18 months ago and is finishing his doctorate at Ball State University.
One of his professors, who is on a university search team that helps Indiana school districts find superintendents, recommended Smith for the North Newton job.
North Newton serves more than 1,500 students in four schools in Morocco. Smith will move there with his wife, who teaches in Fort Wayne, and their two daughters, ages 11 and 7.
“Fort Wayne Community Schools has been wonderful to me both when I was a student and as a teacher and an administrator,” Smith said. “We’re leaving on a really good note, and Dr. Robinson has made it loud and clear if I need anything at all, to give her a call.”
