Bateville Schools name new superintendent

(BATESVILLE, Ind.) – Batesville Schools has named a New Palestine administrator as their next superintendent. 

Katy Eastes has been with New Palestine for 27 years in roles ranging from teacher to her current position as assistant superintendent.

She has led numerous initiatives including technology integration, professional learning communities and a special education parent advisory council. 

Eastes will replace Paul Ketcham who became the Assistant Secretary of Education for the State of Indiana earlier this month.

She was chosen after multiple rounds of interviews as well as meeting with a team of school administrators and staff. 

The school board had a public survey to gain community feedback as they went through the hiring process. 

The feedback they received showed the community favored a candidate with communication and relationship-building skills, strategic planning experience, instructional leadership expertise, and the ability to understand Batesville’s school and community culture. The school board said Eastes checked all the boxes. 

“As we interviewed candidates, she impressed us from the very beginning, not only with her

experience in the areas we were focusing on but with the research she had done about our schools,” shared BCSC Board of Trustees President Stephanie Davidson.

Eastes and her husband will relocate to Batesville and she is expected to begin the new role in February. 

Her immediate goals include developing a strong relationship with the school board, engaging all school staff, establishing a presence in the Batesville community by participating in local and school events, and evaluating key systems to be fully informed about the current status and goals in each area

“I’m thrilled to have been selected as the next Superintendent of the Batesville Community School Corporation,” Eastes commented. “This is a school district that embraces innovation while honoring tradition. I’ve had my eye on Batesville for a long time.”

Former Milan superintendent Jane Rodgers is currently leading Batesville Schools on an interim basis. 

The official decision to hire Eastes is pending a public hearing scheduled for January 26.