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Clark-Pleasant Superintendent Patrick Spray speaks at at Grassy Creek Elementary School in Greenwood on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. Spray was named as the next superintendent of Perry Township Schools in Marion County on Monday, March 22, 2023.
Clark-Pleasant Community SchoolsA Whiteland superintendent was chosen by the Perry Township Schools board to be the next district leader during a special meeting Monday.
Patrick Spray received unanimous support from the board to succeed Pat Mapes when he retires as superintendent this summer.
Spray has led Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation for nearly 10 years.
“Perry Township Schools has a great reputation as a premier school district and I am honored to have been selected as the next superintendent,” said Spray in a press release. “As I have told many of my kindergarten friends when I read to them, the superintendent's job is to be the ‘helper’ so that the most important people, our teachers, can do their jobs to teach students and help them grow as learners. I am excited to get to know the Perry team and serve this community of learners.”
Spray has 15 years of experience as superintendent and four additional years as an assistant superintendent. He led the small Mill Creek Community Schools in Clayton for five years before taking the reins at Clark-Pleasant.
As Perry’s new superintendent, Spray will take on multiple challenges as the district tries to address its bus driver shortage. In December, the school board unanimously voted to end school choice and eliminate 15-36 routes to ease the burden on bus drivers.
According to the district, the Perry Township school board conducted a nationwide search over a two-month period after superintendent Mapes announced his retirement last year. Emily Hartman, president of the Perry Township school board, said she is thrilled to welcome Spray to the district.
“His extensive work experience as a superintendent and decisive leadership skills made him a standout candidate and ultimately led to my vote of support,” Hartman said in a press release. “I am confident that the board is making the right choice and the district will continue to excel with Dr. Spray as superintendent.”
Spray will begin July 1 as the Perry Township superintendent.
Spray worked as a principal and assistant superintendent at Plainfield Community Schools. He received a PhD in school administration and supervision from Indiana State University.
Contact WFYI education reporter Elizabeth Gabriel at egabriel@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @_elizabethgabs.
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