Graduation and career coaches begin work in area schools

Clockwise, from left to right: Stephanie Stoll, Terry Hollis, Karen Barry, Justin Lowry, Patty Goldman, Melanie Humbard, and Trudy Shaw, Ivy Tech Bloomington Director of Secondary Initiatives

On August 22, 2016, four new graduation and career coaches began work with high school and middle school students in Bloomfield School District, Crawford County Community Schools, Loogootee Community Schools, Salem Community Schools, and Spencer-Owen Community Schools. These coaches complement two existing coaches in Monroe County Community School Corporation and Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation that are partially funded by the Franklin Initiative. The graduation and career coach program is an initiative aimed at improving graduation rates and increasing the number of students pursuing post-secondary education. The project is a partnership between Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. (ROI), Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington, and The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County.

Melanie Humbard  – Bloomington High School North and Bloomington High School South
Melanie is starting her sixth school year in this role, and prior to becoming a Coach, she was a Juvenile Probation Officer in Monroe County working with the Truancy caseload.

Patricia Goldman – Edgewood High School and Bloomington High School South
Patricia and her husband moved to Bloomington in 1990 and have raised all three of their children here. In 2008, Patricia was hired by The Bloomington Chamber of Commerce to work as a Graduation Coach at Edgewood High School. In the fall of 2014 she began working in the same capacity at Bloomington High School South and is currently splitting her time between the two schools.

Stephanie Stoll – Bloomfield Jr./Sr High School and Loogootee High School
Stephanie graduated from Loogootee High School in 2006, her father was also a teacher at Loogootee for many years, and she has preceding relationships with those in the school and community.

Terry Hollis – Crawford County High School
Terry is a lifelong resident of Crawford County and has taught in the school system for the past 31 years. His grandchildren are the fifth generation to go through the Crawford County school system.

Karen Barry – Salem High School
Karen graduated from Salem High School in 1987 and came back to work in the Student Services Department in January of 1998. She spent 15 years working in the Student Services Department before moving to the main office as Administrative Assistant to the Principal. She has two children that graduated from Salem High School as well. She is proud to not only say that she is a graduate of Salem High School, but also a long-term member of a pretty outstanding team.

Justin Lowry – Owen Valley High School
Justin has lived in Spencer for a little over four years, and prior to this position he was the Health/PE/Anatomy/Advanced Biology teacher at Owen Valley High School. He also coaches freshmen basketball and is an assistant on the baseball team at the high school.