MSD Washington Township

At our May 13 Board of Education meeting, the School Board and community heard Dr. Taylor and district leadership report on the current status of our operating referendum, as well as recent legislative impact on school funding and eight-year budget forecasting. 

The 2026 Operating Referendum Renewal represents a critical investment in the future of our students, our schools, and our community. Recent legislative changes under SEA 1 will reduce our Operations Fund revenue through both decreased property tax collections and increased sharing with charter schools. At the same time, the cost of operating our schools continues to rise. Together, these financial pressures place our essential programs, services, and staffing at risk.

This referendum is not about expanding programs or constructing new buildings; it is about sticking to our commitments and continuing to see results as we preserve high-quality, comprehensive education for our students in strong schools within a supportive community for years to come.

Our district has worked strategically and responsibly to manage our finances. We have controlled costs, embedded energy efficiencies and savings throughout our construction projects, winning back-to-back AES Business Energy Efficiency Awards in 2023 and 2024 for the significant reduction in energy consumption, and made thoughtful, student-centered financial decisions. However, without the support of this referendum, we will be forced to make reductions that will impact staffing levels, mental health supports, and academic programming offered to our students.

We encourage every member of our community to stay informed. Explore the board presentation linked below, watch our board meetings, and ask questions. Your voice matters, and your vote in November will matter. 

Together, we grow Panthers. Link to Board Presentation Slide Deck |  Link to Board Presentation Audio File

Early in May the Social Studies Department at North Central High School completed the 20th annual Living History Day (LHD) program. LHD pairs veteran volunteers from various wars, conflicts, and services with sophomore US History students. Veterans set up uniforms, maps, memorability, books, letters, and pictures to share as students rotate to different stations to hear about the experiences and stories from the veterans. North Central students have consistently provided feedback that this is their favorite day of the school year, and we are proud that this annual event regularly includes over 50 veterans, representing a variety of experiences and services to our country. Thank you to our community’s veterans who spent time with our students at Living History Day 2026 and thank you to all those who have served.

It was great seeing so many friends, neighbors and community members out at the polls for the primary on May 5. Washington Township Schools was proud to have district representatives at several polling locations to promote Kindergarten registration and highlights from our academic year. Some of those highlights can be seen below as we continue to grow panthers in Washington Township.

For the second consecutive year, Adelyn Flessner, senior at North Central High School, claimed the state championship in diving, this time with an impressive 529.30 points—an improvement from her winning score of 441.80 last year.

In a feature by The Current North Side, Flessner reflected on the mindset shift that fueled her repeat victory. “I really worked on just being confident and knowing I belonged in the spot I was in,” she said. “Last year, I was really nervous. And this year, I was just having a lot of fun, and it was a great experience.”

Flessner’s approach—competing against herself while embracing the joy of the sport—has made her success look effortless, even as it reflects years of dedication and hard work.

Next season, you will find Flessner diving for the University of Iowa.
#WeGrowPanters

New Orleans, La. (April 1, 2026) - The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) announced today that Northview Middle School in Metropolitan School District of Washington Township, Indiana, is the recipient of the 2026 NIET Founder’s Award and its $50,000 grand prize. NIET Founder Lowell Milken surprised the school during the 2026 NIET National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Created by Lowell Milken in 2008, the Founder’s Award honors one school in the United States each year for exceptional implementation of NIET’s principles to build educator excellence and advance student success. Northview Middle School was just one of five schools nationwide selected as finalists for the $50,000 grand prize. Founder’s Award recipients are chosen by NIET based on several factors, including improving classroom instruction, creating high-quality professional learning focused on the real-time needs of teachers and students, and engaging teacher leaders and school leaders in building a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

“We are pleased to present Northview Middle School with the 2026 NIET Founder’s Award,” said NIET Founder Lowell Milken. “Principal Thomas Hakim, Superintendent Dr. Sean Taylor, and staff and students have demonstrated outstanding academic gains by strengthening instruction and building a nurturing environment for all.”

With help from NIET best practices, Northview Middle School provides teachers with tailored professional learning and support that ultimately moves the needle for students. From 2023 to 2025, the percentage of Northview Middle School students scoring Proficient on state assessments increased 22 points in math and 11 points in English Language Arts (ELA). The proficiency rate statewide increased by only one point in math and decreased in ELA during the same time period. 

“Northview Middle School has made building the instructional skills of its staff the foundation of its focus on continuous improvement,” said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “Teachers are strengthening their instruction and refining practices to meet student needs across grades and subjects. As a result, students are thriving. Congratulations to the Northview Middle School team on this achievement.”

What Makes Northview Middle School Unique? 

Northview Middle School is located on the north side of Indianapolis, Indiana. The school educates approximately 1,000 students in grades sixth through eighth, with almost half qualifying for free/reduced-price lunch. Principal Hakim and his leadership team focus on strengthening instruction, building educator capacity, and creating a positive learning environment for teachers and students. 

Northview Middle School, in partnership with NIET, has refined the strategies and practices used by the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT). ILT members now field test and model instructional strategies for teachers in classrooms. This has transformed professional learning on campus as teachers see instructional strategies in action rather than hearing them described in a meeting. These “lab classrooms” help teachers feel more confident in using new instructional strategies to meet needs identified in student data, and are part of an ongoing coaching cycle between teachers and ILT members. 

The support and coaching provided by ILT members have led to increased teacher retention at Northview Middle School, with the school achieving the lowest staff turnover rate in nearly a decade. The school is gaining a positive reputation in the district and across the region as a campus that values, supports, and elevates staff. Educators and families are choosing Northview Middle School, as indicated by the 22% increase in student enrollment last year. 

“Though the work is never done and constantly evolving, our results in recent years speak for themselves,” said Hakim. “Continuously increasing student achievement, coupled with record enrollment and family engagement, shows a school that is focused on the right work.” 

With NIET’s best practices in place, Northview Middle School increased student achievement across all tested subject areas and grades over the last two years. Not only did scores increase in math and ELA between 2023 and 2025, but the school has also seen an impressive 14 point increase in the percentage of students scoring Proficient on science state assessments. 

“I was convinced that partnering with NIET was the lever we needed to move our school, said Hakim. “Not only does our student achievement data continue to grow, but the interest of more and more staff members to become instructional leaders in the building has also grown. Being able to develop the instructional capacity of our staff is a home run.”

Northview Middle School was selected among five finalists throughout the U.S., with each receiving $10,000. The other finalists were Horizon Honors Elementary School (Horizon Honors Schools, Arizona); Marthaville Elementary & Junior High School (Natchitoches Parish School Board, Louisiana); Riverwalk Academy (South Carolina Public Charter School District, South Carolina); and Sorrento Primary School (Ascension Public Schools, Louisiana). 

#NIET2026.

About NIET

The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) is a national nonprofit based in Arizona that serves states and districts nationwide. For 25 years, NIET has partnered with schools, districts, states, and universities to build educator excellence and give all students the opportunity for success. NIET’s initiatives, including the TAP System, teacher and leader development, school improvement, rubric and observation systems, and educator preparation, have impacted more than 350,000 educators and 3.5 million students across the U.S.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 12, 2025) - Ms. Krystal Stallings-Morrisey was recently approved by the WT School Board to become the next Principal of Greenbriar Elementary School after a comprehensive hiring process involving broad-based stakeholder input. Her transition will take place in the coming weeks with an official start date of January 5, 2026.

We are excited for Ms. Krystal Stallings-Morrissey to serve as principal at Greenbriar Elementary School. She brings a wealth of high-quality leadership experience at multiple levels, a deep commitment to our District’s mission and vision, and an exceptional desire to foster success in every student. We look forward to her joining and leading the Greenbriar community.   

Ms. Stallings-Morrisey brings extensive leadership experience to Greenbriar Elementary, most recently serving as Assistant Principal at North Central High School since July 2022. In this role, she has demonstrated exceptional instructional leadership while supervising over 200 staff members and serving more than 3,700 students. Her accomplishments include implementing comprehensive student support systems, leading Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) initiatives, and establishing community partnerships that provided critical resources to thousands of families.

Ms. Stallings-Morrisey previously served as Assistant Principal at Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School, where she led the implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS), oversaw special education services, and developed strong community partnerships to support families and students. Her commitment to professional growth is evident through her active participation in leadership development, including NIET, NABSE and OABSE, and the Innovative Summit.

Ms. Stallings-Morrisey holds a Certification in Administration from Ball State University (2017), a Master of Arts in Special Education Teaching from Campbellsville University (2012), and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Butler University (2007). She is certified as an Administrator and holds Instructional P-12 Mild Intervention certification.

“It’s an honor to be named as the next principal at Greenbriar Elementary. I am incredibly excited to serve the Grizzly community and partner with the dedicated staff and families to continue to build a culture of belonging, excellence, and growth”.

Please join us in extending a warm Greenbriar welcome to Principal Krystal Stallings-Morrisey.

We understand that the uncertainty around SNAP benefits will create challenges for many families and we want to offer support during this time. Here is a list of community supports that may benefit your family. Washington Township School Social Workers connect families to school and community resources. Please reach out to your school social worker if you have questions, need support or want to know how you can help. 

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Click the “More Info” button at the bottom to open the Fall 2025 Newsletter.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Carmel and Center Grove Returning to MIC in 2026-27: Resetting the Standard of Excellence

INDIANAPOLIS – The Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC) announced today that Carmel High School and Center Grove High School back into the conference beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

The MIC was formed in 1996-97 to provide a model for interscholastic excellence across academics, athletics, fine arts, and leadership. Nearly three decades later, the conference remains the winningest in Indiana, with the most state championships of any conference, a long history of nationally ranked teams, and facilities that rival the best in the country. MIC student-athletes also lead the state in earning opportunities at the next level, securing millions in academic and athletic scholarships each year.

Most recently, while competing with only six high schools—Ben Davis, Lawrence Central, Lawrence North, North Central, Pike, and Warren Central—MIC schools earned eight state titles across the past four academic years. Outside of Brownsburg, the MIC has also claimed every IHSAA 6A football championship. Collectively, member schools serve more than 100,000 students and represent the most diverse conference in the state, continuing to provide the very best in public education.

In a statement, Carmel administrators said, “Together, we can share expertise, expand leadership opportunities for students and staff, and build collaborative initiatives that benefit every community.” Center Grove administration added, “We believe in the power of a conference that reflects and uplifts the full range of student experiences—academic excellence, the arts, and collaboration among member schools.”
Following discussions throughout the 2024-25 school year and a formal request to rejoin, the two schools and the current MIC members reached an agreement to move forward together. With this decision, the MIC will again include eight high schools.

“The MIC has always been defined by strong competition and shared expectations,” the principals said in a joint statement. “This decision positions the conference to move forward with clarity and purpose as we enter our 30th year.”

The 2025-2026 school calendar has been updated to reflect an early release day for high school and middle school students on the final student day (May 21, 2026). The high school will release at 1:25 pm and the middle schools will release at 3:25 pm. The updated calendar can be found on the Calendar page.