Every Panther, Every Day - Connected | Challenged | Celebrated
March 13, 2026
We Grow Panthers Spotlight
Our district had reason to celebrate at a truly historic event. The OrthoIndy Foundation YMCA Monster Meeting — a forum with over a century of history that has welcomed nationally recognized leaders to Indianapolis, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — welcomed Panther representation in a remarkable way. This year's featured speaker, Gabby Thomas, is an Olympian, Harvard graduate, and public health advocate. Known worldwide for her athletic achievements, Thomas spoke openly about leadership, resilience, navigating pressure, and mental health, sparking a conversation that resonated with our students. The Monster Meeting Series is a shared community experience welcoming students, families, educators, and community members to engage in meaningful dialogue together.
Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, Dr. Nataki Pettigrew, brought greetings at the event, followed by our very own North Central students taking center stage on the program. Two NC seniors represented Washington Township with pride and distinction! Gabby Moore delivered the welcome and invocation before a packed, distinguished audience. Mikeicha Joseph served as student facilitator, personally interviewing Gabby Thomas on stage. Mikeicha was also awarded an academic scholarship at the event.
We are proud of our educators leading with excellence and our students stepping into spaces that matter and leading the way as leaders in our community. #We Grow Panthers
Strategic Plan Progress Survey
Washington Township Families and Staff,
As we near the completion of Year 1 of our District Strategic Plan, we are taking an intentional pause to reflect, assess our progress, and ensure our Year 2 efforts are coordinated, focused, and impactful.
To support this important work, we are partnering with Education Elements to administer the Data Triangle Survey. This survey is an opportunity for us to take the pulse on how implementation is progressing across our schools and District, and to better understand where our strategic priorities are gaining traction and where we may need to adjust, refine, or strengthen our approach.
At Washington Township, we deeply value the voices of our staff and families. The Data Triangle Survey is designed to capture multiple perspectives in a meaningful and streamlined way. The survey will gather feedback across four key areas aligned to our Strategic Plan:
Instructional Support and Feedback
Student Learning and Engagement
School Culture and Safety
Student Experience and Well-Being
In addition, this year’s survey will include questions designed to gather input on the future utilization of eLearning Days in Washington Township. As we continue to evaluate instructional models and operational practices, your feedback will help inform how eLearning Days are structured and implemented moving forward. The survey results will provide both quantitative and qualitative data that will help us better understand how our initiatives are being experienced in practice. As district and school leaders, we are committed to using this feedback to:
Celebrate and build upon areas of strength
Identify opportunities for growth
Ensure stronger alignment and coordination of Year 2 implementation efforts
Refine district and school-level action plans in support of student success
Inform future decisions regarding instructional delivery models, including eLearning Days
Your voice is essential. The insights you share will directly inform how we prioritize resources, support our schools, and execute the next phase of our Strategic Plan. The Data Triangle Survey will be open March 16–27, and you will be receiving a link to the survey in the coming days.
Your Privacy Matters
We want to assure you that the survey prioritizes anonymity for all participants. Participants will receive general survey links that will not be tied to any identifying participant information. The feedback will be used solely to guide continuous improvement and strategic planning for District and School Leadership.
Thank you for your continued partnership and your commitment to ensuring an exceptional educational experience for every student in Washington Township. We look forward to learning from you as we prepare for a strong and successful Year 2 of executing our District Strategic Plan.
Great North Run Tomorrow!
Are YOU ready? Check out this video to see how Superintendent Dr. Taylor and other members of the team are getting ready for the Great North Run TOMORROW! Registration prices go up tomorrow (day-of-event), so register now at this link: https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Indianapolis/GreatNorthRun Whether you’re chasing a personal best in the 5K, making memories on the Family Fun Run 1K, or just joining in the free activities inside the Fieldhouse at Pantherpalooza, we want to see you there! A portion of every registration goes to the WT school of your choice.
Enrollment Update
In-district Limited Choice and Nonresident applications for the 2026-2027 school year are now available on our website. Families interested in exploring these options are encouraged to learn more and submit their application online.
Applications will be accepted through March 27
Visit https://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/enroll
for details and to apply.
As a reminder, currently attending fifth grade, In-district Limited Choice and Nonresident students must apply for sixth grade placement. Additionally, currently attending eighth grade, nonresident students must apply for placement at North Central.
Career & College Readiness
Postsecondary Education Planning & 529 College Savings Plan Info Night: VIRTUAL EVENT
As a part of our PreK-12 Career & College Readiness continuum, we will be hosting another information night for all WTS families on April 13 at 7:00, and this offering will be on Zoom. Our goal is to help families better understand how they can prepare early for their child’s post-secondary plans. Topics will include choosing career paths, managing costs, setting up 529 College Savings Plans, and more. Please share this flyer to help us spread the word to all elementary and middle school families in your family newsletters leading up to April 13.
Northview Middle School Selected as Finalist
The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) announced this week that Northview Middle School in Washington Township, Indiana, has been awarded $10,000 for its selection as an NIET Founder’s Award finalist. The prestigious Founder’s Award was created by Lowell Milken in 2008 to honor one school in the United States each year for exceptional implementation of NIET’s principles to build educator excellence and advance student success.
Founder’s Award finalists are selected 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.
After strengthening the Instructional Leadership Team, Northview Middle School now 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 exemplifies what is possible when a school’s Instructional Leadership Team commits to meeting weekly to focus on instruction and student outcomes,” said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “This dedication has spread across the campus, with teachers strengthening their instruction to help students succeed.”
“Our partnership with NIET allowed us to reshape our ILT, moving from a group that previously met weekly to discuss building-wide logistics to a team that put instruction and student outcomes as the focus of our work,” said Principal Tom Hakim. “NIET helps us put up the guard rails so that we stay focused on instruction.”
As Northview Middle School experiences increased student achievement, teachers feel motivated and encouraged to continue refining their instructional skills, further solidifying the school’s positive learning environment. “With NIET, we are not just focusing on the standardized-tested subjects and teachers,” said Hakim. “All our teachers are involved with the idea that if we all level up, then the rising tide lifts all ships. Our students and families are starting to see that and are helping us create a culture of high achievement.”
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,
Vist Your Local Library
As you look ahead to Spring Break, remember that our local public libraries are a great resource not only for accessing books but also for engaging programming. Check out The Indianapolis Public Library website for more information about read-alouds, chess events, Lego building, family game nights, and much more.
