Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 17 February 2000 — Page 12

The Muncie Times, Febuary 17, 2000, page 12

Making a Difference

Indy woman becomes Central’s assistant principal

Central High School principal Richard Daniels said that he was looking for an individual with three main characteristics, they must have the ability to keep their cool, they must be extremely organized and they must have the ability to lead. “They must be even tempered. . .,” said Daniels. “. . .Because they deal with discipline issues with kids who may be angry or out of sorts and they deal with parents and teachers. Those are the three main ones that I look for and that’s what I saw in Dilynn Phelps.” Central received that when they hired Dilynn V. Phelps of Indianapolis as one of their assistant principals, replacing Pamela Harrell who left the position at her own requested to return to teaching in the Muncie Community Schools. Originally from Michigan City, Indiana and a graduate of Elston

High School, Phelps’ desire was to become a schoolteacher from her youth. But as she taught high school, she was asked to fill in as dean of students and that’s where she gained an interest in administration of the school system. She had received her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in special education, grades kindergarten through 12 and her master’s degree from Butler University in supervision and instruction, but because of her job performance as acting dean of students and her interest in administrative work, Phelps was recommended to a program that prepared candidates for the position of school principal. As far as for her credentials, it speaks for itself. “I’ve been a principal of Douglas and Harshman Middle Schools in

DiLynn Phelps is the assistant principal at Central High school

Indianapolis and a Title One parental involvement district supervisor,” said Phelps. “I’ve also been a special education department head of a high school and dean of students, both in

Indianapolis. I taught school for 12 years in Indianapolis and I’ve been an administrator for a total of nine years. I’ve met a lot more students and parents, and was recommended for the two-year Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals (EPPSP).” Phelhs said that she began to see how she could make a difference in the lives of the students as principal rather than a teacher. She saw how she could be in contact with more students. She said that neither job, (principal nor teacher) is more important than the other is, it’s just a different responsibility. This is Phelps first year at Central as assistant principal. “I had planned to go back to get my doctoral degree and decided to attend Ball State University for a PHELPS SEE PAGE 14

School Board promotes Moore to Garfield job

In August of last year, Dea Moore was hired as assistant principal of Garfield Elementary School. As a graduate of Southside High School, Moore’s dream of becoming a school teacher became a reality after graduating from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in administration supervision. “Growing up, I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” Moore said. “I always played school.. .even though I was the youngest, I’d always make my sister be the student and I’d be the teacher.” While working toward her bachelor’s degree, Moore worked at United Day Care for three years as a teacher. Once she completed her degree, she began her teaching career at Washington Carver Elementary School where she taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades for eight years before accepting her first administrative position as assistant principal at Garfield Elementary School. President of the Muncie Community School Board Carl

Dea L. Moore is the assistant pricipal of Garfield Elementary School Kizer, Jr., said that Garfield has a very high percentage of minorities who were very comfortable with Mrs. Faulkner and he wanted to keep the relationship with the minority community that Faulkner had established intact. Moore now handles more than 380 students per day as well as helping to service the staff. “It was my recommendation that we have

another minority at Garfield to help continue the relationship with the minority community that Mrs. Faulkner had established,” said Kizer. Moore said that her responsibilities as a principal are much different than that of a schoolteacher. She said that her days are longer, there are different challenges and new experiences each day. When not in the classroom, Moore’s involved with such organizations as Eastern Star, Martin Luther King Jr., planning committee and the education awareness committee for the Muncie Homecoming and Back To Muncie. She was also a member of the CM Poetry Club where she participated in a stage play and she is an active member of Union Missionary Baptist Church. Moore describes herself as energetic, determined, Christian, a mom, and flexible. She said that when she set her mind on doing something, she’d follow through until she reaches that goal. She was most influenced by her

mother and grandmother, as well as academic challenges set before her by her father. Her grand-mother influenced her on the level of spirituality. Moore has a lot of motivators in life. She’s impelled by her children, her goals and dreams, her determination to follow through once she’s set her mind to doing something, the support she receives from her family and friends and her desire to give back to society and wanting to help in bringing about positive changes. Moore’s advice to youth is to “do their personal best and to follow through.” She said that young people should set their goals high and devise a plan as to how they are going to reach those goals and to persevere. In her spare time, she likes to read and walk. Spending time with her family and reading to her children is a delight for Moore. “I like collecting and making baskets,” said Moore. “I just started collecting antiques.” Moore has two children, Ashley, 13 and Gary, Jr., age 6.