Veteran teacher earns first administrative role as new Principal at Morristown Junior-Senior High School

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MORRISTOWN – After nearly two decades as a teacher, Andrew Shores steps into an administrative role as the new Principal of Morristown Junior-Senior High School.

“It will be different not having a classroom full of students,” admitted Shores. “I will miss that. There is no doubt about that.

“I love teaching. I am hoping to bring that connection to the staff. I think knowing the scope is just different. I am learning a ton of stuff right now. I am trying to figure out all the different things that are a part of the role. That’s a big part of what’s been going on.”

Shores official first day was July 1 but he has been around the building  since late June preparing for the transition, including assisting in the hiring of new Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Dan Theobald.

“It will be a change for the staff,” said Shores of having two new administrators in the building. “I know (the teachers) have to be a little nervous with the whole switch at the top. I have been meeting with a lot of them already. Hopefully, I will get to meet with the rest of them. We’ve been having 1-on-1 meetings so I can get to know everybody and it helps me know what they need.”

https://shelbycountypost.com/local-news/696012/theobald-hired-as-new-morristown-assistant-principal-and-athletic-director

The Illinois native migrated east to Indiana out of high school to attend Anderson University.

“It was just the right distance from home, a small Christian school and it seemed like a good fit in a lot of different ways,” said Shores.

Anderson assigned him to the Eastern Hancock school system for his student-teaching assignment. While there, the teacher he worked with mentioned retirement was in his near future.

Shores started his teaching career at Indianapolis Bishop Chatard before getting a call that his student-teaching mentor was indeed retiring and his job was available.

Shores spent 19 years at Eastern Hancock High School teaching Calculus, Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry, and Algebra II.

“About five years ago, the principal who had been at Eastern Hancock the whole time I was teaching announced his retirement,” said Shores. That got me thinking. I’ve been spoiled here with leadership. I liked and respected the principal. I started thinking about leadership in general and then I started the leadership program through Ball State (University).

“I finished that and here I am. I ended up here because it’s a small school in the area. I love the idea of a student body where I can know every kid. At Eastern Hancock, I knew every high school (student) pretty much and pretty much every high school and middle school student by face, if not by name. Knowing every kid is a big part of why I ended up here.”

Shores is currently working to fill the final staffing needs at the school, including finding Theobald’s replacement in the Social Studies department. The first “official” day of school is Aug. 10.

“I intend to be right out in front greeting the kids and meeting everybody,” he said of his first day plans. “I’ve already met a few kids here and there. I intend to be out and about those first couple of days to make sure things go smoothly.”

Former Morristown principal Jeremy Powers accepted the principal position at Benjamin Rush Middle School in Rushville and former athletic director/assistant principal Collin McCartt accepted an administrative position at Rushville High School.

Those moves opened up the opportunity for Shores to grow into a new role.

“I hope to mostly bring some stability and support for what (teachers) need to be doing in the classroom,” he said. “I am a big fan of teachers and the work they do. I know its hard work. I want to do everything I can to offer them the support they need so that they have the tools they need for success and the students are set up for success.

“I don’t have any huge initiatives I’m bringing right away. I want to get to know everybody and see where they are at and where we need to go from there. I am kind of in an evaluation stage right now and see what needs to happen.”

Shores and his wife, Kelly, a marriage and family therapy counselor in Fortville, have two children; Amelia, 13, and Asher, 11.

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