Three Jackson County school administrators have been recognized for leadership and achievement in education and overall impact they have made in their schools.

Doug McClure, former principal at Seymour Middle School, was named middle school principal of the year. Kate DuBois, vice principal at Seymour High School, was selected as vice principal of the year. Joe Sheffer, principal at Brownstown Central High School, was named high school principal of the year.

All were honored in District 9 by the Indiana Association of School Principals. The district covers Jackson, Lawrence, Bartholomew, Brown, Monroe, Johnson and Morgan counties.

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The distinction puts them in the running for the statewide administrators of the year awards presented in November.

To be chosen to represent the district, principals and vice principals must have three years’ experience and must be nominated by a fellow administrator or a teacher.

“It is very humbling,” McClure said. “Being nominated is an honor in and of itself. Being selected — a blessing.”

This was his first time to be nominated for the distinction, he said.

McClure was nominated by Seymour-Redding Elementary School Principal Dylan Purlee, who expressed his regard for the vision McClure and staff have implemented at the middle school.

“There are many fine administrators doing excellent work across the corporation and the district,” McClure said. “I’d like to believe that I am considered to be one of those principals who makes an honest effort to do the right things for students.”

He learned he was selected for the honor before announcing his departure from SMS in the spring to become principal of Brownstown Central Middle School this fall.

“The timing does make my tenure with Seymour even more bittersweet,” he said.

He was principal at SMS for six years and before that served as assistant principal at Seymour High School for 10 years.

“My decision to leave SHS in 2009 was one of personal faith,” he said. “It wasn’t so much that I wanted to become a school principal as much as I wanted to become an influencer.”

McClure said his accomplishments at the middle school were a team effort and that everyone who works there deserves recognition.

“From the teaching staff, to the administrative staff, the instructional assistants, custodians, cooks and administrative assistants, we embraced our school mission,” he said. “We were willing to ask the difficult questions and committed to our school improvement together. My selection is a tribute to everyone at SMS.”

DeBois had similar sentiments in receiving the recognition.

“I am proud of the accomplishments of our students and teachers over these past few years,” she said. “This is as much an honor for them as it is for me.”

This also was her first time to be honored. She was nominated by SHS teachers.

DuBois has had much success working with teachers to develop and strengthen curriculum and programs for all students. The high school has added to its life skills program for special needs students, including an adaptive physical education class, a heritage language class to assist students with limited English proficiency, expanded agriculture opportunities and 1:1 technology.

She is in her fourth year as assistant principal. She also has served as interim principal at Seymour-Redding Elementary. She began her career with Seymour Community Schools as a school counselor in 2006.

“Curriculum and instruction and educational programs are my greatest passion,” she said. “I am honored to be a part of developing programs and supports for students to best meet their potential and grow as individuals.”

Sheffer said receiving the honor just means he has a good teaching staff and a lot of good students.

It was his first time to be recognized too. He has served as principal of BCHS for 11 years and was assistant principal for four years.

He credits the school’s academic and athletic achievements for making him successful at his job.

“Our school has been an A school for the past three years, and we have been named a Four Star School by the state too, which is rare for a public high school,” he said. “I think those accomplishments factor into it.”

He added, “Our school grade and test scores are always some of the highest in the county, and we continue to develop opportunities for our students,” he said. “We just have a good situation going here at Brownstown.”

Although he was happy as a teacher, Sheffer said, he was encouraged by his colleagues to go into administration.

“They all would say, ‘We think you’d be a good administrator,’” Sheffer said. “So I took their advice and haven’t regretted the decision since.”