(Batesville, IN) – After nine years of dedicated service as Superintendent of the Batesville Community School Corporation (BCSC), Paul Ketcham has announced his departure to accept the position of Assistant Secretary of Education for the State of Indiana.
Ketcham, recently honored as the 2025 Indiana Superintendent of the Year, has led BCSC through a period of remarkable growth, innovation, and community collaboration. Under his leadership, the district launched the Bulldog Ready initiative, expanded early literacy programs, strengthened partnerships with local industry and higher education, and received both state and national recognition for academic excellence.
“Serving the students, staff, and families of Batesville has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Ketcham. “This community embodies what is best about public education—collaboration, compassion, and an unwavering belief in our kids. While this next chapter is bittersweet, I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Hoosier students in a new capacity.”
Ketcham will join Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana’s first Secretary of Education, who was recently selected as the next Commissioner for Higher Education by a unanimous vote of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. As one of eight cabinet-level secretaries in Governor Mike Braun’s administration, Dr. Jenner oversees eight state agencies and boards—representing approximately 60% of the state budget, or about $26 billion over the biennium—including the Indiana Department of Education, State Board of Education, Commission for Higher Education, and several specialized schools and boards.
In his new role, Ketcham will assist Dr. Jenner in advancing the state’s strategic priorities for K–12 and higher education, ensuring that Indiana students are prepared for lifelong success.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the BCSC Board of Education, our staff, families, and the entire Batesville community for their unwavering support and trust,” Ketcham added. “Together, we have built something truly special—a district where students thrive, educators are valued, and community partnerships flourish. I will forever be proud to call myself a Bulldog and will always carry the spirit of One Team, One Mission into every chapter that follows.”
Ketcham begins his new role on January 5, 2026.
(Batesville Community School Corporation press release)
