(Indianapolis, IN) – Rob Moorhead, Superintendent of South Ripley Community School Corporation, has been selected by members of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS) as Indiana’s Superintendent of the Year for 2027.
Moorhead will represent Indiana in the national Superintendent of the Year competition, sponsored by The School Superintendents Association (AASA) in February.
Each year, IAPSS honors one superintendent whose leadership exemplifies excellence in public education. Selected from eight district honorees representing school corporations across Indiana, the Indiana Superintendent of the Year is chosen for outstanding leadership, a commitment to student success, educational innovation, community engagement, and service to the profession.
The selection was made by the IAPSS Distinguished Service Committee following a review of nomination materials submitted for each of the association’s eight district honorees.
Throughout his tenure at South Ripley Community School Corporation, Moorhead has fostered a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and student achievement. His leadership has expanded academic opportunities, strengthened innovative partnerships, and built systems that support students both inside and outside the classroom.
Moorhead’s leadership in establishing the Ripley County Alternative to Suspension Program (RCATS) created strong collaborative partnerships among local school districts, the judicial system, and community agencies that later made the Attend and Engage Program (AEP) possible. By bringing together the four Ripley County school districts and key community partners through RCATS, he helped build the trust and shared commitment that enabled AEP to be successfully developed and implemented. Since its launch, AEP has significantly improved student attendance, expanded countywide, and become a recognized model for collaborative student support.
Under Moorhead’s leadership, South Ripley has also earned national recognition for organizational excellence. In 2023, the district was named a Cognia District of Distinction, an honor awarded to only a select number of school systems worldwide for excellence in leadership, strategic planning, and continuous improvement.
Beyond his local district, Moorhead has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing public education across Indiana. He currently serves as the IAPSS Past President, where he has helped shape statewide initiatives by supporting school leaders and advocating for students.
“Rob exemplifies the very best of educational leadership,” said Dr. Jeff Butts, IAPSS Executive Director. “Throughout his career, and especially during his service as President of IAPSS, he has led with humility, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. He has a remarkable ability to bring people together, build consensus, and keep the focus where it belongs: on creating the very best opportunities for students and supporting the leaders who serve them. From strengthening professional learning for Indiana’s superintendents to guiding our association through a significant leadership transition, Rob’s vision and steady leadership have left a lasting impact on both IAPSS and public education across our state. There is no one more deserving of being named Indiana’s 2027 Superintendent of the Year.”
In celebration of the recognition, Andy Comer, President of the South Ripley School Board of Trustees, said, “On behalf of the South Ripley Board of School Trustees, I am thrilled to congratulate Mr. Rob Moorhead on being named the 2027 Indiana Superintendent of the Year. This honor reflects the exceptional leadership he has provided to our schools and community. Rob has built a culture where students come first, our staff members feel valued and supported, and strong partnerships with families and the Versailles community continue to flourish. His vision, accessibility, and unwavering commitment to doing what is best for children have strengthened South Ripley in countless ways. We are proud to call him our superintendent and couldn’t be happier to see him receive this well-deserved recognition.”
Reflecting on the honor, Moorhead said, “I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected as Indiana Superintendent of the Year. This recognition truly reflects the incredible work taking place every day in South Ripley Community Schools. Our dedicated teachers, staff, administrators, students, Board of School Trustees, and supportive community partners have created a culture where students can thrive, and I am grateful to work alongside them. I am also proud to shine a positive light on IAPSS District VIII, where I am surrounded by exceptional colleagues who are deeply committed to serving their schools and communities. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve in leadership roles through IAPSS, where I have been privileged to advocate for public education and the outstanding educators who make a difference in the lives of Indiana’s students. I congratulate each of the district winners, and I look forward to representing Indiana in the AASA National Superintendent of the Year program and sharing the great work taking place in public schools across our state.”
Moorhead was selected from an outstanding group of district honorees representing each of IAPSS’s eight geographic districts. These district honorees then advance to the statewide selection process, where one leader is selected to represent Indiana as the Indiana Superintendent of the Year.
The 2026-2027 District Superintendents of the Year are:
- District I: Dr. Jeff Brooks, MSD of Boone Township (Hebron Schools)
- District II: Dr. Scot Croner, Wa Nee Community Schools
- District III: Dr. James Hanna, Rossville Consolidated School District
- District IV: Dr. Jake Allen, Mooresville Schools
- District V: Dr. Scott Wyndham, Avon Community Schools
- District VI: Dr. Greg Kile, Delaware Community School Corporation
- District VII: Mr. Greg Parsley, Vincennes Community School Corporation
- District VIII: Mr. Rob Moorhead, South Ripley Community School Corporation
As Indiana’s 2027 Superintendent of the Year, Moorhead will represent the state in the AASA National Superintendent of the Year program, which recognizes exceptional school system leaders from across the country for their leadership, vision, and commitment to improving the lives of students.
Rob Moorhead is in his 15th year serving as the superintendent of the South Ripley Community School Corporation in Versailles. Moorhead also currently serves as the Past President of IAPSS and as a mentor and facilitator in the Indiana Aspiring Superintendent Academy and the IAPSS New Superintendent Academy. He also serves as an Executive Coach in the IAPSS ExCo program.
In addition to his school duties, Moorhead enjoys broadcasting high school football and basketball games for WRBI Radio, the ISC Sports Network, and the IHSAA Champions Radio Network.
Rob is a member of the Aurora First United Methodist Church and serves on the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Board of Directors.
Rob has been married to his wife, Lisa, for 36 years. She currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Student Services at Ivy Tech Community College’s Lawrenceburg and Batesville campuses.
The couple has two sons: Brad, age 32, a health teacher and head boys’ basketball coach at South Dearborn High School, and Trent, age 30, a high school math teacher and head boys’ basketball coach at Center Grove Community Schools.
They have three young grandchildren, Miller, Margot, and Juliette.
Rob and Lisa Moorhead reside in Aurora.
(Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents press release)
