South principal leaving for United Way

By Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE May 07, 2008 10:27 pm

— Troy Fears, principal at Terre Haute South Vigo High School, soon will leave the job to take on a new role in the community.
He has been hired as the next executive director for United Way of the Wabash Valley. Fears will begin transitioning into his new position on June 16 and will assume the position in full on June 23.
The search committee interviewed many capable candidates, said Nick Mahurin, president of the United Way board of directors. “Troy Fears was their recommendation, and I am pleased to report that the board ratified the choice and he has enthusiastically accepted our offer.”
Sally Zuel, search committee chairwoman, said United Way is excited to have Fears as the new executive director. “His wealth of experience, leadership and dedication to the community will prove invaluable in the future,” she said.
Fears, 37, said he got into the field of education 12 years ago to help kids. Serving as United Way’s executive director “is another opportunity to help kids and families in our community,” he said.
Fears said he’s enjoyed his time in the Vigo County School Corp. and at Terre Haute South. He had to do some soul searching as he made the decision to leave public education.
“It’s a time in my life where I felt like I needed a change,” he said.
The job of a high-school principal is demanding and time consuming, he said. “It’s filled with a ton of responsibilities and obligations … It does take its toll.”
While he wasn’t looking for a new career, the United Way opportunity was one he couldn’t pass up. “I didn’t want to regret in five or 10 years not making this decision,” he said.
He will continue serving as South’s principal through the end of the academic year and probably through the first week of June.
He said he’s looking forward to his new role at United Way. “It’s a great organization,” he said.
He recognizes he will inherit some new challenges, given the current state of the economy.
“We are in difficult financial times. I think we have to step up as a community and realize we have a lot of people who need our help” and need the services of United Way member agencies, he said.
Vigo County School Corp. Superintendent Dan Tanoos described Fears as an outstanding educator in his various capacities as teacher, athletic director and administrator. Terre Haute South has thrived under his leadership, Tanoos said.
“He did a great job for us, but he thought the time was right to make a career move to a position where he feels he can have a great impact on the entire community,” Tanoos said. “The Vigo County School Corp. supports Troy in his decision and he will be greatly missed.”
Tanoos agreed that the high-school principal position is a demanding job that has many evening and weekend obligations. “That catches up with you after awhile,” Tanoos said.
The South principal’s position will be posted and the school district will look first at internal applicants; a search for a new principal at Terre Haute North also is under way.
The school district has a “great talent pool” of prospective candidates who have demonstrated strong leadership, Tanoos said. He hopes to name new principals at both high schools within two to three weeks.
Fears has a master’s degree in secondary education administration from Indiana State University; a secondary teaching certificate in journalism and English from Indiana University; and a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in communications.
He served two years as principal and two years as assistant principal at South. Earlier, he served at Terre Haute North for nine years: three years as athletic director; one year as dean; and five years as an English and journalism teacher.
His background includes management, fundraising and secondary education, according to the United Way.
As United Way’s new executive director, Fears will be responsible for the management and leadership of the organization as well as resource development.
The current United Way interim executive director is J. Robert Quatroche, whose last day will be June 20.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.