Eastern Pulaski School Board Hires Special Education Director

The Eastern Pulaski School Corporation continues putting together its new special education services. The school corporation has decided to share services with Caston and Pioneer, following the breakup of the Logansport Area Joint Special Services Cooperative.

Now, a new special ed director and coordinator has been chosen, according to Eastern Pulaski Interim Superintendent Dr. Gib Crimmins. “We do have a Michelle Gillen that we’ve interviewed. She’s accepted the position,” Crimmins told the school board Monday. “She’s in the Lafayette Special Services, several years in there, but she’s ready to become a director, and you desperately need one. It’ll be the three schools together.”

Crimmins said Gillen has ties to the local area. “It’s pretty exciting that she said ‘yes’ – let’s put it that way – because I know if she’s decided she wants to be a director or an assistant, the sky’s the limit,” Crimmins added. “And as of today, she said ‘yes.'”

Crimmins explained that it will be an administrative position with an annual salary of $88,000. Gillen will officially be employed by Eastern Pulaski, with the other two school corporations sharing the cost based on their enrollment.

The Eastern Pulaski School Board officially approved Gillen’s employment Monday. It was one of a number of personnel items the board considered. Karen Gudeman was hired as a special ed paraprofessional, while Crimmins said Eastern Pulaski is still looking for a speech/language pathologist.