HSE School Board accepts the resignation of the superintendent and names an interim leader

Indianapolis, Indiana – The board of Hamilton Southeastern Schools has accepted Dr. Yvonne Stokes’ resignation as superintendent.

At a 7 a.m. Wednesday’s emergency meeting, the school board unanimously authorized the resignation and separation agreement.

“I am grateful to HSE and the Fishers and Noblesville communities for my time here,” Dr. Stokes in a written statement released by the district. “The opportunity to serve as superintendent was one I never took lightly. As this shift in leadership commences, I am committed to supporting the district and feel confident that our staff, students and families will be in capable hands. The future is bright for HSE.”

The district was contacted by Dr. Stokes’ lawyer about two weeks ago to consider her resignation, according to the school board’s legal counsel.

In this, the last year of Dr. Stokes’ employment with the district, the district has agreed to pay her the full sum of her salary.

Dr. Stokes has also agreed not to sue the district and will get payment for any unused sick days.

The district’s well-being and cohesion are the board’s top priorities, according to HSE School Board President Dawn Lang.

“I want to express our profound thanks to Dr. Stokes and her leadership during this time,” Lang said in a statement read at the end of the meeting. “This is a crucial time during our district’s history and we are so grateful for her service and dedication to our district.”

Despite their disagreement with the procedure, two board members who voted to accept Dr. Stokes’ resignation and separation agreement stated they did so out of respect for her intentions.

At the meeting, one parent attacked the newly elected board members’ role in the resignation of the superintendent.

“The truth is Dr. Stokes was not wanted by you before you were elected,” Stephanie Hunt said in her comments. “You even shamed her by moving her to the end of the table and essentially silenced her and disrespected her. We saw it. It wasn’t some sly move on your part.”

The school district’s board of directors named Matt Kegley, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, as temporary superintendent. The district also gave Kegley’s contract an additional two years of approval.

After serving as the Munster schools’ associate superintendent, Stokes started working for the Fishers-based school system in April 2021. When Allen Bourff retired at the end of the 2020–2021 academic year, she took his place as superintendent.

After Bourff wrote a letter to the teachers in February 2021 describing how to approach the Black Lives Matter movement in district classrooms, more than 1,000 community members had signed a petition requesting his resignation.