College and Career Readiness News
The ESC, SSC, Transportation, LPHS, and Kesling buildings will have public office hours from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Monday through Thursday, starting June 15 and ending July 17. On Fridays, these buildings will be open to staff only and closed to the public.
Please note that the ESC will be closed on Wednesday, June 17.
The La Porte Community School Corporation has named Shaun Pluta as its new Director of Human Resources. Pluta will begin his role on June 22, 2026, succeeding Gina Teets, who is retiring after 19 years with the district.
Pluta brings a rare combination of experience to the position: more than a decade of human resources leadership in large, complex organizations paired with a career in public education as a teacher and school counselor.
"Shaun stood out because he understands both sides of this work," said Dr. Sandra Wood, Superintendent of the La Porte Community School Corporation. "He has led HR operations for organizations with hundreds of employees, and he has also stood in front of a classroom and supported students as a counselor. That perspective matters in a school district, where our people are the heart of everything we do."
Most recently, Pluta served in operations leadership at Five Star Sheets in New Carlisle, Indiana. Prior to that, he spent more than four years as Human Resources Manager at Monogram Comfort Foods in Bristol, Indiana, where he led a five-person HR department supporting approximately 450 employees across three shifts. During his tenure there, he oversaw major staffing expansions, strengthened retention efforts, reduced turnover by 91 percent in a single year, and launched a community festival that raised more than $60,000 for a local food pantry.
Pluta previously held human resources leadership roles, where he managed HR for two manufacturing locations, developed leadership training programs delivered across multiple states, and built the company's internship program in partnership with Purdue University, Indiana University, and other institutions.
Before his career in human resources, Pluta worked in public education for seven years. He served as a school counselor for South Newton School Corporation, where he supported students through individual and group counseling and coached track and cross country. He began his career as an elementary teacher with the South Bend Community School Corporation, teaching kindergarten through fourth grade.
"Returning to public education feels like coming home," Pluta said. "I started my career in schools because I believe in the difference educators make every day. I'm excited to bring everything I've learned about building strong teams, healthy workplace cultures, and meaningful employee support back to a school community. I'm grateful to Dr. Wood and the board for this opportunity, and I look forward to serving the staff and families of La Porte."
Pluta holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Building Level Administration licensure from Indiana University Bloomington, as well as a Master of Science in Education in School Counseling from Indiana University South Bend.
Congratulations to six outstanding LPCSC employees whose retirements were approved at this week's board meeting.
Barb Hines, Bus Driver, 13 years Jim Hines, Bus Driver, 12 years Sue Parsons, Bus Driver, 47 years Dawn Slocum, Bus Driver, 15 years John Sherrick, Chemistry Teacher, La Porte High School, 30 years Kelly Troy, Teacher, Kesling Intermediate School, 30 years
Thank you for your years of dedicated service to our students, our schools, and our community. All six of our retirees will be formally honored at the 2027 LPCSC Employee Recognition event.
We wish you all the best in this well-earned next chapter.
La Porte High School Health Careers students who earned their Certified Nursing Assistant licenses. Front row (left to right): Evalynn Travis, Jessica Narvaez, Khloe Kessler, Peyton Peeler, Brittany Medina-Pineda, Alexis West, Kiley McCarty, and Elena Lozano. Back row (left to right): Max Burke, Sophia Meredith, Jace Pickford, Brianna Cadwell, Roman Garay, James Young, Emma Cedar, and Evelyn Temores. Not pictured: Claire Leniski, Bailey Hart, Jaselyn Corona, Miranda Owens, Allison Brown, Aubree Redding, Kalynn Roney, and Sophia Affeld.
LA PORTE, Ind. (June 4, 2026) —More than 20 students in La Porte Community School Corporation's Health Careers program have earned their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) licenses, a milestone that prepares them for immediate employment in health care and gives them hands-on experience in patient care while they are still in high school.
To earn the credential, students completed classroom instruction, supervised clinical training, and a state competency exam. The CNA license allows them to work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other care settings, and it provides a strong foundation for students who plan to continue into nursing or other health professions.
The achievement also reflects the program's college-level rigor. A number of these students earned enough credit to be eligible to walk in Ivy Tech Community College's graduation ceremony, a recognition of the postsecondary coursework they completed while still in high school.
The program continues to strengthen its connection to the local health care workforce. The majority of next year's seniors have already secured employment at Brickyard, where they will begin working this summer and continue through the school year. The arrangement gives students paid, real-world experience in their field while helping meet a community need for trained care professionals.
Senior Peyton Peeler has served as a leader within this year's class. Peeler earned her CNA license last year and has spent this school year working as a CNA at Brickyard, setting an example for her classmates as they pursued the same credential.
"Watching these students earn a real, professional credential and step into roles where they are caring for people in our community is what this program is all about," said Tabitha Hughes, Health Careers teacher. "They have worked incredibly hard, and they are leaving here ready to make a difference."
The Health Careers program is part of La Porte Community School Corporation's commitment to career and technical education, connecting students to meaningful, in-demand careers right here in La Porte.
The La Porte High School choir program has earned the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) All-Music Award for the 2025-2026 school year, placing it among just 14 high schools statewide recognized in the choir category. ISSMA presented the program with a commemorative banner marking the achievement.
The award is one of the highest honors ISSMA bestows. To qualify, the program had to earn Gold ratings, and only Gold, across three separate ISSMA contests during the year: State Solo and Ensemble, Jazz, and Organizational. Under the direction of Choir Director Tom Coe, all 118 students in the La Porte High School choir program contributed to the recognition.
The season included a strong showing at the ISSMA Organizational Contest in April at Concord High School. There, all three of the school's choirs, the Beginning Treble Chorus, Treble Chorale, and Chorale, earned Gold ratings for both performance and sight reading. The Beginning Treble Chorus posted a perfect sight-reading score, and the Chorale finished within a half point of perfect.
"I'm really proud of my students for this achievement, and I give them all the credit," said Choir Director Tom Coe. "I guide them, but they are talented, and they listen to what I tell them."
Tonight’s La Porte High School graduation ceremony will be livestreamed so family and friends near and far can celebrate the Class of 2026 with us.
Watch live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZCg144Bfko
Congratulations, Slicers!
For the sixth consecutive year, all seven elementary schools in the La Porte Community School Corporation have been recognized as 2025–26 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished Schools for STEM curriculum and career readiness. Joining them for the first time this year is Kesling Intermediate Campus, recognized for its PLTW Gateway program.
PLTW is a national nonprofit organization that creates transformative learning experiences for millions of PreK-12 students and teachers across the U.S., helping every child in every grade develop the skills and confidence to succeed in STEM. The Distinguished School honor is awarded to a select number of schools nationwide that demonstrate a strong commitment to providing students with engaging, real-world, and career-connected learning experiences.
The elementary recognition is awarded through PLTW Launch, an elementary STEM curriculum. To qualify, schools must have more than 75 percent of the student body participating in the program and offer at least one PLTW Launch module at each grade level. Whether designing a car safety belt or building digital animations based on their own short stories, PLTW Launch students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop confidence in STEM subjects.
"This achievement, now in its sixth consecutive year, underscores our commitment to fostering STEM education and career readiness from an early age," said Dr. Ben Tonagel, Assistant Superintendent of Student Learning. "Adding Kesling to this recognition is a proud milestone. Across our district, we are empowering students at every level with the skills and mindset they need for future success."
Kesling Intermediate Campus earned its recognition through its PLTW Gateway program, which provides students with hands-on STEM experiences that build critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills as they explore a range of future career pathways. To earn the distinction, Kesling met rigorous criteria, including strong student participation rates, multiple course offerings, and a demonstrated commitment to equitable access.
"We are incredibly proud of this achievement," said Bill Wilmsen, Principal of the Kesling Campus. "Our PLTW program empowers students to tackle real-world challenges and develop the skills they need for success beyond the classroom. We have dedicated teachers in this program who put their best efforts into their students' learning."
Crichfield, Hailmann, Handley, Indian Trail, Kingsbury, Kingsford Heights, and Riley Elementary Schools, along with Kesling Intermediate School, are part of a national community of PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners united around a commitment to inspiring and empowering student learning. For more information about PLTW's Distinguished Program Recognition, visit pltw.org/our-programs/program-recognition.
La Porte Community School Corporation will offer free breakfast and lunch to all children ages 18 and under at four community locations this summer through the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Meal service begins Monday, June 2, at Handley Elementary, Kingsford Heights Elementary, and the LaPark community site, with additional service at Kesling Campus running in two later sessions.
There is no cost, no registration, and no paperwork. Per program rules, meals must be served and eaten on site.
Summer 2026 Meal Service Schedule (View Printable Flyer in English and Spanish)
June 2 through June 26 (Monday through Friday)
June 15 through June 26 (Monday through Friday)
July 6 through July 17 (Monday through Friday)
How to Find a Site
Families can locate additional summer meal sites in La Porte County and across Indiana by texting "Summer Meals" or "Verano" to 914-342-7744, or by visiting the USDA Site Finder at https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder.
About the Summer Food Service Program
The Summer Food Service Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered in Indiana by the Indiana Department of Education.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.