Markay Winston will retain the Monroe County Community School Corporation superintendent position after serving as interim superintendent since July.
The MCCSC Board of School Trustees appointed her during its annual reorganizational meeting Tuesday. MCCSC schools had an at-home e-learning day Tuesday due to the inclement weather.
“Thank you for the faith and trust you have placed in me to serve our most valuable community assets: our students,” Winston said during the meeting.
One person spoke during public comment. Jim Sims, former Bloomington City Council president and current acting Monroe County NAACP president, said Winston has strong community engagement which is great quality for the superintendent. The board then unanimously approved Winston’s appointment.
“I don’t think there’s anyone better suited to serve this community at this particular time than you, and I am so incredibly grateful to have you in this role,” MCCSC board President April Hennessey said to Winston.
Winston previously served as MCCSC deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, according to a press release. She has worked as an adjunct professor at IU’s School of Education since 2023.
Winston has a Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology and Counseling from the University of Cincinnati, according to her LinkedIn. She previously served at Princeton City Schools, Cincinnati Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Dayton Public Schools and as an adjunct professor at the Universities of Dayton and Cincinnati.
During a 48-second meeting in March, the MCCSC board in March agreed to buy out the previous Superintendent Jeff Hauswald’s remaining contract, totaling nearly $229,000. The buyout followed controversial choices made by Hauswald’s administration, including an attempt to align MCCSC high schools’ schedules — which led to student, parent and teacher protests.
In December 2023, Hauswald presented a plan to the MCCSC board to balance socioeconomic status in the elementary schools, which included merging Childs and Templeton Elementary Schools. It garnered backlash from parents for lack of clarity and transportation concerns, among other reasons. The board approved a merge starting in the 2025-26 school year in April. In November, the board postponed that plan amid a comprehensive redistricting study.
Hauswald also led the district during the COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure, Monroe County residents passed two property tax referendums that increased educator salaries and funded pre-K.
According to the release, strengthening health and safety, expanding early learning programs and creating a new five-year plan for the district are among Markay’s priorities. This is the last year of the district’s current five-year plan.
During her interim tenure, Winston has hosted almost 200 listening sessions with community members and groups and established the Young Child Advisory Group and Student Voice Advisory Council, according to a release.
Upon starting in the interim position, Winston released a multi-phased entry plan through November, along with updates on each phase throughout the first months. Some of her goals included removing “opportunity gaps” for students, establishing a strong governance team with the board and reviewing MCCSC’s financial and operational health.
