Southwest Allen County Schools Superintendent Philip Downs has been named the 2020 Superintendent of the Year by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents.
Downs has been the superintendent of Southwest Allen County Schools since 2014 and previously served as an assistant superintendent.
In his work away from campus, Downs is an advocate for both children and public education, taking part in several boards. He currently serves on the National Governing Board of the American Association of School Administrators and as the District II chair for the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents. He also serves on the boards of directors for Friends of the Lincoln Collection and The Orthopedic Hospital in Fort Wayne, and is the board president of Stop Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) and the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Purdue Fort Wayne, according to a press release..
When asked about his biggest accomplishment with Southwest Allen County Schools, Downs jokes, ‘not having been fired’, and quickly changes the subject to the great teachers that work with the school system and the accomplishments of students.
“I’d much rather talk about that, because to me, those are the big things,” Downs said, “And you realize I was able to deflect some stuff out of the way or to help support somebody do something, those are the things that give me the most satisfaction. Those are the things that make you get up everyday, put on a tie and come into work.”
Downs will represent Indiana at the American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent of the Year program, which will take place next year in San Diego, California.
Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent Wendy Robinson was awarded the honor in 2017.