Two-term Portage Township School Board member Deb Ekdahl officially resigned her board post Monday to take a position with the Portage schools.
An English teacher for 17 years in the Hammond schools, Ekdahl said the right position at the right time in her career came up.
“I want to end my career with the brightest, hardest-working teachers I know,” said Ekdahl, an at-large member of the board, after leaving the school board meeting early. “These positions don’t open up very often.”
As the new instructional coach for Portage, at a salary of $58,900, Ekdahl will coach and mentor teachers who need extra help, as demonstrated through the district’s evaluation process, she said.
Board President Andy Maletta, who also is the city of Portage’s economic director, said Ekdahl “will be missed.” In recent meetings, Ekdahl regularly spoke up for teachers, especially during meetings to determine the social studies and math curricula district-wide.
Groups of teachers and administrators hammered out the course offerings together over the course of months, beginning at the start of the school year.
“I know (Ekdahl’s) wanted to work in Portage a long time,” Maletta said. “She’s always had the best interests of teachers in the district in mind.”
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Maletta said the board needs to fill Ekdahl’s board spot by Aug. 26 but hopes to have someone in the seat no later than Aug. 22. Interested candidates should send a letter or notice of interest, including a resume to the school district.
Ekdahl said she does not expect a shortage of interested people to take her seat.
“There’s just so many community people that will step up,” she said.
The notices, which should be mailed to the office of board attorney Kenneth Elwood, should include community service experience levels and education levels, Maletta said.
Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Candidates wanted for school board seat
Those interested in being considered to fill the open seat on Portage Township School Board should mail resumes to the School Board President Andy Maletta, c/o Rhame & Elwood, 3200 Willowcreek Road, Suite A, Portage, Ind. 46368.
Candidates also can e-mail packets to [email protected].