Cortnei Flucas began her tenure as superintendent of Covington Independent on July 1. Photo submitted
Covington Independent’s new superintendent, Cortnei Flucas, brings a variety of experience and a renewed focus on student outcomes to the district.
Since starting the position on July 1, she has been talking with community stakeholders about their hopes and dreams for students and how they want the student experience to look.
“How can we support our staff, our leaders, in a way that develops them and keeps them growing and filling the level of efficacy and preparedness to meet students’ needs?” Flucas said. “I really want to hear about the ways in which the district has served students well, the things that we want to protect and hold sacred, but also those areas where we feel like we have some room for improvement, and hear the ideas from our stakeholders about how to make those improvements.”
Flucas said by her 100-day mark as superintendent, she will share with the school community what she heard from stakeholders, then allow that to dictate the district’s priorities.
“The community is well primed to really serve children well,” she said. “They were doing meaningful work before I got here and they are committed to doing meaningful work that can be sustained and that’s coherent from K through 12.”
Flucas has almost two decades of educational leadership experience. She has a doctorate in education administration from Ball State University, a bachelor’s degree in English and literary criticism from Xavier University of Louisiana, and a master’s degree in education administration from Butler University.
Flucas was inspired to become an educator after working with children through summer programs. She didn’t go into college knowing she wanted to be a teacher, but after working with students and seeing how amazing it was to be inspired by them and learn from them, she decided to become an English teacher at Washington Township Schools in Indiana. She also served as a district English department chair.
Later, she moved to Indianapolis Public Schools, where her work spanned many areas, including special education, student services, mental health and wellness, family engagement and school culture.
She worked closely with special education students and those who have emotional disabilities. She helped establish a mental health framework to support the social, emotional and mental health of students in the district.
“I was so very privileged to draft that first framework with a number of stakeholders as we thought about how we, as a district, could really wrap ourselves around our students and meet their needs,” Flucas said.
After establishing the framework, she became a director of special education in the district, then became the unified student supports officer, her most recent position.
“Leading up to now my time here in Covington, my career has really been centered on the whole child, thinking about how we strengthen Tier 1 instruction in a way with all children in mind, and leverage systemic supports like Multi-Tiered System of Supports or Response to Intervention to really build a teacher capacity to meet students’ needs where they are,” Flucas said.
She said was drawn to Covington because it looked like a place that people stay committed to.
“There’s a clear kind of throughline of a sense of identity and pride in this community,” she said. “I was also drawn to the diversity of the community. I find it to be our greatest strength and we are serving all kinds of students and families with all kinds of educators.”
Flucas said she’s excited to help the district be innovative in practices, including continuing work on their Portrait of a Learner.
“The district has done quite a bit of work in terms of the Portrait of a Learner and we absolutely intend to align the work that has been contributed by so many stakeholders with Portrait of a Learner in our upcoming strategic plan,” she said.
Flucas’ favorite part about working in education is watching students be eager to learn and innovate.
“They’re eager to work together to solve really big problems, and so that keeps us all forever young,” Flucas said. “It’s just my privilege and honor to serve the children and families and the staff of Covington. I look forward to being a part of this community, being responsive and accountable to this community and walking alongside with all the work that we have ahead.”
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