Hicks named to lead Munster schools; Jennifer Herold new Elliott principal
The board appointed Hicks during a special meeting Monday, awarding him a $215,000 three-year contract.
Also on Monday, the board named award-winning teacher Jennifer Herold as the principal at Elliott Elementary School.
If Hicks receives an 'effective' or 'highly effective' rating on performance evaluation, he will receive at least the same raise as other administrators.
Hicks succeeds Bret Heller, who left the district in June after three years to take a superintendent's job at the Thompson School District in Loveland, Colorado. Heller came from a district in Idaho.
Hicks has been superintendent at the Northeastern Wayne School Corp., about six miles north of Richmond, since 2020.
It's located in an agricultural area that includes five small communities.
Munster is one of the wealthiest and highest-achieving districts in Northwest Indiana.
Hicks brings 26 years of education experience to his new post. He's spent 10 years in the classroom and more than 10 years as an administrator.
A native of Tippecanoe County, Hicks earned a bachelor's degree in secondary English from Purdue University, a master's degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Ball State University.
'The nice part about coming to such a great place is that I will get to take time to learn it and understand the things that make it great,' Hicks said in a statement.
'I look forward to being here and working with our team to continue the great traditions and success that the School Town of Munster has established.'
Hicks begins his new job next week and the district is providing up to $15,000 in moving expenses for his family, which includes his wife Terra and three children.
During his tenure, Hicks focused on academic achievement, enhanced community engagement, and improved operational effectiveness.
'Throughout the search process and interviews, he clearly demonstrated the experience, leadership, and vision we were seeking to move Munster's schools forward,' said board president Kyle Dempsey.
In 2018, when Hicks was an assistant principal at Noblesville West Middle School, a student shot and injured a student and a teacher.
Hicks is active in the Principal Recovery Network, an organization dedicated to supporting educators involved in school shootings and advocating for mental health resources for students.
Herold, a 1997 Munster High School graduate, brings 23 years of teaching experience to her new role. Most recently, she taught fourth grade at James B. Eads Elementary and co-founded the Eads Leads Student Leadership Team. She also taught at St. Thomas More Catholic School.
'I look forward to building strong partnerships with the entire Elliott community as we focus on the mission of the School Town of Munster — to create lifelong learners…' Herold said in a release.
Herold received her bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's in educational leadership from Indiana University-Bloomington.
She was a 2023 top 25 nominee for Indiana Teacher of the Year. Last year, she was named the VFW Elementary Teacher of the Year and the Crossroads Chamber of Commerce Inspiring Educator.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Business News
3 hours ago
- Time Business News
SparkPress Fusion Platform: Digital Success Made Simple
Running a business online feels hard. You need websites. You need social media. You need email lists. Most people use ten different apps. This costs too much money. It takes too much time. changes everything. One website does it all. Small business owners waste hours every day. They copy information between apps. They forget passwords. They pay for tools they barely use. This platform fixes these problems. Everything lives in one place. You log in once. You get all your work done faster. The internet moves fast. New tools come out every month. Old tools stop working. Keeping up is exhausting. stays current. They add new features before you need them. You focus on your business. They handle the tech stuff. Learn more about how this platform helps small businesses stay competitive. Why Most Online Tools Fail Small Businesses Traditional business software was made for big companies. They have IT departments. They have training budgets. Small businesses are different. understands this problem. Big software companies sell separate tools for everything. Website builder here. Email tool there. Social media scheduler somewhere else. Each tool costs money every month. Most small businesses can't afford this approach. Learning new software takes weeks. Most business owners don't have time for training. They need tools that work right away. takes minutes to learn. The buttons make sense. The help is written in plain English. Updates break things in most software. You learn how something works. Next month it changes. updates don't break your workflow. New features add to what you know. Nothing disappears without warning. Support for small businesses is usually terrible. You get robot answers. You wait on hold for hours. treats every customer like they matter. Real people give real help fast. Core Features That Actually Matter Most platforms brag about having hundreds of features. focuses on the ones you actually use. Website building comes first. Every business needs a good website. The builder is simple but powerful. Creating content takes most of your time. The platform helps with this too. Templates speed up design work. Stock photos save money. Writing tools check your grammar. Everything looks professional without hiring designers. Email marketing still works better than social media for sales. The built-in email tools connect with your website. New visitors join your list automatically. You send newsletters without switching apps. Sales happen while you sleep. Social media posting happens from the same dashboard. Write once. Post everywhere. Schedule weeks of content in advance. The platform picks the best times to post. Your followers see more. You work less. Smart Analytics That Make Sense Numbers matter in business. Most analytics tools show too much information. shows what you need to know. Which pages get visitors? What content makes sales? Where do customers come from? The reports use simple charts. No math degree needed. Green means good. Red means fix this. Yellow means watch closely. You make better decisions with clear information. You can track specific goals too. Want more email signups? Set that as a goal. The platform shows how close you are. It suggests ways to improve. Your business grows faster with clear targets. Team Collaboration Without Headaches Working alone is hard. Working with a team can be harder. makes teamwork simple. Everyone sees the same information. Changes happen instantly. No more version confusion. You control who sees what. Give writers access to blog posts. Let designers work on graphics. Keep financial information private. Permissions change as people's jobs change. Comments and notes attach to specific projects. Feedback stays organized. Nothing gets lost in email chains. Team members know exactly what needs fixing. Projects finish faster with clear communication. Getting Started Without Tech Skills Most people think they need computer skills for online business. proves this wrong. The setup wizard asks simple questions. Your website appears in minutes. No coding knowledge required. Templates handle the hard design work. Pick one that fits your business. Change colors and text. Add your photos. Upload your logo. Everything looks custom-made. Visitors think you hired professionals. The platform imports information from other tools you already use. Connect your existing email list. Link your social media accounts. Bring over your customer database. Nothing starts from zero. Mistakes don't break anything. Try different designs. Test new features. The platform saves everything automatically. Go back to earlier versions if needed. Learning becomes fun instead of scary. Real Stories from Real Users Sarah runs a bakery in Texas. She used to spend five hours a week updating her website. Now it takes thirty minutes. imports her daily specials automatically. Customers order online. Sales doubled in three months. Mike teaches guitar lessons. He struggled with scheduling and payments. The platform handles both now. Students book lessons online. Payments happen automatically. Mike teaches more. He worries less about business tasks. Jennifer sells handmade jewelry. She posts on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest every day. This used to take two hours. Now she schedules a week's worth of posts in twenty minutes. More time for creating. Same social media results. Small Business Success Metrics Businesses using see real improvements. Website visitors increase by 40% on average. Email list growth speeds up by 60%. Social media engagement doubles. These aren't promises. These are actual results from real users. Customer service requests drop by half. The platform answers common questions automatically. Contact forms organize inquiries by type. Important messages get attention first. Less busy work means more time for important tasks. Advanced Features for Growing Businesses Starting simple doesn't mean staying simple forever. grows with your business. Advanced features unlock as you need them. No need to switch platforms later. Everything you built stays safe. Online stores integrate seamlessly. Start with service bookings. Add product sales later. Inventory tracking happens automatically. Payment processing is secure. Customers trust the buying experience. Email sequences run automatically. New customers get welcome messages. Inactive customers get special offers. Birthday discounts send themselves. Personal touches happen without personal work. Custom forms collect specific information. Survey customers about new products. Gather feedback on services. Build detailed customer profiles. Better information leads to better business decisions. Automation That Actually Helps Automation scares some business owners. They think it makes businesses feel robotic. automation feels personal. Customers get relevant messages at the right time. Personal attention scales to hundreds of customers. Social media automation posts when your audience is online. Different time zones get different schedules. Holiday posts prepare weeks in advance. Trending topics get covered automatically. Your brand stays active even when you're busy. Customer follow-up happens consistently. Thank you messages after purchases. Check-in emails after services. Review requests at the perfect time. Good customer service becomes automatic. Happy customers tell their friends. Mobile-First Design Philosophy Most website platforms think mobile is extra. puts mobile first. Your website looks better on phones than computers. This matters because most visitors use phones now. The platform itself works great on mobile too. Update your website from anywhere. Respond to customer messages instantly. Check your analytics on the bus. Business doesn't stop when you leave the office. Touch controls feel natural. Buttons are big enough for fingers. Text is readable without zooming. Navigation makes sense on small screens. Your customers have a better experience. Better experience means more sales. App-like features work in web browsers. Push notifications for important updates. Offline access to key information. Fast loading even with slow internet. Modern features without app store approvals. Pricing That Makes Business Sense pricing scales with your success. Start small and cheap. Pay more only when you're making more money. This approach reduces risk for new businesses. Success becomes affordable. No hidden fees surprise you later. The price you see is what you pay. Setup is free. Training is included. Support doesn't cost extra. Budget planning becomes simple and predictable. Compare costs to buying separate tools. Website builder: $20 monthly. Email platform: $30 monthly. Social media scheduler: $15 monthly. Analytics: $25 monthly. does all this for less than half the price. Annual plans save even more money. Pay for ten months. Get twelve months of service. Cash flow improves when expenses are predictable. Growing businesses need every advantage they can get. Return on Investment Reality Most business tools promise huge returns. focuses on real savings. Time savings convert to money. One hour saved daily equals $10,000 yearly for most businesses. The platform saves much more than one hour daily. Mistake prevention saves money too. Automated backups prevent data loss. Security features stop hacker problems. Update notifications prevent website breaks. Prevention costs less than fixing problems later. Customer retention improves with better service. Happy customers buy more often. They refer new customers. They leave good reviews. Platform features directly improve customer relationships. Better relationships mean higher profits. Security Without Complexity Online security sounds complicated. handles complexity behind the scenes. Your part is simple. Their part is bulletproof. Hackers can't access your information. Customers trust your website. Automatic updates fix security holes. You don't need to remember patches. The platform stays current with threats. Security experts monitor everything. Sleep better knowing professionals protect your business. Backup systems work invisibly. Multiple copies exist automatically. Geographic separation prevents natural disasters from causing data loss. Recovery takes minutes, not days. Business continuity plans become unnecessary. Compliance happens automatically too. GDPR rules are followed. Privacy policies update as laws change. Payment security meets banking standards. Your business stays legal without hiring lawyers. Data Protection Standards Customer information gets maximum protection. Credit cards never store on the platform. Personal data encrypts during storage and transmission. Access logs track every interaction. Suspicious activity triggers immediate alerts. You control data sharing completely. Choose which services integrate. Approve every connection manually. Revoke access instantly if needed. Your data belongs to you, not the platform. Regular security audits happen quarterly. Independent experts test everything. Results get published transparently. Problems get fixed immediately. Accountability builds trust with customers and partners. Integration Ecosystem plays well with other tools. Popular services connect easily. Accounting software synchronizes automatically. CRM systems share customer data. Inventory management updates in real-time. API access lets programmers build custom connections. Unusual business needs get custom solutions. Legacy systems integrate with modern features. Technology investments stay valuable longer. Webhook support enables instant updates. New orders trigger fulfillment processes. Customer changes update multiple systems. Real-time synchronization prevents errors. Business processes become seamless and efficient. Import wizards handle platform switches. Bring data from competitors easily. Nothing gets lost in translation. Setup time reduces from weeks to hours. Switching platforms becomes low-risk and straightforward. Future-Proofing Your Business Technology changes fast. Platforms die unexpectedly. invests in long-term stability. Your business website won't disappear. Years of work stay protected. Growth plans remain valid. Regular feature updates keep you current. New social media networks integrate quickly. Payment methods add as they become popular. Design trends update automatically. Your business looks modern without redesign work. Data export works anytime. Download everything if you ever leave. Standard formats work with other tools. No vendor lock-in means real freedom. Make platform decisions based on features, not fear. The development team shares their roadmap publicly. See what's coming next quarter. Request features for your industry. Vote on development priorities. Users influence platform direction. Your needs drive development focus. Key Takeaways • combines many business tools into one affordable platform • Simple design means fast learning and immediate productivity gains • Mobile-first approach serves customers better than desktop-only solutions • Automation features save hours daily while improving customer experience • Security handles itself automatically while meeting all compliance requirements • Integration capabilities preserve existing tool investments and workflows • Pricing scales with business growth to minimize risk and maximize value • Real user success stories prove measurable business improvements are normal Frequently Asked Questions Q: How long does setup take? A: Most businesses go live within 24 hours. Simple businesses finish in 2-3 hours. Complex setups might take a few days. Q: Can I import my existing website? A: Yes, the import wizard handles most website types. Some custom features might need manual recreation. Q: What happens if I get too much traffic? A: The platform scales automatically. No crashes or slowdowns during traffic spikes. You only pay for what you use. Q: Do I own my data? A: Completely. Download everything anytime. Delete your account removes all traces. No hidden data retention policies. Q: How good is phone support? A: Live chat during business hours responds in under 5 minutes. Phone support available for urgent issues. Email support answers within 4 hours. Q: Can I test everything before paying? A: Full 14-day free trial includes all features. No credit card required to start. Cancel anytime without charges. Q: What if my business needs custom features? A: Development team builds custom solutions for growing accounts. Enterprise features available for larger businesses. Conclusion simplifies online business success. One platform replaces multiple expensive tools. Learning time reduces from weeks to hours. Business operations become more efficient and profitable. Small businesses compete with larger companies using the same tools. Customer service improves through automation. Marketing reaches more people with less effort. Growth happens faster with better tools. The platform adapts as businesses change. Additional features unlock when needed. Data transfers easily if requirements change. Investment protection comes through flexible scaling and standard data formats. Success stories from real users prove the platform delivers results. Website traffic increases. Customer satisfaction improves. Business profits grow. These outcomes justify the investment through measurable returns and operational improvements. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Business Wire
8 hours ago
- Business Wire
BAC Applauds Landmark Passage of Trigger Lead Ban
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Broker Action Coalition (BAC) welcomes the passage of the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that limits the sale of trigger leads. With the Senate passing the House version on August 2, the bill has officially cleared Congress and now heads to the President's desk. The BAC urges President Trump to sign the bill into law without delay. 'This victory shows what's possible when brokers get involved, stay organized, and invest in advocacy.' Brendan McKay, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder of the BAC Share The passage of this bill through Congress marks the culmination of a multi-year advocacy effort—driven by the BAC, its advocates, and coalition partners. Led by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), this united effort aimed to ban abusive trigger lead practices and curb the sale of consumer data without consent. This legislative victory would not have been possible without the leadership of Representatives John Rose (R-TN) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN). Why Brokers Fought to End Trigger Leads When a consumer applies for a mortgage and their credit is pulled, credit bureaus sell that data as 'trigger leads'—including personal details like full name, contact information, and credit score range. Solicitors buy these leads and unleash a barrage of calls, texts, and emails, overwhelming homebuyers at a critical point in the process. All of this is done without the consumer's permission or proper disclosure. Some solicitors blur compliance boundaries, using deceptive language to imply connections with brokers or lenders. In addition to violating basic data privacy expectations, these tactics erode consumer trust and have been especially harmful to first-time homebuyers, non-native English speakers, and other vulnerable borrowers. The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act ends these abusive practices while preserving narrow exceptions for pre-existing relationships and giving consumers the power to opt in. Thank You to the Partners Who Powered the Push Advocacy at this level doesn't happen alone. It takes investment, commitment, and shared belief in what's possible. The BAC is proud to recognize the partners that helped make this win possible: Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM), Pennymac TPO, The Loan Store, Inc., Rocket Pro, Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. (PRMG), Freedom Mortgage Wholesale Division, Newfi Wholesale, Gold Star Wholesale, and West Capital Lending. These partners stood alongside brokers and homebuyers to champion stronger consumer protections and real industry change. Continued Commitment to Homebuyer & Broker Interests 'The BAC was built to channel broker priorities into real policy wins. When we launched, we asked our earliest supporters to help set the agenda. The response was overwhelmingly clear: ending abusive trigger leads was our top priority. Today's congressional action delivered on that,' said Brendan McKay, BAC Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder. 'This victory shows what's possible when brokers get involved, stay organized, and invest in advocacy.' 'This is a major win—but it's just the beginning,' added Rachel Clark, BAC Executive Director. 'If you want more of this kind of progress, brokers need to keep showing up—and start funding the fight.' About the Broker Action Coalition The Broker Action Coalition (BAC) is the grassroots advocacy channel uniting mortgage brokers and their supporters to fight for broker and homebuyer rights nationwide. The BAC aims to level the playing field between independent mortgage brokers and retail banks, to support inclusive homebuying policy change, and to fight for the needs of Veterans, minorities, and underserved communities to make the American dream of homeownership possible for more people than ever before. For more information or to support our advocacy efforts, visit
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
🎙️ More signings for Barça? Laporta says the transfer market's still open
FC Barcelona is still unable to register its new signings, Joan García and Marcus Rashford, or the renewed Szczesny, due to the economic restrictions that the club is facing, but Joan Laporta is not closing the door to further reinforcements. "As a club, we need to have more players than usual, and that means we need to invest more," explained the Blaugrana president in an interview with CNN. Laporta justified the need to expand the squad by arguing that players are not machines. "We have players with a lot of talent, but they are also human beings, and there is a limit," he stated. "They need time to rest and enjoy themselves, and I think that's something to take into account," he added. 🏴 Laporta analyzes Rashford So far, the only confirmed signings are goalkeeper Joan García and striker Marcus Rashford. Regarding the latter, the president highlighted his involvement in wearing the Blaugrana jersey. "We signed this player because he had a great commitment to coming to Barcelona," Laporta assured. "He is fast, strong, committed, and did everything possible to sign for Barça," he added. "He pressured his agent, spoke with the club, and at the same time, with Manchester United," the director detailed. 🌎 Expanding market Laporta also showed himself to be open to playing an official LaLiga match in the United States. "It would be a great honor to participate in that event: an official LaLiga match that would also be an important event in the United States," he added. During the tour of Asia, Laporta has been one of the main protagonists. He participates in numerous institutional acts and has highlighted the importance of this market for the club. "For us, Asia is crucial, it's very important," he assured. "It's a market where we can develop our image, our brand, and our values," he said. "We have many, many followers here and we are very, very grateful for the treatment," Laporta concluded. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 JOSEP LAGO - AFP or licensors
