Donald Turner has Been Selected as the new Mt. Comfort Elementary Principal

Mr. Donald (Donnie) Turner has been selected to be the new principal of Mt. Comfort Elementary School. Mr. Turner comes to Mt. Vernon from the Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation where he has served as the principal of North Madison Elementary for the last four years. Pending approval from the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation Board of Trustees in June, Mr. Turner will begin his tenure at Mt. Vernon this summer. 

Mr. Turner has a strong focus on building relationships with students, staff and the community. Along with his seven years of school administration experience and a plethora of school accomplishments, his time in classrooms working w/students, teaching and joining in community events made him a strong candidate.

Through his principalship at North Madison Elementary, Mr. Turner led the initiative to provide Response to Intervention (RTI) support to students who are struggling academically. He also lowered discipline referrals and suspensions by implementing positive behavioral interventions. He personally began painting the elementary gym to save funds as well as instituting new safety measures in his school.

Superintendent Dr. Parker shared, “We are fortunate to have someone with the caliber of Mr. Turner to join our Marauder community. His personal investment in the community he serves, as well as his high integrity, work ethic and leadership experience made him an ideal candidate. His drive in creating a positive school culture with a focus on the whole child will support students’ academic and personal growth.” 

Prior to being principal of 615 students at North Madison Elementary, Mr. Turner was the dean of students at an elementary school in Warren Township. He also has a year of experience as an elementary school assistant principal at an Indianapolis Public School (IPS), and taught sixth grade science briefly in Lawrence Township. He also served eight years in Greenfield-Central as a math, science and social studies teacher and started his career as a special education/resource teacher at an IPS elementary school. 

Mr. Turner stated, “I am extremely excited to become part of the Buccaneer and Marauder family and look forward to supporting the school and district in achieving academic excellence. By being active in the school, working with staff, and fostering relationships with students and within the community, I hope to continue Mt. Comfort’s path of student success.”

Mr. Turner earned a masters in educational administration and supervision from Ball State University in 2012. In 2006, he earned a bachelors of science in elementary education from Indiana University at Indianapolis. He is a native of Hancock County as he graduated from Greenfield-Central High School in 2002.