IBCA E-Newsletter

2015-16 Administrators of the Year

Congratulations to these Administrators of the Year:

Ed Gilliland - Athletic Director

District 1 - LaPorte

Ed Gilliland is completing his 19th year as athletic director at LaPorte High School.

Prior to being named the LaPorte athletic director, Gilliland was a business teacher and coach at Oregon-Davis, New Castle, LaPorte and Lafayette Jeff. He coached various levels of baseball at all four schools, including varsity coach at Oregon-Davis and Lafayette Jeff. He also was a freshman basketball coach at New Castle and a freshman football coach at LaPorte.

A 1977 graduate of LaPorte, Gilliland earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Ball State in 1981, then added a master’s degree in secondary education from Ball State in 1987.

He is a 19-year member of the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. He served as president of the IIAAA in 2009-10 and has been the group’s secretary since 2012.

In addition, Gilliland has served the Duneland Athletic Conference as baseball chairman for 19 years, softball chairman for 13 years and overall league chairman in 2001-02 and 2008-09.

Gilliland was honored as the IIAAA State Administrator of the Year in 2010-11 and earlier this year learned he will receive a Citation Award from the National Federation of State High School Associations.

He also has been presented the NIAAA State Award of Merit in 2013 and the IIAAA’s Charles F. Maas Service Award for District 1 in 2013 and 2015. Gilliland also has been selected to the LaPorte High School Baseball Hall of Fame and the LaPorte Old-Timers Hall of Fame.

Gilliland and his wife, Marie, have three adult children – Elizabeth, Malorie and James – and six grandchildren. A seventh grandchild is expected in May.

Mel Siefert - Principal

District 2 - Plainfield

Mel Siefert is completing his third year as principal at Plainfield High School.

Siefert graduated from Butler University in 1985, where he participated in football while earning a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. In 1988, he earned a master’s degree in Educational Counseling from Xavier University and continued his training at Xavier, earning his Secondary Administration certification in 2003.

Siefert started his educational career at his alma mater, Batesville High School, as a member of the social studies department and later served as counselor, athletic director, and then assistant principal at Batesville Middle School.

Siefert was named principal at Batesville Middle School in 2009 and served in that role for four years. During his tenure as principal, his students and staff achieved Four Star status in 2012 and earned a Grade of “A” from the Indiana Department of Education. In 2011, Batesville Middle School ranked #1 in the state in Science ISTEP, followed by a #1 ranking in 7th grade math ISTEP in 2012.

Siefert also led the Batesville basketball program to a record of 162-97 during his tenure as head coach, winning several championships, including a Class 3A state runner-up finish in 2004.

Siefert and his wife, Amy, are the parents of two children, Benjamin (29) and Lauren (24).

Rob Moorhead - Superintendent

District 3 - South Ripley

Rob Moorhead is superintendent of South Ripley Schools. He is in his fourth year in that position.

He followed in the footsteps of his father, William "Gus" Moorhead, as a student, player, coach and school administrator. Gus Moorhead spent 40 years in various roles at South Ripley, including the last 23 as principal. His mother also was a teacher for 38 years at South Ripley.

South Ripley is an “A” rated district, and South Ripley Junior High is a 4-Star School.

Moorhead is a graduate of South Ripley, which he helped lead to basketball success in 1981 (sectional and regional champion) and 1982 (sectional champion).

He moved on to Hanover College, where he received a bachelor’s degree. He later earned a master’s degree in educational administration from Xavier University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Indiana State.

Moorhead spent the first 25 years of his professional career in the South Dearborn Community School Corporation. He was a math teacher and basketball and track coach for the first 11 years, followed by five years as the Associate Principal and nine years as the Principal of South Dearborn High School.

He is a member of the board of trustees of Dearborn County Hospital.

Moorhead and his wife, Lisa, have two sons, Brad and Trent.