PENDLETON — Melissa Hagerman is going from a South Madison classroom to the principal’s office.
The 19-year teacher and longtime cross country coach in South Madison Community Schools Corp. recently earned her administrative license. She won’t have to go far for her new job.
At its July meeting, the South Madison school board approved Hagerman as an assistant principal at Pendleton Elementary School.

Hagerman joins assistant principal John Junco and lead principal Eric Schill. The administrative trio will serve in a new arrangement that starts this year.
In May, it was announced that, beginning with the 2021-22 school year, Pendleton Elementary School-Primary and Pendleton Elementary School-Intermediate will be considered one school consisting of two buildings and would have one principal with two assistants.
The school will continue to serve the same grade levels, pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade.
Arlene Bennett retired recently as principal of Pendleton Elementary School-Intermediate.
Superintendent Mark Hall said Hagerman’s main duties will be at the primary building, but all three principals would be sharing duties.
“We’re excited for her,” Hall said. “She just finished her administrative degree within the last few years, and we’re glad we could keep her in the district.”
Hagerman has taught the past five years at Pendleton Heights Middle School. She started her teaching career at East Elementary School. She spent three years there before moving to Pendleton Elementary. She has also been the high school’s head girls cross country coach for the past 17 years and will continue her head coach duties this coming school year.
“I’m happy to be able to have the opportunity to stay within South Madison schools,” Hagerman said. “I’m thrilled to be in that building. I’d be thrilled to be in any of our buildings, but I think it’s going to be a great fit.”
Hagerman said she had taken her principal’s test in August 2020 but, because of the pandemic, didn’t feel it was a good time to be pursuing a new job. But she couldn’t pass up this opportunity on her home turf.
“The timing of it was just absolutely perfect,” she said, of starting a new job and being able to do it in familiar surroundings.
“That’s what I’m probably most excited about,” Hagerman added. “With any job, it’s learning the people and getting familiar with different things. I’ve already had that established. Now I can get down to work and serve the staff however I need to serve them.
“I’m glad I am still going to be able to coach. I love what I do. I love coaching. I’m pretty blessed that I can continue to do that for at least another season.”
More personnel news
The board also:
Accepted the certified staff resignations of Maple Ridge Elementary School sixth-grade teacher Dana Hartzell and Pendleton Heights High School wellness teacher Alicia Breedlove.
Approved the certified staff recommendations of high school special education teacher Shelby McCullum, and Pendleton Heights Middle School special education teacher Danielle Joyce and summer school teacher Rick Johnson.
Approved the certified staff transfer from e-coach to EL coordinator for Wendy Simmons at the Administrative Service Center.
Accepted support staff resignations from East Elementary School part-time custodian Bridget West and instructional assistant Christy Martin.
Approved support staff recommendations for Jenny Taylor, technology technician at the Administrative Service Center; Christy Keesling, summer school instructional assistant at Maple Ridge; Omayra Rivera, speech-language pathology assistant at the middle school and high school; and Rachel Hemminger, special education instructional assistant at Pendleton Elementary School.
Approved the extra-curricular recommendation of Alicia Escue as middle school tennis coach.