Reilly Harmeyer is the newest Dean at Fishers High School. She was previously at Fall Creek Junior High as the assistant principal for around a year and a half. Prior to that, she was at North Central High School in Indianapolis. She currently serves as one of the deans for grades 10-12. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in education? 

I started off way back in the day as a kindergarten and first grade assistant and then went back to school and got my teaching license. I had been a student who kind of struggled when I was in school. So really, that’s what inspired me to get into education, to be able to help students who also struggled both academically and behaviorally. Being a dean is definitely a career path that spoke to me, just from my experiences in the dean’s office when I was in high school. I really connected with my dean, and he inspired me to pursue that career path. 

Is there anything that drew you to Fishers High School? 

Well, I live in Fishers, and I’ve been wanting to serve in my community since I’ve lived here. I was so excited when the opportunity came up to apply for this position, and it’s just great to be on the team. My son is currently a student, and my daughter graduated last year. 

What are your main goals as you start your first year as a dean here? 

Creating relationships and being that supportive person anybody can go to. One of the things about being a dean is sometimes students don’t like coming to the office, or they’re nervous about it. I like to be a friendly face; we’re not just here to assign detentions or suspensions. We’re here to support students in meeting their goals academically and behaviorally. Even when you are in trouble, I try to help work through it in a positive and supportive way. Part of that is sometimes assigning a consequence, but that also sets you up for the employability skill of understanding that actions have consequences. My goal is to make sure every student feels respected and valued, even if they’re in trouble. 

What do you think makes a school community thrive? 

I think everybody really caring about the students and the whole community. Here, I’ve been very impressed with how involved not just the students are, but also the faculty. Everybody is rallying around the community, and it’s very supportive and joyful. It’s just a really nice place to be, and that makes it special. 

How do you plan to support teachers? 

I’m big on communication. Part of my role is also supporting our GROWL initiative and the positive slips. I’ve been really excited to not only support teachers if they have an issue with a student in class, but also promote positive behaviors and encourage each other. I really feel like the more you promote what you want to see, the more you see it. I plan on continuing with those initiatives and seeing how it helps staff and students. From the behavior side, I want to support teachers if a student is having trouble in their class by working with the student to help them understand the impact of their actions. Sometimes there’s intent and then there’s impact a student may not have intended to disrupt class, but that’s what happened. It’s about helping them own their behavior so they can make a change, and supporting teachers by reinforcing expectations in the student handbook. 

How do you plan to connect with students and get to know them more? 

I’m really outgoing in the hallways. I like to give big smiles all the time. I’m enthusiastic, friendly and extroverted. I’m over by Door 23, so one way is just being friendly, outgoing, joking around a little, encouraging kids to get to class in a silly way. Just being present, open, and asking about their day and giving them smiles. 

What role do you think extracurriculars such as sports and music play in students’ lives? 

Oh, that’s huge. As I shared earlier, I really struggled in high school, and being involved in sports was huge for me. It was the only thing that kept me engaged, because I knew I had to keep a certain GPA to participate. Being engaged with something extra builds a sense of community outside the classroom and gives you a chance to find success in other areas. I might not have been successful in the classroom, but I found success on the field or on the track, and that built confidence. I think it’s really important for students to find their path, whether through a club, sport or performing arts. I’ve also seen how much extracurriculars have helped my kids. They’ve built leadership, grit and time management and employability skills that are important as you transition from high school to your next step. 

What is something students might be surprised to learn about you? 

I kind of touched on it, but I think it might surprise some students. Usually, they think a dean or administrator was probably a straight-A student, but that wasn’t my path. I think it’s important for students to know that their teachers and administrators were all young once and had different experiences. 

Do you have any advice for students who are struggling academically or socially? 

I’d say utilize the resources here for you. Not everybody may be able to make a team, but you can find different connections. Reach out to your counselors, teachers or any trusted adult. If you’re struggling, use TI sessions and don’t be afraid to ask for help or support. Everybody here wants to help students meet their goals. But if we don’t know something is happening, it’s harder to figure out. So be open with people and get involved, especially because it’s so fun here.