Since the fall semester of 2023, Chris Himsel, PhD, has served as superintendent of the Vigo County School Corporation (VCSC). He has served the education profession full-time since 1990 wherein he has served as a public-school mathematics teacher, basketball, tennis, and football coach, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent of secondary education; he has also served as an assistant professor at the collegiate level.
Prior to joining VCSC, Dr. Himsel served as superintendent of Northwest Allen County Schools in Fort Wayne, Indiana for twelve years and of the Kokomo Center Township Consolidated School Corporation in Kokomo, Indiana for two years. Before serving as a superintendent, he worked for three large urban school districts in Indianapolis and Lafayette, Indiana. He is an active member of the American Association of School Administrators, ASCD, the Indiana Association of Public Schools Superintendents (IAPSS), and the West Central Indiana Superintendent Study Council. He has served in a variety of roles for ASCD and IAPSS.
Dr. Himsel has presented at ASCD annual conferences and seminars and conferences of IAPSS, the Hope Foundation, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. He has presented on topics such as leading with purpose, multi-metric accountability and evidence of learning, teacher evaluation practices that serve the whole child, developing and implementing teacher induction programs, legislative advocacy, and realigning budgets to support priorities. In 2017, he earned recognition as Indiana’s Superintendent of the Year.
In addition to his commitment to VCSC, Dr. Himsel engages in the community by participating in and serving the Vigo County Education Foundation, Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, Vigo County Housing Steering Committee and the I-70 Coalition. He actively participates in Relay for Life fundraising events to support the American Cancer Society. He and his wife also support the work of Love Without Boundaries and Little People of America.
Dr. Himsel and his wife, Deb, have five children and enjoy watching and participating in their many activities. They also enjoy fishing, hiking, running, IndyCar racing, and traveling.