Dr. Scott Robison named Sagamore of the Wabash

Zionsville Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Robison recently received the Governor’s prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash recognition presented during his retirement reception.

Created in the 1940s, the Sagamore of the Wabash is one of the highest honors bestowed upon Hoosier citizens. The award is conferred by the Governor as a personal tribute to those who have rendered distinguished service to the State of Indiana through their wisdom, public commitment and concern for the wellbeing of others.

Zionsville Community Schools Board of Trustees Secretary Dr. Jeff Papa presented Robison with the award on behalf of Governor Holcomb. Dr. Robison is retiring on February 1 after nearly 17 years as the ZCS Superintendent of Schools and 41 years in Indiana K-12 public schools.

Dr. Papa’s remarks included the origin of the high honor and related rationale for why Dr. Robison is a recipient. Former ZCS Board member Mark Englert also brought congratulatory remarks during Robison’s retirement gathering, stating, in part, “You deserve every honor. You never wavered in your focus upon children as the reason for decisions during your service in ZCS.”

Veteran teacher Lindsay Allesandrini of Zionsville Community High School spoke at the gathering and cited many ways that Dr. Robison led ZCS with conviction and heart—never forgetting to support and appreciate ZCS teachers and support staff in their mission.

Dr. Robison began his tenure as the leader of Zionsville Community Schools in 2006. He credits his Board of Trustees members, the team of school leaders he assembled over time, collaborative teacher leaders, and business/community partners for the district’s successful navigation through turbulent times of growth and funding challenge since 2006.

He continued, “I am humbled by this recognition from Governor Holcomb’s Office and also incredibly grateful for kind remarks about my career of service in Indiana’s K-12 public schools made on the United States Senate floor on Monday, January 23, 2023, by Indiana’s senior U.S. Senator, Todd Young. I humbly accept Senator Young’s kind acknowledgment and Governor Holcomb’s Sagamore of the Wabash designation on behalf of the governing boards, lead and teaching staffs, and volunteer teams with whom I have worked in Zionsville and other Indiana K-12 public schools since 1980. Public school teachers made it possible for me to have a productive professional career of service. Teaching is still the cradle of all professions.”

Dr. Robison grew up in New Albany where he began his teaching career. He subsequently taught in the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township. Robison served as principal in Southwest Allen County Schools (Fort Wayne) and MSD Pike Township, serving as co-founder of the choice schools in Pike Township Schools before Indiana’s charter school laws. Robison was the first K-12 curriculum, instruction and professional development leader in the Westfield Washington Schools (WWS), later serving as the Chief Financial Officer for WWS. Following service as superintendent of the Sheridan Community Schools, Dr. Robison took the helm of ZCS in 2006. He earned Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Indiana University and his Ph.D. from Purdue University in West Lafayette.

Dr. Robison is married to a teacher from the Westfield Washington Schools and has three children. He was also named the Lorin A. Burt Indiana Educator of the Year by the Indiana School Boards Association at the group’s annual conference last September. He has served on a local redevelopment commission, a parks board, a county United Way steering committee, an economic development commission, and for 20 years as a high school and college basketball official.

 A fund has been established in Dr. Robison’s name by the Zionsville Education Foundation to support future student enrichment opportunities in the district. ZEF can be found at https://zionsvilleeducationfoundation.org/.