MUNCIE, Ind. - Duncan N. P. "Pat" Pritchett, Jr., superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools, has been named the Ball State University Teachers College 2002 Outstanding Alumnus.

For more than 30 years, Pritchett has served the children of the Indianapolis Public Schools in a variety of roles, including as elementary school teacher, supervisor of staff development, elementary school principal, director of elementary education, administrative assistant to the superintendent, chief of staff, interim superintendent, and assistant superintendent for facilities management.

Pritchett received his doctorate in education from Ball State University in 1999.

Pat Pritchett exemplifies the best of what should be expected of an educational leader, said Roy Weaver, dean of Teachers College.

"He is an advocate for school-university partnerships, cares deeply about students and their families, and is a strong supporter of teachers, administrators, and other school personnel," Weaver said. "He keeps informed of policy issues, best practices and seeks to leverage them for the betterment of all Indianapolis citizens."

Pritchett oversees the operation of the state's largest public school system with an enrollment of 41,000 students and an annual budget of $435 million.

Since becoming superintendent in December 1997, Pritchett has refocused the corporation's priority on instruction, resulting in improved test scores.

Pritchett served as vice president of the Indiana Urban Schools Association and is on the board of directors for the

Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He has been a member of the National School Volunteer Program, the National Staff Development Council and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

His civic commitments have included the Indianapolis Commission on African American Males, the Children's Museum Advisory Committee and the Interagency Council for Serious Habitual Offenders' Comprehensive Action Program.

Pritchett's honors include being named 2000 Outstanding Administrator by the Indiana Music Educators Association, recipient of the 2000 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New Millennium Education Award from the Indiana Christian Leadership Conference and Martin University and winner of the 2000 Indiana National Guard Appreciation Award.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Weaver at rweaver@bsu.eduor (765) 285-5251.)