Rasche honored to lead Northeast Dubois School Corporation as next superintendent

Dr. Tara Rasche has been an educator at heart since she was in elementary school.

“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” she said adding it was one of her favorite pretend games in elementary school growing up in Dubois.

Back then, when the schools were updating their curriculums, sometimes they would hold a drawing among students for the teacher materials from the retiring curriculum. When Tara was in third grade, the school was transitioning to a new math curriculum and she saw her opportunity.

“I put my name in the drawing and I was really looking forward to having the teacher edition and playing school all summer. I couldn’t wait,” she laughed. “Well, I didn’t get it but I think it worked out well since I became an English teacher anyway.”

That interest became a passion for education and led Dr. Rasche into a long, rewarding career in teaching that culminated recently with her being selected as the next superintendent of the Northeast Dubois County School Corporation. She will assume the role beginning July 1; a day after Superintendent Bill Hochgesang retires.

The 51-year-old Dubois native has dedicated her life to education. After graduating from Northeast Dubois High School in 1988, she headed to the University of Southern Indiana where she completed a bachelor’s in secondary education and English. She continued her education at Indiana Wesleyan University completing her master’s in education in 1997.

Her career began at Forest Park Jr./Sr. High School where she taught English before being hired by Northeast Dubois High School as an English teacher in 2003. In 2013, she took over as the corporation’s Media Specialist, a position she held until the corporation needed a principal for Dubois and Celestine Elementary Schools.

Dr. Rasche knew she wanted to take on more leadership roles in the corporation. Moving into the position as principal helped her achieve that and allowed her to begin considering what the next steps in her career would look like.

But, the move to elementary school was also a big change after so many years of teaching high school students.

“It was definitely a new environment for me. I got a lot of hugs,” she said adding that elementary school children are also very energetic and always in a hurry.

“It was a great experience,” Dr. Rasche said. “And that experience will help me be a better superintendent.”

She served as the elementary school principal until 2020 when the Northeast Dubois High School principal resigned. Dr. Rasche assumed that role right as the pandemic began. Plus a few months after taking on her new responsibilities as the high school principal, she earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University; a challenge she decided to pursue in 2017 as an extension of her love of learning but also as part of the progression of her career.

Being part of a small community has given her the honor to be a part of so many children’s lives. To see their successes in and outside the classroom is a blessing and she loves those common run-ins with students outside the classroom. “It is great seeing my students everywhere,” she said. “I love it.”

Taking on the responsibilities as superintendent in the school corporation that fostered her early interest in education, gave her the tools to pursue that interest, and then, allowed her to return and pass on her passion to so many students is an absolute honor.

“It is such an honor to know that I’m going to be working with and leading such great educators,” Dr. Rasche said. “I can’t wait to see the great things to come.”

Dr. Rasche and her husband, Dennis, have three children; twins, Alexa Rasche and Madison Mundy, and their youngest, Tyla Rasche. Alexa and Madison are both teachers in Dubois County. Tyla is a senior at the University of Evansville with plans to teach French and English.