Casey Smitherman made national headlines in 2019 when it was revealed that she took a sick student to a clinic without parental consent and used her son’s name and insurance to purchase prescription medication for the student. 

An investigation also revealed that Smitherman purchased the student some clothing and helped clean the student’s home leading residents in Elwood and beyond to wonder about the true nature of her relationship with the student.

Smitherman spoke to CBS about her actions and said, “I would really like to go back and revisit that moment and change it, but I can’t.”

According to Smitherman’s LinkedIn page, as of this publication, Smitherman lists her job as principal of South View Elementary School in Muncie Community Schools. For the upcoming Muncie Community Schools Board of Trustee meeting on Feb. 14, Smitherman’s name is listed on the personnel agenda items document. She is being recommended for the job of principal of South View Elementary School with a salary of $100,850 annually.

It is unclear what steps Smitherman has taken to show that she is capable of having proper boundaries with students. Smitherman did complete a diversion program to avoid criminal charges regarding the Elwood incident.

After her resignation from Elwood Community School Corporation, according to her LinkedIn, she was the designer and owner of Inspired Home & Gifts. What spurred the change to step back into the education arena?

The pandemic has led educators at all levels of the system to reconsider their career paths. Those who decided to leave left vacancies, and all of those vacancies were not filled. Is the answer bringing in an educator who left education due to inappropriate interactions with a student, which involved not seeking parental consent? Why would Muncie Community Schools take the risk?