Lows Is South Dearborn Schools' Next Superintendent

By Mike Perleberg Eric Lows has been selected as South Dearborn Community School Corporation's next superintendent. Photo via SDCSC. (Aurora, Ind.) - Eric Lows has been a South Dearborn Community School Corporation lifer – and will continue to be. The former Moores Hill School student, South Dearborn High School graduate, teacher, South Dearborn Middle School assistant principal, Aurora Elementary School principal, SDHS football coach, and assistant superintendent will soon become the school district’s superintendent. On Monday, the South Dearborn Community Schools Board of Trustees voted unanimously to hire Lows as the next top administrator. “I think he is an excellent choice,” says current superintendent Dr. John Mehrle. “He has the drive and will to improve all areas of our school corporation.” Lows will officially replace Mehrle on July 1. He has been the assistant superintendent under Mehrle since 2013. “I’ve seen the corporation from a multitude of angles, which helps give me some perspective and understanding of how things work,” Lows says. The Ball State University football player and graduate looks forward to building upon the programs and offerings already offered to South Dearborn students. He also wants to see innovation and creativity brought back into the classroom. “I think sometimes were get hung up on teaching to the test, and those things are important, but the true art of teaching is being able to inspire students, getting them to think outside the box, and see things from a different vantage point. I am really excited about working with our staff to present some new and dynamic teaching styles,” Lows says. Mehrle has been superintendent since 2012, but is retiring after this school year. He says he has no definitive plans in retirement. Among his accomplishments in five years as superintendent, Mehrle is most proud of the district’s transition to becoming a 21st century school with emphasis on 1:1 technology, project-based learning, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. He also proud the district has been a good fiscal steward, brought capital improvements to five of the district’s schools, formed a high school dual credit partnership with Ivy Tech Community College, and put a strong administrative team in place. “Our teachers, staff, and school board have all been outstanding to work with,” said Mehrle. Mehrle himself is a former teacher in the district. As a teacher, he was one of the main proponents of the establishment of the Dearborn Trail, a recreational walking and biking path between Aurora and Lawrenceburg. RELATED STORIES: South Dearborn Superintendent To Retire In 2018