Thomas Spry with his daughter and her Yorktown Elementary honor roll plaque on the White River bridge The Spry family with their two golden retrievers Thomas and his wife at Glacier National Park
Candidate — Yorktown Community Schools Board of Trustees

Committed to Excellence

Thomas Spry for Yorktown School Board

An engineer, problem solver, and long-time Yorktown resident committed to taking what's already great and making it even better — academic achievement, fiscal stewardship, and student opportunity.

LEGO model of Yorktown High School
Meet Thomas

Putting complex pieces together to make a great school system excellent.

Thomas Spry
Yorktown, Indiana
Engineer · Dad · Neighbor
Community Focus

My wife Maggie and I have been proud Yorktown residents our entire adult lives. We intentionally chose Yorktown as the community to raise our family. Our two children, Leah and Levi, are current students in Yorktown Community Schools, giving our family a direct, everyday stake in the success, safety, and vitality of our classrooms.

Professional Background

By profession, I am a mechanical engineer—a problem solver, opportunity finder, and project manager. Over a 20+ year career centered on value creation and continuous improvement, I have specialized in optimizing complex systems, eliminating waste, and bringing people together around common goals. I find the value in every dollar.

My platform

Pillars of my platform.

Fiscal Strength & Smart Growth

High-quality education depends on disciplined, transparent management of public resources. My objective is to safeguard taxpayer dollars while investing strategically in the tools, facilities, and staff our children need to succeed.

Every tax dollar must be directly connected to measurable student success and opportunity. I advocate for improved financial transparency via an intuitive, accessible public financial reporting portal on the district website. Taxpayers deserve clear visibility into how district funds are allocated and utilized. I will also advocate on behalf of the district for tax development considerations by improving partnership with the Yorktown and Delaware county development commissions.

With a comprehensive demographic study underway, we have an immediate opportunity to proactively manage enrollment. I pledge to use this data to preserve class sizes and guarantee capacity for resident Yorktown students, while thoughtfully balancing school choice opportunities for transfer students without overburdening our schools or local infrastructure.

I support establishing a dedicated Building & Facilities Committee composed of community stakeholders, facility experts, and educators. This committee will guide the development of a long-term Facility Master Plan to prioritize preventive maintenance, classroom modernization, and all extracurricular facility enhancements. By identifying and resolving facility problems earlier than full-on failure, we will reduce our operating costs and reduce financial burdens of large renovation projects. We have built great facilities over the past few years - now is the time to maintain them.

Teachers already dedicate countless personal hours to writing classroom grants and fundraising. I advocate creating a central Grant-Writing and Fundraising Coordinator position. Working hand-in-hand with the Yorktown Community Schools Foundation, this role will actively pursue state, federal, and philanthropic grants—freeing our educators to focus on teaching and bringing critical outside dollars into our district.

I will maintain open office hours and respond to community questions and emails. I view the role of a school board member not as a gatekeeper, but as a bridge builder who listens, facilitates answers, and works toward constructive resolutions.

Unrivaled Academic Excellence

Public education exists to unlock the full potential of every single student. By pairing rigorous data with unwavering teacher support, we can elevate Yorktown to one of the premier academic corporations in Indiana and the nation.

Accountability begins with clear measurement. I support establishing public-facing academic Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track student progress and ensure Yorktown consistently exceeds state and national benchmarks. Furthermore, I will promote a monthly executive KPI review at board meetings to evaluate academic performance openly.

A complete educational model supports students at every stage of their academic and vocational journeys:

  • Targeted Interventions: Rigorous support and resource alignment for students with special needs.
  • Enrichment & High Achievement: Accelerated learning and high-ability opportunities for advanced learners.
  • Career & Technical Education: Deepened collaboration with the Delaware County Career Center, including coordinated transportation solutions.
  • Expanded Dual Credit Offerings: Broadening partnerships with state universities so students can earn substantial college credits before graduation.
  • Strengthened Regional Alliances: Evaluating cooperative educational partnerships (such as transitioning from regional Delaware County special education co-op to optimized local program) to ensure superior special education delivery and localized oversight.

Great student outcomes require world-class, empowered educators. I champion the creation of a dedicated Continuing Education Fund to assist Yorktown teachers in pursuing graduate and continuing education coursework. This directly benefits our students by increasing the number of accredited faculty members eligible to teach college-level dual credit courses in our high school and supporting teaching licensure.

Instructional materials must remain rigorous, relevant, and future-ready. I support a transparent, collaborative curriculum review cycle that brings parents and educators together to assess resources and ensure strong academic standards.

Technology is a tool, not a crutch. While digital literacy is vital, our policies must ensure technology enhances instruction rather than creating a classroom distraction. Foundational mastery in reading, structured writing, mathematics, and critical thinking must remain grounded in hands-on, deliberate practice.

Transformative Experience

True educational excellence embraces the whole child. We must create a safe, supportive, and motivating environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Many students navigate hidden disabilities, neurodivergence, or sensory sensitivities. I propose implementing the globally recognized Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program within Yorktown Schools. Training staff and engaging student leaders to support students, will position Yorktown as a first-in-class leader in compassionate, inclusive student care. Find out more about the Sunflower Program

Responsible fiscal oversight lets us put our school budget directly into our classrooms where it matters most. By increasing hands-on support staff and support staff training, we give educators direct support during daily lessons.

Our schools must prepare students not just for college or careers, but for life. By reinforcing core principles of respect, personal responsibility, integrity, and civic service, we help cultivate conscientious, contributing citizens.

Whether inside an honors classroom, on the performing art stage, on an athletic field, or within special support programs, every student should have access to the guidance and tools required to flourish in their own individual ways. It is the responsibility of a school board member to ensure that all student's needs are met as best as possible with the financial resources available.

Open Dialogue & Partnership

A thriving school district rests upon mutual trust, open dialogue, and strong partnerships between schools, parents, taxpayers, and civic leaders.

District communication should never be confusing or fragmented. I champion standardizing parent-school communications across platforms, eliminating redundant apps, and establishing a predictable notification schedule so parents never miss critical updates.

Clear, transparent communication protocols help resolve issues quickly and constructively. Establishing a well-understood, respectful chain-of-communication empowers parents to work directly with classroom educators first, while providing an escalation path if additional support is necessary.

We must strengthen ties with local businesses, civic organizations, and local government to foster mentorships, internships, and community sponsorships that enrich our educational ecosystem.

Community trust is earned through transparency. I am committed to hosting structured listening sessions, attending school events, and ensuring community feedback plays a substantive role before major board decisions are finalized.

Priorities

Summary of key initiatives.

Six specific things I'd expect to see progress on within a term, each with a clear goal and the people it serves.

Grant-Writing Coordinator

Relieve teacher workload and attract external non-tax revenue.

Primary Beneficiaries
Teachers, Taxpayers & Students

Public Financial Portal

Ensure absolute transparency in taxpayer expenditure.

Primary Beneficiaries
Community & Taxpayers

Facility Master Plan

Long-term planning for building maintenance and upgrades.

Primary Beneficiaries
Students & Extracurricular Programs

Continuing Education Fund

Subsidize graduate courses for teachers to expand Dual Credit courses.

Primary Beneficiaries
Educators & High School Students

Sunflower Program

Provide proactive, empathetic support for hidden disabilities.

Primary Beneficiaries
Students, Teachers, and Families

Demographic Enrollment Strategy

Protect resident capacity while smartly managing choice enrollment.

Primary Beneficiaries
Yorktown Families
Get in touch

Join the conversation.

Great schools are built by engaged communities. I invite every Yorktown parent, teacher, business owner, and neighbor to share their priorities, ask questions, and partner in this effort. Together many hands make a burden light.

Message sent.

Thanks for reaching out — I'll get back to you soon.

{{ error }}