District Leadership
Superintendent
Mark D. Daniel, Ph.D.
Dr. Mark Daniel joined Fort Wayne Community Schools as the 15th Superintendent of FWCS on July 1, 2020.
Dr. Daniel is a 1979 graduate of North Side High School, making him the second FWCS alumni to become FWCS superintendent in the District’s history. His first teaching job was at North Side High School, where he taught advanced algebra, geometry, business law, accounting and skills for living. He also coached football, basketball, baseball, track and golf.
He left North Side to become assistant principal at Leo Junior/Senior High School in 1995 and took over as Leo principal in 1998, a position he held for 12 years. In 2010, he became superintendent of Dowagiac Union Schools in Dowagiac, Michigan, a K-12 school district with about 2,400 students. In 2014, he was hired as superintendent of McLean County Unit District No. 5 in Normal, Illinois, a K-12 school district with 13,300 students.
Schools Attended:
- University of Toledo, Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Marketing Management, 1983
- Bowling Green State University, Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Business, 1985
- Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Master’s Degree in Secondary Education Administration, 1993
- Indiana State University, Doctorate in Education Administration, 2006
Contact:
Phone: 260.467.2025
Fax: 260.467.1975
Email: Ask the Superintendent
Address:
Fort Wayne Community Schools
1200 South Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Superintendent Contract
Deputy Superintendent
Debra Faye Williams-Robbins, Esq., Ed.D.
A graduate of Northrop High School, Dr. Williams-Robbins received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in elementary education from Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., her Master of Arts Degree from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) and her Doctorate of Education from Ball State University.
After teaching at Arlington Elementary School from 1979 to 1990, Dr. Williams-Robbins received her Administrative Certificate from IPFW. She then served as a Title I Resource teacher for a year before being appointed to her first administrative position as dean/counselor at Miami Middle School from 1991-1993.
Following her tenure at Miami, Dr. Williams-Robbins served as principal at Arlington Elementary years from 1993-2001. It was from this position that she was appointed Area Administrator for the North Side-South Side Area. This position later became the High School Area Administration position and then became the Assistant Superintendent-Secondary. As the first Chief of Student, Family and Community Engagement, Dr. Williams-Robbins leads the Family and Community Engagement Center, which is designed to support new and current families and connect families with resources in the community.
Dr. Williams-Robbins completed her doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision at Ball State University in 2021. She began to notice a trend in education that indicated there was a need for administrators with enhanced legal knowledge. Pursuant to this recognition, Dr. Williams-Robbins began to study law at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich. She received the Juris Doctor degree in May 2000 and after passing the Indiana Bar examination on her first attempt, was admitted to the Indiana Bar in May 2001.
Honors and Awards
Delta Sigma Theta † Educational Development Award
Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society
Dean’s List † Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Academic Achievement Award
Community Activities
- American Heart Association
- African-American Alumni
- Heartland Chamber Chorale
- YMCA Childcare Division
- National Alliance of Black School Educators
- Fort Wayne Alliance of Black School Educators
- International Village of the Three Rivers’ Festival
- Fort Wayne Administrators and Professionals Association
- Girl Scouts of Limberlost
- Textbook Adoption Committee
Chief Financial Officer
Rosie Shipman
Rosie was born and raised in Fort Wayne and graduated from Bishop Luers High School. She attended Indiana University, Fort Wayne graduating with a BS in Business Management.
In November 2001, she joined FWCS as a Treasurer spending 12 years in this position between Weisser Park and Forest Park elementary schools. In 2013, Rosie transferred to the Business Department as an Accounting Clerk. Moving through the ranks of FWCS, she accepted the position of Budgeting Department Analyst in 2014, Director of Budgeting in 2016, and most recently, promoted to the position of Chief Financial Officer on Nov. 1, 2023.
Departments:
- Business Services
- Facilities
- Federal Programs
- Fiscal Affairs
- Maintenance & Operations
- Natatorium
- Nutrition Services
- Purchasing
- Transportation
Address:
Fort Wayne Community Schools
1200 South Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Contact:
Phone: 260.467.2000
Fax: 260.467.1981
Comments/Questions for Rosie Shipman
Chief Systems Officer
Jack Byrd
Jack is a 1980 graduate of Wayne High School. He started his technical career as a Programmer at Peoples Trust Bank in 1981 and graduated from Purdue University at Fort Wayne in 1983 with a degree in Applied Science. Jack also successfully completed the Strategic Data Project program in 2016 at the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University.
He joined FWCS in 1984 as a Senior Programmer. Jack advanced in the Technology Department as Senior Programmer/Analyst, Supervisor of Business Information Systems, and Manager of Information Systems. After successfully overseeing the Y2K conversions including the rewrite of the Payroll/HR system, he was promoted to Director of Technology in 2000. As Director, the Technology Department continued to expand and, in 2016, assumed responsibility for instructional technology. With technology now being an integral part of the District’s mission, he was assigned as the Chief Technology Officer in 2021.
Departments:
Address:
Fort Wayne Community Schools
1200 South Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Contact:
Phone: 260.467.2160
Fax: 260.467.1980
Email: Comments/Questions for Jack Byrd
Chief Academic Officer
Joe Brown, Ph.D.
Dr. Joe Brown joined FWCS as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in 2022. He previously served as superintendent of Elwood Community School Corporation, a position he held from 2019-22. He began his career in education in 2005 as a third-grade teacher in Delphi Community School Corporation and taught for one year in Indianapolis Public Schools. He took his first principal position in Delphi in 2009 and worked in administration in Delphi, Noblesville, Franklin Township and Elwood schools over the next decade. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Marian University since 2011.
He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from IUPUI; Master of Science Degree in Education from Purdue University; and a Ph.D. in Education from Indiana State University.
As Chief Academic Officer, he oversees all aspects of curriculum and testing for the District, pre-K through 12th grade. He also oversees the District's 30 elementary schools, 11 middle schools and two early childhood centers.
Departments:
- Elementary & Middle Schools
- Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
- English Language Learners
- Media Services
- School Climate & Culture
- Special Education
Address:
Fort Wayne Community Schools
1200 South Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Contact:
Phone: 260.467.2845
Fax: 260.467.1978
Email: Comments/Questions for Dr. Joe Brown
Chief of Family and Community Engagement & Schools of Success
Shenita V. Bolton, Ed.S.
Shenita V. Bolton, Chief of Family and Community Engagement and Schools of Success joined the district in 2016 as the College and Career Readiness Manager. As her responsibilities expanded, she was promoted to Director of College and Career Readiness in 2021 and Executive Director in 2023. In 2025, Shenita began her new role as Chief of Family and Community Engagement and Schools of Success.
She previously worked in higher education for twenty years where she served as the Director of Multicultural Affairs during the first ten years of her tenure and Director of Admissions during the later ten years.
Shenita earned both her Bachelor of Theatre Arts and her Masters of Education from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. In July 2021, she successfully earned her K-12 Education and Leadership Specialist (Ed.S.) degree from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.
Departments:
- Adult & Continuing Education
- Athletics
- b Instrumental
- Career & Technical Education (CTE)
- College & Career Readiness
- Community Partnerships & Safety
- Schools of Success
- Student Health
- Student Services
Address:
Fort Wayne Community Schools
1200 South Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Contact:
Phone: 260.467.7827
Fax: 260.467.1974
Email: Comments/Questions for Shenita Bolton