Grow Allen taps Fort Wayne superintendent as executive director
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Greater Fort Wayne Inc. on Thursday announced Park Ginder as the new executive director of Grow Allen, an organization focused on student career development.
Ginder currently serves as superintendent of Southwest Allen County Schools and will begin his new role after the current academic year ends.
Grow Allen launched in October 2023 as a convening organization to address what Board Chair Ron Turpin called one of northeast Indiana’s biggest challenges: the number of adults with marketable credentials or two- or four-year degrees.
The organization says Ginder’s K-12 educational background will play a crucial role in improving degree and credential attainment for high school graduates.
“Dr. Ginder’s visionary leadership and passion for education make him the ideal choice to lead Grow Allen,” Turpin said in a news release. “His deep understanding of the educational ecosystem and commitment to our community’s youth will accelerate our mission and enhance our impact. We are excited for the future under his guidance.”
Ginder has led Southwest Allen County Schools since 2021 and previously served as principal of Homestead High School in Fort Wayne and DeKalb High School in Waterloo.
“As we begin to build our team at Grow Allen, we will be guided by our four pillars of early learning, life skills, work-based learning, and advocacy to ensure that laws and regulations facilitate our students’ success,” Ginder said in the release. “The future is bright for Allen County, and I am committed to seeing that Grow Allen has a significant impact on the lives of young people and the wider community.”
Ginder will start at Grow Allen after the Fourth of July holiday.