INDIANAPOLIS — For the second time in the last 14 months, North Central High School’s principal position is open.
In a post on X, Washington Township Schools announced that it is seeking a qualified candidate to fill an open principal position at North Central High School. The district is slated to host a special school board meeting on Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.
In a statement sent to North Central High School students and their parents, district administrators indicated current principal Daniel Mendez has resigned. Washington Township Schools did not clarify exactly why Mendez is resigning.
“Current NCHS Principal Dr. Mendez recently resigned, and we wanted to make sure you were informed,” Washington Township Schools’ statement read. “Dr. Mendez shared, ‘It has been an honor to serve the students and staff at North Central. I am grateful for the opportunity.’ We appreciate Dr. Mendez’s service to NCHS and wish him the very best in his next endeavor.”
Previous reporting indicates Washington Township Schools hired Mendez last spring to be the principal at North Central High School. Mendez took over for Evans Branigan III, who had been fired.
Branigan III was the put on paid administrative leave in March 2023. The school district announced his dismissal in April.
The district reported that it had received reports of “verbal misconduct” involving Branigan III. Washington Township Schools also indicated that it had heard about Branigan III’s alleged “failure to implement district protocols regarding a student discipline matter.”
While Branigan III was on leave, Dr. Brian Davis served as the school’s lead administrator. Washington Township School officials said they began investigating Branigan III’s alleged misconduct as soon as they caught wind of it.
Before he replaced Branigan III at North Central High School, Mendez was the principal at Seymour Middle School.
In the statement they sent to parents, Washington Township Schools administrators indicated they will seek “broad-based stakeholder feedback to ensure the hiring of a highly qualified principal for this critical position.”
The school district got input from “nearly 700 broad-based stakeholders” when they hired Mendez last year.
