When coming back and forth to a place a couple of times, life is bound to change in the most unexpected ways; with change brings many new beginnings and opportunities for improvement and growth.
Naturally, some humans tend to try to be like others, but that’s not always the case. Some people change into the person they are today, but others stick to who they were from the beginning. A returning member of BHS has changed school, but hasn’t changed much himself:“I didn’t really have to change who I was, and to be honest, I’m not going to change who I am because that’s kind of what got me where I am today,” new 2025 Assistant Principal Will Mahan said.
As some might not know, last school year Mr. Corey Ebert, the Assistant Principal for Team 2025 announced that he will no longer be the Assistant Principal at BHS because “he was given the opportunity to become the Director of Finance for BCSC this summer,” The Brownsburg Community School Corporation (BCSC) website posted.
It is common for many to travel and move back and forth from a location. Imagine doing it three or more times. Mahan can say he has done the same. Around nine years ago, Mahan was “an instructional assistant here at Brownsburg High School in the Special Education classrooms.”
That’s where Mahan met Ebert. “I consider Mr. Mahan a friend and know what a dedicated educator he is,” Ebert said.
When Ebert switched positions, he did leave a piece of advice for Mahan: “Make it a point to be there for the students. Whether in school, at a performance or at a ball game.”
Through life people can come and go, but some relationships are maintained despite the years. Mahan and BHS’s head football coach John Hart have known each other for a long time. Mahan met Hart in fifth grade, when Hart had the chance to be his football coach at Evansville Reitz High School, where Mahan grew up. “Will and my son Derek have been best friends since the fifth grade; I would consider him a part of our family.”
As Hart watched Mahan grow up, he saw that “Will has earned everything he has accomplished by out–working his competition. His passion for students is unusual and special,” Hart said.
For quite some time Mahan has been working in education to help students, parents and staff be the best and to live his goal to want to strive and to one day be in a leadership position. This led to him leaving to go and be the leader that he is.
Mahan spent the past two years in the Avon School District and was the Dean of Students and Athletic Director at Avon Middle School South. Since Brownsburg is rivals with Avon, many might not know what it is like to go to school there.
Is it different from going to schools in Brownsburg? Or is Brownsburg better than Avon? What goals do Avon have that Brownsburg doesn’t to help them improve? Mahan has had the opportunity to understand both sides of the rivalry between Brownsburg and Avon. “I think what I learned in Avon was it was just a different way of thinking.… It was a little bit bigger of a school corporation. So what comes with that is different decisions and different philosophies,” Mahan said.
Mahan being given the chance to come back to Brownsburg was just one of many doors he has been through to start the next chapter of his life. “I do believe that it’s [Brownsburg’s] the best school corporation in the state, and I feel like me saying that has a little more validity now that I’ve been in another district.”
Even though Mahan will only be here for the seniors’ last year of high school, he plans to be there for all the students and to advocate for them in the short amount of time that is left before they graduate.
Some people might not know, but Mahan has a wife Sarah Mahan who is the counselor for last names A-K for Team 2027. A major reason for coming back to Brownsburg was his family. “My wife was a draw. To be in the same corporation as her was important. My son will be in kindergarten next school year. So that was a draw as well.” Mahan said. son starting kindergarten and with a child on the way, the whole family will be together at home, and in BCSC.
Mahan has a lot on his plate with being in a new position and all the goals he has planned. “I believe that I want to be a part of that, and I want to better this community and school community, you know, to improve,” Mahan said.
