Indianola board names Misty Stanley interim co-principal at middle school

The Indianola Community School District board voted 7–0 to appoint Misty Stanley as interim co-principal at the middle school for the 2026–27 school year, with a planned start date of July 1.

Staff described the one-year appointment as a stability measure while both current administrators remain out for the remainder of the school year. “My hope is that for one year we can add this interim co-principal to provide that stability, and invest in our people,” a staff member said, explaining that the appointee would remain in dean duties through June and transition to the co-principal role on July 1.

Board members asked how the appointment would affect the appointee’s longer-term placement. The staff member said Stanley is guaranteed a return to instructional leadership at the district after the interim year and that specifics about whether she would return to secondary leadership or another instructional leadership role would be clarified with the employee.

A motion to approve the interim co-principal position and to name Misty Stanley to the role passed unanimously. The board recorded no public comment on the item before the vote.

The board’s next procedural step is to finalize any contract language or administrative details for the one‑year assignment and to confirm Stanley’s duties and reporting lines during the transition.