Mission & History

SYCAMORE SCHOOL HISTORY

Sycamore School was founded in 1985 by parents and teachers who felt that the unique needs of their high ability learners were not being met by existing public and private schools. Discussions within this small group led to the suggestion that they start a school dedicated solely to the education of academically gifted students. They decided that this mission could best be achieved through the creation of a private, independent institution, and thus, Sycamore School was chartered as a not-for-profit corporation in Indiana. Gene Eib, a highly regarded, recently retired public school principal, was hired as its founding Headmaster.

A building was leased from a Unitarian Church near Butler University and prepared for use by the new school. Teachers were hired, and the school opened in the fall of 1985 with 110 students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.

Enrollment expanded rapidly, and the young institution quickly outgrew the church's available space. Sycamore School completed an agreement with Washington Township to lease Grandview Elementary. In the fall of 1989, the school moved to the site it occupies today, serving students from Preschool through Eighth Grade. It was then a 16-acre campus with a 56,000-square-foot building. The campus is now 16 acres, and the building has 118,000 square feet. This one building houses all of the academic facilities: classrooms, science and computer labs, a maker space, music and art studios, gymnasium, auditorium, a Middle School Commons, and a media center. The grounds also contain athletic fields, a playground, and an outdoor play lab for Early Childhood.

The school continued to thrive in enrollment, quality, and community recognition. In 1991, Sycamore became a provisional member of ISACS, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States.

After Mr. Eib's retirement in 1987, Alice Bostwick, one of Sycamore’s founding teachers, became Head of School. While Mrs. Bostwick was Head of School, enrollment grew to 385.
Alice Bostwick was succeeded by Dr. Nyle Kardatzke, who became Head of School in January of 1994. That school year, the student body reached 400 in Preschool through Eighth Grade, with over 50 faculty and administrators. Dr. Kardatzke's previous experience in independent schools led to restructuring the administration to allow for Division Heads, a Plant Manager, and a full-time Admissions Director. Long-range planning in the spring of 1994 and subsequent work by the Board of Trustees set in motion activities to strengthen and improve the school. Much of the school's history from 1994 to 2000 is a reflection of that long range plan, which led to the following developments:
   •   Clarification of the school's mission
   •   Establishment of a regular cycle of curriculum writing and refinement
   •   Introduction of non-salary benefits for all staff members in 1995
   •   Purchase of the campus in 1996
   •   Full accreditation by ISACS in 1998
   •   Successful completion of the school's first capital campaign, 1998-2000
   •   Expansion of the building, 1999-2000, adding an Early Childhood wing and expanding spaces for art, music, computers, science, and Spanish; renovation of the Middle School

A new long-range plan was written in 2000 with the participation of 70 parents, teachers, alumni, and students. This new plan called for further improvements in the facilities, upgraded faculty compensation, expanded financial aid, and steps to assure continuity of the school as staff and Board members change over time.
A second capital campaign in 2004-2005 provided a new gymnasium and a new theater, a relocated and modernized library, plus renovation of the Lower School wing and creation of a new entrance.

Dr. Kardatzke completed a highly successful tenure as Head of School in June 2006.

After an extensive national search the Board of Trustees of Sycamore School selected Leo P. Dressel to be the fourth Head of Sycamore School in 2006.

During the 2008-2009 school year, Dr. Susan Karpicke and Mrs. Glenna Lykens were named Interim Co-Heads of School as Sycamore embarked on a search for a new permanent Head of School. Dr. Karpicke, who was Director of Admissions, and Mrs. Lykens, who was Head of Lower School, continued in those roles as they worked with the administrative team to provide leadership to the school during the search process.

Diane Borgmann became the fifth Head of School at Sycamore in 2009. Mrs. Borgmann returned to the Sycamore community she had been an integral part of for eleven years. She was the first Head of Lower School at Sycamore beginning in July of 1994 and continued in that role until June of 2005, adding the additional responsibilities of Associate Head of School in 2001.

Since 2009, under Diane’s leadership, Sycamore has made significant strides in development of the Board of Trustees and ongoing strategic planning. Great progress has been made in the area of marketing and in the security of the school’s financial future. Sycamore completed its fifth ISACS Self-Study in 2018 and received its re-accreditation in January 2019.

In 2014, Sycamore launched The Fulfilling Promise campaign to establish new learning spaces, grow our financial aid endowment, and continue our Sycamore Fund. The campaign ended in 2017, exceeding the goal by over $1M.

During the 2022-2023 school year, Sycamore began the Sycamore Inspires Campaign to fundraise for re-imagining the Media Center area and starting the Borgmann Inspiration Fund.

Diane Borgmann retired in 2023 after 14 years as Head of School. The school completed a national search selecting John Huber to become the new Head of School at Sycamore in 2023.

Sycamore wrapped up a successful Sycamore Inspires Campaign by debuting a renovated Media Center in 2024. The Media Center includes multiple areas for classes or small groups, with a unique second level for students to sit and enjoy a book under the canopy of a beautiful tree. Other additons include an audio/visual studio, new glass entry doors, and a revamped Middle School book section.