Todd Evers was no stranger to the seventh graders as he walked into Martinsville Junior-Senior High as principal this fall. Just a year earlier, he had taught them PE at the elementary school. When he told them he’d be making the move with them, their anxiety about the transition melted. “They were nervous about coming here,” Evers remembered. “But when I announced, ‘I’m coming with you,’ they were excited. That familiarity was huge.”

That sense of connection—building relationships, easing transitions, creating trust—is what Evers has built his career on. And now, as the new leader of Martinsville’s junior high and high school, he’s bringing that philosophy to every hallway and classroom.

From Southern Indiana to Small-Town Illinois

Evers grew up in Newburgh, Indiana, attending Castle High School, worlds away from Martinsville, where his father was an athletic director and teacher and his grandfather had been a principal (Carmi, IL). Education was in his blood, though it took a nudge in college to confirm the path. “I thought about computer programming,” he admitted. “But I realized I wanted something I could love for the rest of my life. I wanted to teach, to coach, to connect with kids.”

After earning his degree at Indiana State, Evers landed at Marshall. He taught PE and served as an assistant football coach. When the head coach abruptly left, Evers—just three years into teaching—was tapped to lead the program. The pressure was immense. “We started 0-3, and all three teams were ranked,” he said. “I was worried. But then we went on a run. Over 10 years, we went to the playoffs eight times.”

Coaching gave him more than wins and losses. It gave him insight into students’ lives. “When you’re on the bus for a hundred-mile trip, you hear about what kids are going through,” he said. “You see their vulnerabilities, their struggles. You start to care about them in ways that are genuine.”

A Coaching Philosophy in Administration

That experience informs his leadership today. “Kids don’t automatically respect you because you’re the teacher or the coach anymore,” he explained. “You’ve got to earn it and reciprocate it. Coaching taught me that. It’s the same in administration—you show kids you care, you earn their trust, and they respond.”

Evers moved from Marshall to Monrovia, Indiana, where he served as athletic director before shifting into assistant principal. That role, with its focus on discipline and attendance, gave him experience in the hardest parts of administration. “Some call them problem kids,” he said. “But often, they’re just misunderstood. I learned that if you take time to listen, you see the whole child.”

Family has always shaped Evers’ career choices. He and his wife, Nici—a third-grade teacher at Martinsville Elementary and longtime volleyball coach—decided to return to her hometown to raise their three daughters. Last year, he taught elementary PE while Nici reentered the classroom after six years as a stay-at-home mom. “It was an unselfish decision,” he said. “We wanted a smaller district, closer to her family, a place where our kids could grow up the way we wanted them to.”

Now their daughters—ages 10, 7, and 5—attend Martinsville Schools. “I wanted to live in the district where my kids go,” Evers said. “That way, I can make a difference not just for them, but for all kids.”

The Martinsville Difference

Evers is quick to highlight what makes Martinsville unique. “This community is incredible,” he said. “The school is like the front porch of the town. People see everything, support everything, and yes, scrutinize everything. But that support is higher here than anywhere I’ve been.”

He points to the facilities, too. “There’s no school our size anywhere near here that has it this good,” he said. “Even within 50 miles, nobody compares. Our community wants us to have nice things, and we want to keep them nice.”

Asked what his first priority is, Evers doesn’t hesitate: unity. “When I came in, people told me we’ve got great teachers in every corner of the building,” he said. “I want to bring them together. We’re all on the same scoreboard. Let’s make sure we’re pulling in the same direction.”

It’s the same philosophy he applied as a coach. “Defensive linemen and defensive backs don’t interact much,” he explained. “But in a game plan, everybody has to be on the same page. That’s what I want here—shared goals, shared effort.”

What does he love most about being principal? The unpredictability. “Teaching PE, I knew what to expect every day. As principal, every day is different. Some call it stress. I call it improvisation. It keeps me sharp.”

He credits mentors along the way—principals he’s worked under, his own coaches, even Martinsville Elementary Principal Sheri Cooper. “I try to take something positive from everyone I’ve worked with,” he said. “Add it to my repertoire, bring my own spin, and always keep kids at the center.”

Looking Ahead

Evers knows he’s still the new guy. But he’s already impressed by Martinsville’s students and families. “I’ve done administration in bigger places. Here, the problems are smaller—just immaturity and growth. Our kids are great. Our parents are great. That says a lot about this community.”

It’s clear that for Todd Evers, being principal is about more than policy or procedure. It’s about people—his students, his staff, his own children, and the community that has welcomed him home. “I want Martinsville to be the best place it can be,” he said. “For my kids, and for everybody’s kids.”