Awards

IU Southeast Distinguished Alumni Award - 2011

About Myra Wright Powell

Myra Wright Powell is the owner of Wright Bros. Implements, the farm machinery business started by her father in 1962. She took over the family business in 2011 after her father's death. She earned a B.S. from Indiana University - Southeast and an M.S. from Indiana University in Bloomington.

Previously, Powell had spent the past 17 years as the principal of Borden Elementary School in Borden, IN. When she arrived at Borden Elementary, the school hosted only three yearly events for families, including an open house and parent-teacher conferences. Since then, Powell has expanded opportunities for families to visit the campus beyond the school day for learning and fun. Borden Elementary School now offers evenings of family-oriented educational activities, parent learning sessions that include child-sitting services, and events that showcase students’ academic and artistic achievements. She also established a Community Council for parents of children in grades K-6, in which the group recommends improvements to everyday school life and policies. It received recognition as an “Exemplary Progress” school from Indiana in 2006 and won Indiana Student Achievement “Top Gainer” awards in 2007 and 2008. Powell also was Indiana’s Principal of the Year in 2009 and recognized as a National Distinguished Principal in 2010 by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from IUS in 2011.