Please Join us for the
2025 Educator of Excellence
Recognition Program

This year we are honored to recognize two distinguished educators, one former and one current.

Mr. Gene Michaels was a highly respected high school business teacher for 32 years, from 1961 to 1993 setting the foundation for countless high performing future business leaders. Interestingly, many of the current and former City Council members were his former students. Through a close relationship between Kiwanis and the Key Club, nearly weekly, Mr. Michaels brought the world into the classroom, giving students real world insights from a wide range of successful business leaders, inspiring students' future dreams and goals. He was the first coach of the Golf Team from 1962-1990. Gene and Carol's three kids each spent 13-years in IHS Schools graduating in '80, '82, and '83.

Mr. Mike Gruber has been the Primary School Art Teacher since 2010, teaching each student for one hour per week for five years with his first students now graduating from college. Mr. Gruber's energy and creativity have exposed students to unprecedented heights through the annual art shows, larger than life murals, the Van Gogh Immersive Room, and the 4th grade Drone Flying Club. For seven years he was the Middle School Athletic Director. He is the Head Coach of the High School Girls Golf Team and an Assistant Baseball Coach.

Mr. Gruber was selected as the 2024 Northeast Region Outstanding Art Teacher by the Ohio Art Education Association.

Mark Your Calendar for these Meetings & Important Dates:

The Alumni Association meets quarterly on the second Monday of the month in March, June, September and November.

Newsletter Submission Deadline for the Spring Spectator is Sunday, May 11th, 2025.

Newsletter Submission Deadline for the Winter Spectator is Sunday, November 9th, 2025.

Donations and Memorabilia

We are always looking for memorabilia from your high school years. If you have rings, class photos, yearbooks or other memorabilia, particularly from 1926 thru 1928, 1931 thru 1944, 1946 thru 1951, 1992 and 1994, you would like to donate, please email Bob Wagner ('66), at goawagner@aol.com.

Since 2009, we have enriched lives at Independence High School as follows:

• The first four years, the gifts averaged $350.00 per year, and included: decorative IHS floor mats, banners, iPods.
• The next five years, the gifts averaged $800.00 per year and included: Turf the Field, a sports tent canopy and a contribution to a speaker program.
• For the past few years, the gifts have averaged +/- $2,000.00 and included: activity banners in the High School Cafeteria, outside Graduating senior banners during Covid-19, Indy backdrop screen and table cover for programs and TV interviews, and last year, $2000.00 for large screen monitors.
• Thus far, we have donated over $10,500.00.