Anita Newman, who served the Daviess County Public Schools district for 36 years, died Tuesday morning at 70 years old after battling pancreatic cancer for more than a year. She leaves behind a legacy as a former educator and principal with DCPS.
“She was a great influence,” said Newman’s daughter, Carrie Munsey. “She was my role model and hero. As a child, I always remember playing school and wanting to help her check papers and so I think that led me into the path that God wanted me to take.”
Munsey currently serves as principal at Tamarack Elementary School. Munsey said it was hard to follow in her mother’s footsteps, and she had big shoes to fill.
“She was the most kind, genuine, passionate, caring person that you would ever meet,” Munsey said. “As a mother, grandmother, educator and sister — that’s just how she was at all times. Not only did she impact students’ lives in her 36 years in education, but she impacted teachers’ lives. She was a role model to everyone — students and her faculty. She cared about everyone in her building.”
Laura McCain, guidance counselor at Highland Elementary School, can attest to the care shown by Newman. McCain was somewhat hesitant to join the staff nearly in 2001, but said it felt like an instant fit when she saw how Newman was running the school.
“Anita hired me 20 years ago to be the guidance counselor at Highland and I’m still there,” she said. “No matter what it was, she brought out the best in you. You never wanted to let her down. … She always gave us confidence and listened to us. She made us feel like our ideas were important. She always took everyone’s thoughts and opinions to heart.”
Newman also served as a mentor to several others who served in education locally over the last few decades.
Matt Robbins, DCPS superintendent, said Newman was a distinguished professional and incredible person.
“While serving as principal at Highland Elementary for 23 years, she defined the role of a school leader as well as anyone I have ever witnessed,” Robbins said. “Personally, Anita served as a mentor to me and many others as she led with a servant’s heart and focused her energy and skills on what was best for kids every single day. She set the mark of excellence by which we all strived to achieve.”
Robbins said one of the greatest joys of his life involved a community celebration that was held on Dec. 5, 2019, when he and the DCPS Board of Education honored Newman by renaming the Highland Elementary School front driveway “Anita Newman Way.”
“This will stand as a permanent marker that will remain a lasting legacy and tribute to DCPS and our entire community,” Robbins said. “This is a life well-lived and I, along with the DCPS family, pay tribute to Ms. Newman and I offer my greatest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the entire Newman family during this time of great loss.”
Leslie Peveler took over as the Highland principal after Newman retired. Newman had a dual purpose in Peveler’s life.
“She was my mentor, but I am also a family friend and I have known that family since I was a child,” Peveler said. “I like to refer to her as my second mother. I kind of look at her as a wise, classy woman. She left an impression on every single person she ever met or was friends with. Her greatest legacy is going to be the relationships she left behind.”
Newman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2019, and Munsey said her mother battled it until the end.
“She was a fighter and she never gave up. That’s just my mom,” Munsey said. “She always wanted to know, ‘What’s the next thing I can do?’ She had a strong heart and a big heart and we all knew that.”
Peveler said while Newman will certainly be missed by everyone who knew her well, she will not soon be forgotten.
“She was an incredible woman who is going to leave an incredible legacy, and although she may be gone from us here on Earth, the things she left behind are just immeasurable,” Peveler said. “People will remember her for a very long time.”
Newman served DCPS for 36 years, retiring in June 2012. She began her career as a teacher at Masonville Elementary School in 1971. She joined Highland as a teacher in 1978 and taught there for 10 years before accepting the role of principal at Utica Elementary School in 1988. She returned to Highland as principal in 1989.
Under her leadership, Highland earned numerous recognitions and rewards, including designation as a Kentucky Pacesetter School for several years and being named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2008.
Newman is a graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree. She completed her master’s degree at Western Kentucky University, where she also earned her Rank I in administration and supervision certificates. KWC honored Newman’s service and contributions to education in 2008 by presenting her the KWC Alumni Achievement Award.
