Walt Disney Principal Named IUSB Alumni of the Year

The award, established in 2016, recognizes one alumnus from each school on campus for the difference they’re making in their communities. It’s meant to highlight graduates who reflect the same values IU South Bend works to instill in its students.

Principal Garber accepted his award May 6 as part of the IUSB’s School of Education Excellence Awards Night and featured other Excellence Award winners. As the Outstanding Alumni of the Year Awardee, he was the featured speaker.

Walt Disney is a vibrant and very active elementary school. As a highly engaged principal, he participates and leads many of the school’s annual beloved activities, such as “Page to Stage” and “Rock Your School,” helping build a strong sense of community and culture. He’s never ashamed to dress up in costume to give students and staff a good laugh, like when he dressed up as Super Mario to play in the Staff vs. Students Basketball game held before Winter Break.

Principal Garber is in his third year with P-H-M. He was named principal of Walt Disney for the 2025–26 school year. Before that, he served as assistant principal at Schmucker Middle School starting in the 2023–24 school year.

He began his career in education in 2017 as a school counselor with Fairfield Community Schools at New Paris Elementary. In 2020, he moved to Elkhart Community Schools, where he worked as a dean and assistant principal at both Hawthorne and Mary Beck Elementary Schools. 

Mr. Garber graduated from Bethel University with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and went on to receive
his Master of Education in Education/School Counseling from Indiana University South Bend. He completed his principal licensure program at Ball State University.

He’ll be recognized during IU South Bend’s Night of the Titans in October, alongside other Alumni of the Year recipients and honorees receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award and Chancellor’s Medal.