Paoli High School alumna Cindy Stout graduated in 1978. After graduating, Stout attended IU Bloomington and studied to become a computer programmer.
After one week of attending college at IU Bloomington, Stout married her husband, Lex Stout, and they both moved to Virginia. After moving to Virginia Stout, continued her college education until Stout’s husband decided to leave the Air Force. They decided to move back to Paoli to spend time with their families. Stout later quit school and started a family, and 16 years later, finished her teaching degree at Indiana University Southeast.
“I would not recommend quitting college that long and then going back. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done,” said Stout.
Stout has had many accomplishments throughout her life during and after high school.
“I would have to say that Ruth Uyesugi was the most influential teacher in my life, but she was also good friends with my in-laws and she went to my church. I knew her through many avenues. While a student here at PHS, I spent much of my time in her classroom or at her house working on the newspaper. However, when I started teaching here, Mr. Phil Andry was so very helpful and always willing to advise me to get me started in my career. He was also my geometry and physics teacher while I was a student. I actually worked as a TA for him my sophomore year,” said Stout.
During Stout’s high school years, she participated in track her freshman year, and played on the first girls tennis team. She played number one doubles with alumna Angie Bosley. Starting Stout’s junior year, she wrote for the sports section of the Paolite, and her senior year, she became the first female to write for the Paolite.
Stout had academic success through National Honor Society and graduating fifth in her class. Stout was fortunate to be able to play many sports and earn awards during her time at PHS. However, Stout also spent time building her family.
“I have been married 39 years to Lex Stout, and we have 2 kids. Joe Stout is 37 years old and is a day manager at FEDEX in Indianapolis. He and his wife Melissa have 3 boys, Owen, Gavin and Harrison. Our daughter, Amy Wesner, is 34 years old, and she runs the office for Silver Creek Engineering in Indianapolis. She and her husband Damien have a daughter Olivia and a son Maddox,” said Stout.
Stout has taught at Paoli for 22 years, and enjoyed each one. She has had many different experiences and opportunities throughout her lifetime. Before she was a teacher, Stout’s first real job was writing community sports stories for the town paper. She has also worked as a Pizza Hut waitress, a math lab supervisor and an elementary school aide at Throop. Despite these different jobs, her favorite has always been being a teacher.
“I have really enjoyed being a math teacher. I appreciate all the hard work my students do and all the support from my colleagues,” said Stout.
Stout is pictured today in the halls of PHS.
Story by Lili Seals
