Margaret "Margi" Elizabeth Higgs

Margaret (Margi) Elizabeth Higgs passed away April 16, 2026. She was born October 2, 1951 to Joseph and Mary Higgs. She is survived by her sister, Mary Jo Woodside, her brother, Joseph W. Higgs, her companion of many years, Don Dupke and numerous nieces and nephews.

Margi operated as a special education teacher in the Indianapolis Public School System for 16 years. Poised to have a positive impact on the school’s academic system, she subsequently became a principal, a capacity in which she served for 27 years before retiring after over 40 years in academia.

As a principal, Margi oversaw a K-9 open-concept school with 600 students, implementing strict discipline and replacing ineffective teachers with 25 highly qualified ones, which led to the school winning an award. In her last role at a Montessori school, the school achieved blue ribbon status. Having previously cultivated her own higher education, she holds a BA in education from Purdue University and an MS in education from Butler University.

Margi was one of six individuals to be named as Hubbard Life-Changing Teacher. Teachers in her school said, “This principal is simply the best principal I’ve ever had the opportunity to work for and her amazing ability to create connections with parents, staff and students-within the school and district-wide is life-changing.”

In addition to her career as an educator, Margi served on the board of directors for AYS ,Inc, an organization that provides after-school activities for children. She was an avid writer, having co-authored “Girls Grow Up To Be Mommies: A Study of Sexism in Children’s Literature” alongside Dr. John Stweig. Margi was a life member of The Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis.

She will be sorely missed by family, friends and colleagues alike.

Visitation will be held at Leppert Mortuary & Crematory Services, 740 East 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46240, US, on April 24, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4217 Central Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46205, on April 25, 2026, at 11:00 am.