Meet The Mind Trust’s Equity, Talent, and School Growth Team
This blog is part of a series introducing the talented teams at The Mind Trust. Each post will explore the who, what, why, and how behind each team member and their role within the organization.
The Mind Trust’s (TMT) Equity, Talent, and School Growth (ETSG) team is an integral part of the organization’s broader Strategy work, which includes a group of teams within TMT that encompass the Policy, Strategic Partnerships, and National Expansion.
The ETSG team is committed to advancing equity through supporting talent at all levels of the education ecosystem, from teachers to emerging leaders, school leaders to executives, and ensuring leadership development in education across Indianapolis. This team is also responsible for growing the number of high-quality, autonomous schools in our system. Each team member plays a vital role in driving key initiatives that impact educators and families.
Team and Roles
Senior Vice President of Leadership, Equity, and School Growth
Dr. Patrick H. Jones II
As Senior Vice President of Leadership, Equity, and School Growth, Dr. Patrick H. Jones leads the implementation of The Mind Trust’s equity commitments, talent strategy, and school growth work. He is an experienced education leader who is passionate about ensuring Indianapolis becomes a landscape that supports excellent schools and talent to eliminate the predictability of race and income in life outcomes for our youth. He has been instrumental in reimagining and codifying innovative work around school growth and using human-centered design to launch and sustain innovative solutions for high-quality schooling. He also ensures The Mind Trust is living out our core value of equity through internal and external initiatives that close racial and income disparities. Internally, Dr. Jones leads the approach to talent selection, management, and ongoing professional development by continually refining our equitable hiring practices, ensuring high-quality professional development choices are available, and planning and leading various staff functions.
“Our work is about creating the future our great community deserves, where all of our children can thrive without being relegated to a lack of quality due to race or zip code. A community where opportunity is realigned to include everyone and it is being realized in a way that honors the diversity of our space.”
Senior Director of Leadership and School Development
Luke Lennon
As Senior Director of Leadership and School Development, Luke supports school incubation, replication, and expansion efforts and is instrumental in developing programming for The Mind Trust’s School Launch and Emerging Leaders fellowships, identifying and addressing network and fellow needs, and assisting with the recruitment and cultivation of school talent. He is also the main point of contact and lead for the School Launch Fellowship program.
“Without great leadership, great schools are not possible. We are committed to recruiting top talent, providing world-class training to that talent, and giving that talent the support needed to do this work for the long haul. From the first-year teacher to the seasoned CFO, we need every educator in our city reaching their potential so kids can reach theirs.”
Director of Leadership and School Development
Dr. Tianay Perault
The Director of Leadership and School Development plays a pivotal role in driving the Leadership and School Development initiatives. She leads efforts that enhance school leadership and development across The Mind Trust’s portfolio. Her main role consists of managing and leading the Emerging Leaders Fellowship program.
“Emerging leaders in our fellowship program are not just the architects of their own futures; they are the builders of bridges for the next chapter in education in Indianapolis. Empowering leaders with the right skills and tools to ignite lasting change not only reshapes the status quo, but also ensures that every scholar under their leadership is prepared to thrive—not just through K-12, but in college and beyond. Together, we are creating a legacy of empowerment, innovation, and collaboration that will inspire future generations to rise and thrive.”
Director of Equity and Selection
Lauren Lopez
As the Director of Equity and Selection, Lauren leads the ETSG team’s work related to the Achievement Project, Go Farther Literacy Fund, the HI-FIVE curriculum suite, and the development of selection processes for all TMT fellowship programming. These initiatives are crucial in advancing equity in schools and improving academic outcomes for students of color and other marginalized groups. Each year, TMT recruits hundreds of applicants to various programs and successfully identifies applicants that reflect our students’ backgrounds at significant rates. Additionally, she manages budget oversight, leadership diversity initiatives, and vendor diversity programming within the team.
“The work we continue to elevate impacts all levels of the education landscape, from student growth, parent engagement, and school leader development. I am so proud of the innovative ways that our team is ensuring that equity remains foundational to all programming and initiatives while setting a high standard for academic excellence. “
Manager of Leadership
Kurt Waywood
The Manager of Leadership supports the Leadership & Equity team with administrative and project management duties that are essential to progressing toward equity-focused goals. The data he utilizes with various projects helps to inform both enrollment and community engagement efforts across the organization. His work also includes increasing the number of leaders of color in key educational leadership positions in Indianapolis and ensuring that at least 50% of The Mind Trust’s financial investments are allocated to historically marginalized vendors. He oversees event budgets, provides administrative assistance, and manages back-end technological systems and operations.
“The data I look at every day tells a story about our educational ecosystem. A strong leadership pipeline is essential to the long-term growth of any school. We would be doing a disservice to our student population if we didn’t do everything we could to make sure they have an educational environment where they can thrive.”
The Mind Trust’s Equity, Talent, and School Growth team continues to push boundaries and set new standards for leadership and equity in education. Their dedication and strategic focus are instrumental in achieving the organization’s mission of transforming the educational landscape in Indianapolis and beyond. Their work ensures that The Mind Trust remains at the forefront of driving meaningful change and creating opportunities for all students.