Mayor Ballard, Dr. Ferebee and The Mind Trust to announce new education fellows charged with remaking IPS schools

Indianapolis – The Mind Trust – joined by Mayor Greg Ballard and Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) superintendent Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee – tomorrow will announce its second round of Innovation School Fellows, one of the nation’s unique educational partnerships to advance public education.

The Mind Trust, in partnership with IPS and the Mayor’s Office, created the Innovation School Fellowship to provide a pipeline of talented educators to design, launch and operate "Innovation Network Schools," autonomous schools within IPS that can replace chronically underperforming or underused schools throughout the district.

Over the next three years, the partnership plans to launch nine Innovation Network Schools within IPS.

When: Tomorrow – Tuesday, May 12; 9 a.m.

Where: WFYI Studios, 1630 N. Meridian St. (Guest parking is available in the alley behind WFYI)

Who: Mayor Greg Ballard; Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, Supt., IPS; David Harris, Founder & CEO, The Mind Trust; New Innovation School Fellows

Innovation Network Schools were made possible by a 2014 state law giving IPS new authority to create new autonomous schools within the district. At each potential school site, a school leader or management team operate the school under a contract with IPS that spells out academic expectations. What’s more, the new schools will have the freedom to hire staff, design their own curriculum and extend the school day and/or year to best serve the needs of students.

Indiana’s first Innovation Network School – PLA@103, which was incubated by The Mind Trust – will open this fall in the Francis Scott Key School (IPS #103) on the city’s far eastside.

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