The Mind Trust awards total of $115,000 to five Talent Innovation Fund recipients

INDIANAPOLIS – (May 10, 2022) – The Mind Trust today announced five recipients of 2022-2023 Talent Innovation Fund awards, investing $115,000 into projects that will implement locally-driven, creative approaches to help solve an education talent challenge in Indianapolis.

The Talent Innovation Fund award recipients are Christel House Indianapolis, Enlace Academy,  Paramount Schools of Excellence, Purdue Polytechnic High Schools, and Shepherd Community Center. 

“The Mind Trust is proud to support five projects that can help address our community’s critical need for high-quality, diverse teachers,” said Kelli Marshall, Senior Vice President of Schools at The Mind Trust. “A great teacher is essential to strong learning outcomes for students. Each of the Talent Innovation Fund projects awarded bring a unique approach to teacher recruitment and licensure. These awards will compliment our efforts in supporting schools to increase student achievement.”

Christel House Indianapolis has been awarded $25,000 to impact student proficiency by increasing the number of qualified teachers in high-need areas. The local charter school network will focus on recruiting men of color with an elementary generalist education license and women of color who are certified in STEM secondary education. The funds will support efforts to further diversify staff and offer students of color the opportunity to see representations of themselves in the classroom. 

Enlace Academy has been awarded $25,000 that will support more teachers obtaining an English Learners license, doubling the number originally planned for the 2022-2023 school year. These funds will make it possible for the school to offer customized, flexible instruction from Marian University, making it easier for Enlace Academy teachers to participate in the program. 

Paramount Schools of Excellence (PSOE) has been awarded $15,000 to implement The PSOE Career Pathways Program, which works with first- and second-year teachers to accelerate their understanding of the network’s instructional frameworks, use of data, and cultural responsiveness. More experienced teachers can participate in the Master Teacher Track cohort, where members self-select into academic committees focused on Indiana College and Career Ready Standards breakdowns, curriculum mapping, teacher coaching, mentoring, and culturally responsive classroom strategies. The PSOE network continues to be one of the highest performing public schools in the city. 

Purdue Polytechnic High Schools (PPHS) has been awarded $25,000 to support the creation of a student-teacher residency program to build a local and national pipeline of high-quality educators. Typically, student teachers pay tuition at their university and are given no additional financial support or incentives. This model challenges the status quo and provides an opportunity to value student teachers for the real work and valuable experiences they bring to the table. Student-teachers will receive direct support with licensure, a stipend, travel reimbursement for teachers outside of Indiana, and a clear pathway for a career at a PPHS campus.

Shepherd Community Center (SCC) has been awarded $25,000 to support a cohort of diverse teachers who will live and work in public schools on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. Shepherd will provide housing and professional development training to support teachers in the cohort. The cohort complements the robust work SCC is currently doing to support students through summer and after-school programs. 

“The Mind Trust is proud to continue using the Talent Innovation Fund to invest in schools and community partners that are deeply invested in improving student achievement,” said Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust. “These projects are helping us work toward our organizational goal of tripling the number of students within Indianapolis Public Schools’ geography who are academically proficient by 2027.”