In 2001 when then-Mayor Bart Peterson selected David Harris, a policy advisor in the administration, to help build and run the charter school office, he had no idea Harris would later become the founder of The Mind Trust — an organization setting out to provide every Indianapolis student, regardless of background or income, access a great, high-quality schools.
According to the organization, $46 million has been raised and reinvested in local students and schools and more than 113,000 students have been impacted.
The Mind Trust operates from what they call an “innovative and comprehensive” approach by launching successful public schools, recruiting talent and engaging the community. In order to reach its goal of launching great schools, The Mind Trust utilizes three education incubators: Innovation School Fellowship, where selected leaders are encouraged to begin their own schools called Innovation Network Schools; Charter School Design Challenge, where social entrepreneurs are encouraged to design transformational, new charter school models that have never been tried before; and Education Entrepreneur Fellowship, where leaders are able to launch nonprofit education organizations.
One sector of the organization getting lots of attention is the Innovation Network Schools program, which creates autonomous public schools operating under Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) that have access to district buildings at no cost. These schools are exempt from IPS administrative practices and many state regulations.
“The idea of Innovation Network Schools can be very confusing,” said Harris. “They are still district schools as they are accountable to the school board and the superintendent, but they operate much more independently. We have two partnerships with (IPS). We are incubating new schools to replace those that have been under-performing. Now, we’re currently incubating two schools.”
Phalen Leadership Academies, previously known as IPS Francis Scott Key 103, was the first school incubated in August 2015. Global Prep Academy, created by former Pike Township principal Mariama Carson, will open this fall in the former Riverside School 44 building, and Kindezi Academy, developed by Shanae Staples, will operate in the former Joyce Kilmer School 69.
“As there are more Innovation Network Schools emerging, one of the concerns we heard early on was, ‘What’s happening to kids who aren’t making the choice to attend a magnet or charter school? Are they being left behind?’ The more we talk about the Innovation Network Schools and inform people they are serving the same children in that building and more, it changes people’s perception about what education is all about,” said Kameelah Shaheed-Diallo, vice president of strategy and community engagement for The Mind Trust. “We’re about serving the neediest kids.”
In May of 2014, The Mind Trust named Carson an Education Entrepreneur Fellow, a two-year fellowship that provides her with a $100,000 salary, full health care and benefits and a $20,000 startup stipend. Her new school, Global Prep Academy, is built upon the curriculum of dual language.
“We want half of the kids to be native English speakers and the other half to be native Spanish speakers. We’ve been spending a lot of time engaging primarily the African-American community that typically doesn’t have the opportunity to learn two languages and also the Latino community that typically doesn’t take advantage of school choice,” said Carson.
The new school leadership has attended numerous education fairs and community events to spread the news about the new school. Carson opened 125 spots for new students, and 102 children were enrolled before the school’s location was set.
“People are ready and wanting to participate in this. I’ve talked to all of the parents who have asked me some tough questions, but I want them to know our goal is to teach dual language to those kids already sitting in that school and enhance curriculum for those new students.”
Although some of the public may be puzzled about the relationship between The Mind Trust and IPS, The Mind Trust assures they continue to work with and not against IPS.
“Sometimes when there is confusion or uncertainty, people can believe things that aren’t accurate. It’s important to continue to shine a spotlight on all of the work going on so there is clarity,” said Harris.
Outside of working with Indianapolis’ school district, The Mind Trust is actively involved in the community to help the public understand charter schools and the state of the city’s education system.
In collaboration with UNCF, the organization will host another series of community conversations designed to engage the local community in discussions around improving public education. February’s discussion, held Feb. 18 from 5:30–7 p.m. at the Ivy Tech Corporate Culinary Center, will focus on school equity. The Mind Trust also hosts an Educational Bus Tour, where high-performing public schools are highlighted for community members. Previous tours have highlighted Tindley Preparatory Academy, Carl Wilde Elementary School 79, Herron High School and others.
“When we came out, people thought we were just about charters, but if you look at where we’ve done most of our work, it’s with IPS,” said Harris. “We will continue to impact those kids.”
