In August, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) will welcome new principals for Arlington High School and Arsenal Technical High School.
Arlington is located on the east side of Indianapolis, but has been under control of EdPower, a company under the State Board of Education, since 2012.
Arsenal Technical High School is located on the near-east side of town and offers a variety of magnet programs, such as math/science, cosmetology, and computer network technology.
Arlington High School
Stanley Law, previous principal for Shortridge Magnet High School for Law and Public Policy, was given a selection of schools to be principal at but chose Arlington High School, which will hold grades 7-12.
“Arlington seemed most appealing to me because it was an opportunity to help relaunch, bring it back to IPS and address some of the challenges they have,” Law said. “I look forward to building a very strong academic foundation.”
Arlington High School was taken over by the State Board of Education, but was returned to IPS. With this history, Law said there are a few challenges.
“The major challenge we have to tackle is the graduation rate of our seniors. I think right now they’re somewhere in the forties,” he said.
Law also plans on providing students with a more rigorous curriculum, such as dual-credit courses and Advanced Placement courses. He will also be pushing programs such as the Center for Leadership Development.
As for the teachers, Law said they will go through professional development to gain an understanding of cultures of students with diverse backgrounds. They will also learn more about racial equity.
Although Law acknowledges there are challenges, his main goal is to build strong relationships within the school and in the community.
“This is a grand opportunity to really build something very special for the community of Arlington and those kids with regards to their education,” he said. “It’s our opportunity for us to really build an environment so our kids feel like they too can learn on a high level and compete on a high level.”
Arsenal Technical High School
Julie Bakehorn, former principal of IPS Brookeside Elementary, will be Arsenal Technical High School’s new principal.
“I love their rich history; I love their athletics,” Bakehorn said. “I love that it’s a big campus with multiple departments.”
Bakehorn began her education career teaching and leading high schools. Since she’s been principal at Brookeside Elementary #54, which is located on the near-east side of town, she is anxious about the change in pace.
“They start an hour earlier than we do in the elementary school. And principals of high schools work a lot of hours,” she said.
Despite her anxiousness, Bakehorn has positive plans for Arsenal Technical High School.
“We’re going to continue to build on what they already have there as far as build the magnet programs they have, and as far as bringing a few more,” she said. “We’re bringing over Shortridge’s law and public policy. We’ve got some openings (for teachers) and getting those filled quickly with the best staff we have.”
Although Bakehorn has taken a few tours of the campus and spoke with the staff about their concerns and goals, she hasn’t been able to spend as much time there as she wanted to.
Bakehorn said she is still finishing up at Brookeside, but her agenda is quickly filling up with people wanting to meet with her.
“Everybody I talk to about Tech talks about ‘Tech pride’”, she said. “I’m excited to see what that’s all about. I’ve already bought sweatshirts,” she said.
For more information, visit Myips.org.
