The Indianapolis Public School District (IPS) announced changes to school leadership days after voters approved a $410 million capital referendum. The district is moving quickly to put its Rebuilding Stronger Plan into action.
The referendum will be used to improve school buildings throughout the district.
“We know each school community is unique, as is each leader, and it is important that we map the needs of each program and school community to the strengths and experiences of each leader,” said IPS Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson.
RELATED: Year in Review: IPS ‘Rebuilding Stronger’ plan faced backlash
With the aim of providing all students with access to challenging and high-demand academic programs, school leaders will be collaborating with administrators during the 2023-2024 academic year to prepare for the changes.
The district is currently searching for qualified principals to lead T.C. Howe and Broad Ripple middle schools, which are scheduled to reopen in the 2024-2025 academic year.
The district will be implementing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme for grades 6-8. These schools, together with Longfellow and Northwest middle schools, will be the only public schools within the district to offer the IB program to all students.
Leadership at the Programmatic Shift Schools
you can read more on the leadership updates including each educators bio HERE.
“For schools experiencing programmatic change, some principals will remain at their current schools while others will shift where they are best suited for the needs of the program and community.”
– Dr. Aleesia Johnson
Preparations for new leadership
The IPS School Supervision Team plans to provide additional administrative support for principals to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year, with a full year before the implementation.
Newly appointed district administrators-at-large staff will assist school leaders by handling their daily administrative responsibilities, giving them the necessary time to devise plans for programmatic changes.
In the planning year of 2023-2024 Rebuilding Stronger, school leaders will develop opportunities for collaborative family and community engagement, fostering a sense of shared ownership among students, parents and partners in each school’s community.
To ensure that middle schools receive learning-community specific and focused support, there will be an additional Executive Director of Schools added to the School Support Team to support these schools. Dr. Stacey Bottley, current principal of Longfellow Middle School, will serve in this role.
Contact staff writer Jade Jackson at 317-607-5792 or by email JadeJ@IndyRecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON
