MelanatED Leaders, a non-profit organization that caters to education leaders of color in Indianapolis, has established a cohort of dedicated principals known as Ocelotl Mino.
According to Priya Parker, author of “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters,” the first step in gathering is “committing to a bold, sharp purpose.” This cohort aims to provide a platform for education leaders of color to commit to the bold purpose of sharing feedback and strategies for improving student proficiency, especially among students of color.
The group is named after the jaguar warriors in ancient Aztec culture and the women warriors of West Africa in the Kingdom of Dahomey, both of whom were called upon during times of struggle and turmoil. The group is led by Darius Sawyers, former principal of Paramount Englewood Middle School, who now serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for Teach for America Indianapolis.
“Sharing space with other leaders who are just as fired up about student academic outcomes is priceless. It’s urgent that we get this right,” said Sawyers.
Ocelotl Mino includes leaders from Adelante Schools, The PATH School, Paramount Virtual, and Monarca Academy.
“We come together as a collective to do the necessary work to move the needle forward with academic success for our students. Each leader brings the mindset that this work is urgent and change has to happen now!” says Brandalynn Hayes, DEI manager and principal of Paramount Online school.
MelanatED Leaders believes that this gathering space for leaders of color is exceptionally important in growing Black and Latino principals in Indianapolis and driving student achievement. Early literacy and math skills are linked to lifetime financial and professional success, making it critical for education leaders to develop strategies that support these skills.
Through the Ocelotl Mino cohort, MelanatED Leaders is working towards training leaders and creating a better school environment for students of color in Indianapolis.
Contact Patrick Jones II at info@melanatedleaders.org.
