It has been an exciting year, filled with changes for our team while bringing our readers education coverage.
A New Chapter
For the first two months of 2023, we were Indy K12. Indy K12 was birthed in 2016 with the mission of focusing on education stories and issues that get overlooked, especially stories about Black students, Black families, and the Black education experience.
During that time, we were part of a national network, Citizen Education. On February 28, 2023, Indy K12 signed off, and on March 1, 2023, we signed back on as Indy Kids Winning, a 501 (c)(3), committed to keeping our focus local. No days off over here!
What makes Indy Kids Winning unique is that all of the writers are educators. Many publications have journalists who cover the education beat who have never taught. Although teaching isn’t a prerequisite for being an education writer, it’s still helpful.
Because we knew many schools used our articles during professional development sessions and for other purposes, we moved all of our Indy K12 content to our IKW website.
Top Stories of 2023
Each year, we release a list of our top 10 articles. Since we shifted gears, we are releasing a top 12 list for 2023. This list will include 2 articles from the months when we were still Indy K12. The rest of the articles will be from March-December 2023 under IKW. We have included brief summaries of each article and encourage our readers to read the full articles.
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Casey Smitherman, who gained national attention in 2019 for taking a sick student to a clinic without parental consent and using her son’s name and her insurance to purchase prescription medication for the student, was recommended for the position of principal at South View Elementary School in Muncie Community Schools despite having to complete a diversion program to avoid criminal charges related to the Elwood incident.
11. Opinion: It’s time to unblock YouTube in schools
Andrew Pillow advocated for lifting restrictions on YouTube in schools, emphasized its educational value, and contended that blocking is impractical in 2023. He highlighted the platform’s filter controls and urged a forward-thinking approach to school technology usage.
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10. How did Indiana Black students score on ILEARN?
Overall, Black students scored poorly on ILEARN across school districts, subject areas, and grade levels. There were only marginal improvements in 2023 when compared to the 2022 data.
9. Award-winning Ben Davis High School coach placed on leave after alleged student assault
M.S.D. of Wayne Township placed physical education teacher and basketball coach Don Carlisle on leave following allegations that he punched a 15-year-old 11th-grade male student.
8. Opinion: Why I didn’t protest a charter school I believe should not be allowed to open
Educator Barnes wrote a poignant opinion article where she emphasized the importance of prioritizing personal dreams and needs over constant involvement in activism and advocacy. Drawing on her father’s life, she questioned the cost of relentless activism and urged fellow advocates to choose their battles wisely, rest, and focus on personal well-being.
7. 5 hour bus ride for an 8 hour day
Rooted School Indianapolis, a mayor-sponsored public charter high school, faced criticism from a parent, Bianca Carter, over extended bus ride times for her 10th-grade son. Carter expressed concern about her son spending up to five hours daily on the bus, impacting his study time and family interactions. She called for improved communication, consistent updates on delays, and a resolution to the prolonged bus rides.
6. Opinion: The Black church and early education in Indiana
Guest Columnist, Emil Ekiyor, issued a call to action for the Black church to become actively involved in education and help address challenges faced by Black students. He suggested leveraging existing resources, such as the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, to meet this goal.
Gary residents raised concerns about the management of Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) under the Distressed Unit Appeals Board (DUAB) and MGT consulting. Following the state’s takeover in 2017, residents expressed worries about finances, academics, and school conditions in a DUAB meeting. Testimonies covered various issues, including volunteer restrictions, lawsuits, abandoned buildings, and the call for an independent audit of MGT’s spending. Dr. Michael Raisor, the incoming manager, expressed optimism about GCSC’s progress, prompting mixed reactions.
4. Washington Township hires another DEI officer from HSE
In September 2020, Washington Township appointed Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera, Dr. EBR, as the Director of Equity and Inclusion. However, due to a district reorganization for the 2023-2024 school year, the role was eliminated, and Dr. EBR left the district. Months later, Washington Township stated it “reimagined” the role, and Dr. Nataki Pettigrew will now serve as the Chief Academic & DEI Officer. Meanwhile, Emily Dills, whose primary background is not DEI work, is temporarily helping the district with DEI work under a consulting agreement until December 31, 2023.
3. National Alliance of Black School Educators launch Indiana affiliate
The National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) established its Indiana affiliate, INABSE, with a focus on supporting Black and Brown children in achieving academic excellence. Dr. Yvonne Stokes, former superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern Schools, was elected president. The organization aims to address the crisis in educational excellence for Black children by focusing on literacy as one primary area of concern.
2. Dr. Yvonne Stokes resigns from HSE Schools
Hamilton Southeastern Schools accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes, leading to public concerns about transparency. The separation agreement with Dr. Stokes included salary for 2023-2024, health insurance until June 30, 2024, payment for unused days, and an agreement not to sue or disparage. The departure reduced the number of Black superintendents in Indiana.
1. Washington Township shifts DEI work from a director role to multiple roles
Washington Township adjusted its leadership structure for the 2023-2024 school year, eliminating the Director of Equity and Inclusion Officer position held by Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera.
2023 was an exciting year, and we look forward to providing education coverage in 2024.
Also, there are several ways you can get involved:
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Indy Kids Winning Inc exists to empower people to make informed education decisions through local education coverage and education resources. Please consider donating to support our work. Your contribution allows us to continue the fight for excellent education for all children.
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