Sound Off is a series of personal essays about education written by educators, parents, students, and community members.

I am pro-school choice also known as pro-child. What I’m not is pro-charter or anti-charter.

What does that even mean?

It means I believe all school types should exist such as traditional public schools, public charter schools, online schools, unschools, homeschools, micro schools, and hybrid schools (a mix of online and in person). Parents and caregivers should be entrusted to make the best educational decisions for their children. The government or other parents should not try to limit the choices children have, especially Black children.

Now, that my political stance is known, let’s get into the lessons advocates can learn.

What happened?

Paramount, a charter network, teamed up with Girl Scouts of Indiana. They received a charter from Trine University to open a STEM charter school for girls. The location of the school was “unknown” at the time. Paramount and Girl Scouts might not have known the exact building location at the time, but based on failed attempts by other charter schools, there was a hint of the location.

In 2022, Purdue Polytechnic attempted to open another high school in Pike Township on Indy’s NW side. The organization was not successful.

In 2023, Valor Classical School sought out Pike Township as a location after a failed attempt further north in Carmel, Indiana. After tons of backlash, the plans were abandoned.

Who was a main star protesting the opening of those schools? It was parents, employees, and residents of Washington Township Schools.

I was invited to protest both schools; I declined just like I declined protesting this STEM charter school.

Instead, I provided public notes to a meeting I attended in my neighborhood on January 3, 2024.

By that time, Paramount had purchased the old Witherspoon Presbyterian Church. It couldn’t open the school even with an approved charter unless the property was rezoned from church to school.

This is where the fight began, and it ended months later with victory for the STEM school.

On April 1, The Indianapolis City County Council approved rezoning the property from church to school.

Lesson 1: Be bold

Whether you are for or against the school, I believe we all can agree it is bold to buy a property for a school location not knowing if it could even be rezoned as a school.

It is also bold for one school entity to fight another school entity. Washington Township historically tends to get involved in fights against charters schools that come anywhere close to their borders or in this case within.

You cannot do any kind of advocacy work unless you are willing to be bold and take risks.

Lesson 2: Make sure your organization has levels to it.

Even though Washington Township lost this fight, their organizing skills were top tier. Neighborhood meetings were held. A petition was created. Volunteers were ready with handouts of information at each meeting. Information was shared online. The district’s school board passed a resolution to give the district leaders the right to take any means necessary to fight against the school. They successfully removed Paramount’s previous lawyer since the firm also worked with the district. District leaders spoke publicly against the school. Citizens against the school were told how to contact their representatives and given language to use in that communication. I found this interesting especially since years ago some of these same individuals said that Stand for Children shouldn’t give parents tools or tips on how to contact important stakeholders. WT supporters even went to meetings color-coordinated. They had children involved in speaking out against the school. They contacted any organization they thought would help their plight and join them as an ally.

Even though they weren’t successful, advocates can learn a lot from how they organized and the multiples levels of organization they had to attack the STEM school.

Lesson 3: Know the territory & have a clear plan

It was quickly evident at the January 3, 2024 that Paramount did not know enough about the NW side of Indy where Washington Township is. Whether you agree with their stance or not WT advocates are really about that life when it comes to pushing back.

Paramount and Girl Scouts were unprepared for Washington Township’s organization, and they failed to clearly articulate key aspects of a STEM school.

Most of y’all know me as Educator Barnes, but many people insist on calling me Dr. Barnes because I earned my doctorate in education last year. I think the insistence on this title is overrated because you are really only an expert in one in area. You’re not a doctor of every area of your discipline. My dissertation ‘Still I Rise’: Exploring Girls’ Participation in Literacy-Rich STEM Experiences focused on girls and STEM. I also worked in a math and science academy and served on a board of a STEM organization for three years where I was the professional development chair. In my authoritative Dr. Barnes’ voice, I can say I have legit research-based concerns about this school. I suggest they read the many books and articles on my dissertation reference list. In short, if I had daughters, I wouldn’t send them to the school because it would be too experimental.

Advocates need to truly understand what they are advocating for when they are trying to sell it to others.

I could, in theory, explain those deficits in this article, but Educator Barnes works for a fee, not free.

Lesson 4: Consider why you are really advocating

At the end of the day, advocacy work can be exhausting and soul crushing. I talked to so many individuals on both sides who were mad and frustrated but really could not explain what they were really fighting for or against. When advocates don’t know their why, it makes it hard to stay in the fight or join the next fight.

I didn’t join either side because I truly believed it was a waste of my time. As a Washington Township resident, parent, and former employee, I believe this school wasn’t worth the time or my tax dollars to fight against. If Washington Township is as great as it claims it is in its “Points of Pride” it frequently shares, this STEM school won’t last long because Washington Township would be the obvious choice for parents.

When I think about Paramount & Girl Scouts, I can’t advocate for them because I don’t believe we need another new school in this city despite believing in the importance of school choice and the rights of charter schools existing. I also have major concerns about Paramount’s track record of disciplining Black children when the school is targeting Black girls for the STEM campus.

If I advocated for any side it would have been half-heartedly because I’m not invested. Last, my twin sons attend school in Washington Township so I’m more concerned about what the district is doing within the district. That’s why I’m on the WT Community Coalition. Also, I have boys so it is hard for me to be a true advocate for a school my children couldn’t attend.

Dr. Alicia Ramsey is an educator, and she is the First Lady of the church I am a member. She frequently says, “You have to chew the meat and spit out the bones.” In other words, you might not like everything I said but hopefully you can glean some important gems for advocacy work.

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