The Mind Trust Receives $7M From Lilly Endowment
The funding from Lilly Endowment will boost programs that support public schools in Indianapolis.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowLilly Endowment Inc. has awarded more than $7 million to the Indianapolis-based Mind Trust. The nonprofit says it will use the funding to support its Innovation School Fellowship program and its work recruiting teaching talent to Indianapolis Public Schools in collaboration with Teach For America and TNTP.
The Mind Trust says the grants will benefit its $32 million Grow Great Schools Campaign, which runs through 2019. The campaign aims to help double the number of students attending high-quality schools within IPS boundaries within seven years.
The Innovation School Fellowship is a collaboration between The Mind Trust, IPS and the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office. It works to fill leadership roles at so-called Innovation Network Schools, which have full autonomy and an independent board, but still fall under the IPS umbrella.
IPS Superintendent Lewis Ferebee says "providing educators the flexibility to utilize their talents in the ways they know will best meet their students’ academic needs is paramount. Innovation Network Schools are an integral tool in helping us transform IPS into a high-performing school district."
The Mind Trust, TFA and TNTP partnership began 10 years ago, and the organizations say it has helped supply IPS with more than 900 teachers and leaders in that time.
"Research shows that two of the most important factors to a successful school are a talented team of educators, who are then provided the autonomy to run their classroom or school in the best manner possible,” said The Mind Trust Chief Executive Officer David Harris. "We are so grateful for Lilly Endowment’s continued support of the nationally unique Innovation Network Schools which empower talented school leaders to run highly successful, autonomous schools within the district, as well as for their ongoing support of TFA and TNTP, two nationally-acclaimed programs that provide high-quality teachers to work in our schools."
The Mind Trust says Lilly Endowment has provided more than $23 million for its initiatives over the last decade.
You can connect to more details about the grants by clicking here.