New charter school to support Latino population
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA new, public charter school is preparing to open in Indianapolis, and it caters to immigrants, primarily the Latino population. The Monarca Academy is located near the Lafayette Square International Marketplace on the city’s northwest side, an area where there is a large Latino and immigrant population. “When it comes to the Latino immigrant experience, we sometimes have some of the lowest [education] achievement levels. And this is one way to address that,” said Monarca Academy founder and Executive Director Francisco Valdiosera.
In an interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, Valdiosera, who is a first-generation immigrant and college graduate, says he wants the academy to provide real world experiences.
“With this lived experience and my career experience, we’ve taken that we’ve taken that to codify what works in education through our three foundational values,” said Valdiosera.
He says those core values include perseverance, pride and community.
The academy is partnering with nonprofit La Plaza, an Indianapolis-based organization that helps to provide educational programs, workforce development support, and access to healthcare and human services for over Latino families throughout central Indiana.
“Our anchor partnership with La Plaza is really what helps us fulfill that community school model with the health and social services that La Plaza will provide for our families,” said Valdioera. “That will allow our students to really focus on actualizing their potential.”
The academy is starting with 6th grade students for the 2022-23 school year and is still enrolling students for the fall semester.