INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Representatives from Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and Marian
University announced today at a press conference that the state's
largest K-12 school district is partnering with the university on
Indianapolis' west side to train
current teachers to become successful principals and school
administrators. IPS superintendent Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee and Marian University president
Daniel J. Elsener were joined by
Ken Zagzebski, president, AES U.S.,
parent company of Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL), in
making the announcement.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150806/256410
According to Dr. Ferebee, IPS is committing $50,000 per year for the next five years to
enroll as many as 30 current teachers per year in Marian
University's Academy for Teaching and Learning Leadership, a
graduate degree program that prepares its students to become
licensed administrators in K-12 schools. The partnership is
effective with the Fall 2015 semester, with 16 IPS teachers already
enrolled in the program. Under the terms of the agreement, each
student will pay one-third of the tuition costs, with the balance
covered by the IPS grant and Marian University.
"Indianapolis Public Schools
and Marian University's Academy for Teaching and Learning
Leadership partnership is a great example of how public school
districts and higher education institutions can collaborate to
advance K-12 education," said Dr. Ferebee. "School leaders
play a critical role in school and district performance, culture,
and student academic outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity to
grow our own school leaders with an IPS footprint, bolstering
district capacity and student achievement."
Several current and former IPS teachers have earned their Master
of Arts Degree (M.A.T.) in Educational Leadership and Building
Level Administrator (B.L.A.) certification through Marian
University in recent years. Currently, there are nine graduates of
Marian University's Academy for Teaching and Learning Leadership
employed as administrators in the IPS district.
"Marian University is committed to ensuring that every
individual in our community has the opportunity to grow to his or
her fullest potential, regardless of their circumstances," Elsener
said. "To accomplish that lofty goal, we need strong schools with
transformational leaders who empower teachers to do their jobs. Dr.
Ferebee shares that vision, which we believe will ensure the
success of this very unique partnership."
The Marian University Academy for Teaching and Learning
Leadership was founded in 2010 on the belief that transforming
schools requires fundamentally rethinking school leadership. Their
goal is to train innovators and provide leaders with the tools
required to implement the reforms necessary for children to achieve
at high levels. In its first five years, the program has produced
104 graduates, many of whom are already serving as transformative
leaders in schools across Indiana.
A study completed by the Center for Research and Reform in
Education at Johns Hopkins University
in 2013 found that graduates of Marian University's Academy for
Teaching and Learning Leadership overwhelmingly believed that the
program emphasized leadership skills for building a strong school
climate and improving school achievement. An internal program
evaluation completed in Spring 2015 that expanded on the
Johns Hopkins report confirmed these
findings. After graduates assumed leadership roles at their
schools, algebra ECA scores increased from 53.2% to 67.4%, and
math/reading combined ISTEP scores increased from 57.9% to
65.2%.
Zagzebski pledged the business community's support for Marian
University, IPS and Dr. Ferebee. To date, IPL has committed
$250,000 to Marian University's
Academy for Teaching and Learning Leadership, and secured
significant additional funding for the program from several leaders
of Indianapolis' business
community, including BKD and Eli Lilly and Company.
"IPL is committed to this partnership because quality education
in Central Indiana will strengthen
our communities and make it a more desirable place for people to
live, work and visit," stated Ken
Zagzebski, President of AES U.S. "The key to
maintaining a successful school system is providing a pipeline of
exceptional leaders that will attract talented teachers and inspire
students to excel."
The Marian University Academy for Teaching and Learning
Leadership has received several $250,000 donations, including the commitment from
IPL. Additionally, a prominent Indianapolis family which wishes to remain
anonymous donated $1 million to the
institution, stating that they, "passionately care about improving
the educational opportunities of our youth."
About Marian University Indianapolis
Marian University
(www.marian.edu), founded in Indianapolis in 1937, is the only Catholic
liberal arts university in central Indiana. It serves a student body of nearly
3,000 through dedication to excellent teaching and learning in the
Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. Marian University is one of
Indiana's 31 independent colleges
and one of 244 Catholic colleges and universities nationwide.
Since 2001, Marian University has been led by President
Daniel J. Elsener, whose vision and
leadership are transforming the university. In 2013, Marian
University opened the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences,
home to its College of Osteopathic Medicine. Marian University has
amassed 30 national championships in cycling, in 2012 won the NAIA national championship in
football, and was a national finalist in football in 2014.
About Indianapolis Public
Schools
Indianapolis Public
Schools strives to be the flagship in innovative urban education,
preparing all students to be successful in the global economy. IPS
is committed to creating individualized, relationship-based
learning opportunities for more than 30,000 students. As the
educational landscape evolves to include more school choice, IPS
continues to expand the scope of options available to families.
From community schools to magnets including International
Baccalaureate, performing arts, STEM, Montessori, career prep and
more, there's a school to fit every family at IPS. In addition to
the broadest range of magnet programs in the state, IPS is the
pilot district for Indiana's
Innovation Network Schools. These autonomous programs operate in
partnership with the district to provide a variety of unique
educational opportunities for IPS students and families. IPS is
proud to provide personalized opportunities for students, and proud
to be public! Learn more about IPS by visiting www.myips.org.
About Indianapolis Power & Light Company and
AES
Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL), an AES
Company, provides retail electric service to more than 480,000
residential, commercial and industrial customers in Indianapolis, as well as portions of other
Central Indiana communities
surrounding Marion County. During
its long history, IPL has supplied its customers with some of the
lowest-cost, most reliable power in the country. For more
information about the company, please visit www.IPLpower.com or
connect with us at
www.twitter.com/IPLpower, www.facebook.com/IPLpower or
www.linkedin.com/company/IPLpower.
The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 200 global power
company. We provide affordable, sustainable energy to 18 countries
through a diverse portfolio of distribution businesses as well as
thermal and renewable generation facilities. Our workforce of
18,500 people is committed to operational excellence and meeting
the world's changing power needs. AES' 2014 revenues were
$17 billion, and we own and manage
$39 billion in total assets. To learn
more, please visit www.aes.com. Follow AES on Twitter
@TheAESCorp.
CONTACT:
Mark Apple, Marian University
317.955.6775
mapple@marian.edu
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SOURCE Marian University