What is RISE+Shine?

ABOUT RISE AND SHINE  

RISE+Shine is a breakfast series that convenes Indianapolis parents, teachers, residents, and community leaders in familiar locations throughout the community. Each session features a panel of experts from Indianapolis who will help us dive deep into the challenges Indianapolis students are facing, as well as the solutions that will help.

APRIL 23 EVENT: THE TRUTH BEHIND SCHOOL FUNDING

How does K-12 funding make its way from government into the classroom? We'll ask our panel of experts—and then open the discussion to small groups of attendees. Spanish interpretation will be available at the event. 

RISE + SHINE SCHOOL FUNDING PANELISTS

Susan Preble has over twenty years of experience in public finance, legislative affairs and governmental relations. In her role as the Senior Fiscal Analyst for the Indiana Senate Democrats, Ms. Preble works closely with legislators and fiscal staff from all four caucuses and the executive branch.

Andy Seibert is KIPP Indy’s Executive Director, leading the day-to-day work for KIPP Indy’s three schools in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood of Indianapolis. Andy spearheads organizational growth strategy and manages teams that oversee academics, operations, finance, talent, and external partnerships. 

Shatoya Ward had been a teacher and administrator with the Excel Center since 2010. Before joining the Excel Center, she was a science teacher in the Indianapolis Public Schools and a local charter school. In 2017, she was the founding principal for Purdue Polytechnic High School Schweitzer Center @ Englewood. Currently, as Purdue Polytechnic has grown to multiple schools, she holds the position of Chief of School Operations at Purdue Polytechnic High School Network. 

Weston Young has served as Chief Financial Officer of Indianapolis Public Schools since 2015. He has lived in IPS since 2002 and been an IPS parent since 2010. He has been striving for improved educational outcomes in the IPS boundary since 2003 through financial and operational leadership through education-related volunteer and professional activities. 

Prior RISE + SHINE session topics include: 

• Addressing Mental and Emotional Health During COVID
• Building a Diverse Teacher Pipeline
• The Importance of Multi-Generational Literacy
• Exploring Student Funding
• Impact of STEAM Education and Potential Career Paths

Information and resources from each RISE+Shine, as well as a recording of the panel, will be available below after every session.