About Us

Teaching in Indianapolis

Indianapolis Teaching Fellows teach in schools throughout the city, where there is not only a need for high-quality teachers in critical content areas, but also a need for passionate individuals to take on the challenges of high-need school environments. While many teach in Indianapolis Public Schools, Fellows are also working in area charter schools and neighboring districts with similar student populations. Fellows are especially committed to overcoming the challenges they face and holding themselves accountable to ensure their students achieve.

The student population of Indianapolis Public Schools is 58% black, 24% white, 14% Latino, and 4% Multi-Racial. The majority (87%) of these students are provided free or reduced lunch. Since the early 2000s, the number of Indianapolis Public Schools meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets has steadily declined, as has the percentage of students completing high school and graduating with a diploma. In 2009, only 12% of 10th graders in Indianapolis Public Schools passed both English and Math sections on the ISTEP+.

In spite of these challenges, Indianapolis Public Schools are making dramatic changes to impact the future academic outcomes of all students. Recently, Sidener Academy was ranked the #1 elementary school in the city by Indianapolis Monthly magazine, and partnerships with local universities and businesses have spawned innovative magnet schools with marked results. Even with limited resources and shrinking budgets, teachers and administrators in Indianapolis Public Schools are making the effort to ensure all students succeed academically. But the need for more effective teachers is still great.

By making a long-term commitment to Indianapolis' students and their network of colleagues and the community, Fellows can expect to increase their effectiveness and impact each year. Dramatic gains can be made during the first year of teaching, and Fellows will also find that due to their own professional growth and development, their second and third years often open even greater opportunities to succeed in significantly increasing their students' academic achievement. By focusing on their own classrooms, Fellows' results contribute to a combined effort toward school-wide change.

Indianapolis Teaching Fellows will form a dedicated cohort of new teachers with a shared mission of making a positive impact on the students of Indianapolis. A teaching day in Indianapolis is about 8 hours. A typical school day for students may run from 7:30 to 2:30 or from 8:50 to 3:40, depending on the school and how it structures its day. At the end of each school day, student work, or even supervising extracurricular activities-as well as attending evening courses in the evenings and on weekends at Marian University to earn their teaching license. The first year for any new teacher is challenging, and Fellows should anticipate expending intense effort throughout summer training and the school year in order to meet their goals-and in order to help their students reach new academic heights.

For more information on teaching in Indiana, visit the Indiana Department of Education.