Seven years ago, we chose to send our first child to Indianapolis Public Schools. It felt like the natural choice. Both my husband and I attended public schools, and we live in the school district. At the time, we also lived near the former principal of George Washington Carver (GWC) School 87, who was very proud of his school and encouraged us to tour. We loved what we saw at this IPS Montessori school and enrolled our son in Pre-K, planning to stay just one year since another IPS school was closer to our house and we could enroll there starting in kindergarten. But the following year, we discovered such a vibrant and loving community at George Washington Carver that we didn’t want to leave and we haven’t looked back since. We now have three children at the school, and they all gain a spectrum of experiences each day that foster tolerance, independence, and creativity in a child-centered approach.
Since the implementation of the district’s Rebuilding Stronger initiative, every elementary student in IPS gets access to the Montessori model as one of eight academic model options available in each zone, alongside STEM, Reggio Emilia, International Baccalaureate, Dual Language, Exploratory, Visual and Performing Arts, and High Ability.
My family continues to choose IPS because my children receive a well-rounded academic education that prepares them for the future and nurtures their growth in all areas of life. Where they struggle, they are provided with the support they need to succeed, and where they excel, they are encouraged to go beyond and challenge themselves.
Beyond academics, IPS and its community partners have created so many extracurricular opportunities at our school, from the Monumental 5K to ukulele instruction and performances with El Sistema, to sports like futsal, basketball, track, and soccer. Indy Chess allows our kids to learn and compete in district tournaments; music programs and events celebrate the different cultures of our school, and art club, gardening club, book club, and robotics give our kids creative outlets. Most importantly, these opportunities are available at no cost to students, regardless of their income or ability.
I am just one of the tens of thousands of parents who trust IPS with our children. I have had the privilege to spend time at our school and I have seen the magic that happens when teachers pour their hearts into our children. There is no perfect system, especially when we unpack the layers of historical – and still invasive – biases and racism that have shaped our institutions. But IPS not only provides my children with a quality education, they are also actively addressing these issues, and are dedicated to serving every child in our district well, regardless of income, race, or zip code. I am so grateful for the community IPS has brought into my life, which is why earlier this year, I helped organize the IPS Parent Council.
Too often we are siloed within our own school communities, and connecting with parents outside of our schools can be difficult. The number one indicator of where a child goes to school is proximity to home. I think about this a lot. Because many of our Indianapolis neighborhoods are deliberately segregated, our schools are often similarly divided.
The IPS Parent Council is an integrated community of IPS parents and caregivers working toward the betterment of all our children and the district. It is a community first and foremost in the interest of our city’s kids, but also a support system for parents navigating a complex district oversaturated with choice. Together, we share our experiences, celebrate the successes of our district, and brainstorm solutions to the challenges we face.
While the Parent Council was born in response to the proposed anti-public school legislation put forth by state lawmakers this session, the creation of an organized parent group is long overdue. As a Council, we believe all children are best served by a healthy, fully-funded, and integrated public school system that remains publicly accountable while providing strong support for teachers and staff.
Our goals are to amplify parent perspectives and concerns, build meaningful relationships with our school board and district leaders, advocate for proper public school funding, and ensure that our council reflects the diverse demographics of our school district. We are still in our infancy, but we prioritize a welcoming environment and accessibility. We offer childcare and translation services at our meetings. We offer ride-sharing to our events. And we offer food because we all need sustenance.
If you are an IPS parent or caregiver and support public schools, I ask you to please join us.The IPS Parent Council is your council. Please fill out this https://bit.ly/IPSparentcouncil for more information.
If you are a business member, IPS alumni, or community organizer and see the value in the success of Indianapolis Public Schools, please reach out so we can collaborate on how to support our public school system together. Email me at [email protected].
Written by Kristen Phair
