Charles A. Tindley network of charter schools is known in Indianapolis for its no-nonsense discipline policies and high academic achievement with black students. Recently, the network announced a new principal.
Lloyd Knight is the principal of Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School. Previous he served as an elementary teacher, curriculum resource teacher, and assistant principal. During his tenure as principal at Chicago International Charter School Lloyd Bond, Chicago Magazine reported the school moved from the closed list to the fourth best charter elementary school in Chicago. He was a lead principal in North Carolina for Charter Schools USA and oversaw the largest portfolio of charter schools in North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Shaw University in North Carolina and earned a Master of Arts in educational leadership from DePaul University in Illinois.
What are your goals for Tindley Accelerated High School?
Tindley Accelerated Schools has an amazing tradition of excellence within the classroom. We will be working diligently every day to ensure the best education possible for all of our scholars. We want to push our stakeholders to hold us accountable for being one of the best schools in the state. We will increase our presence within the community through partnerships and active participation in the surrounding areas.
Recently, it was announced the Tindley Charter Network is consolidating its schools due to financial concerns. As a building leader, how do these financial concerns factor into your plans for your school?
My focus as a principal is in implementing wonderful education programs and supports for our teachers in their development. Our goals are for the continual increase in test scores and to ensure the traditional rigor within our education model. I also want to enhance the overall scholar experience at Tindley.
What response do you have to community stakeholders who have concerns about you leading a school in a highly rated charter school network when Howe, the charter high school you previously led, had an F rating during your tenure?
TC Howe is a school on a clear rise. It had two consecutive years with over a 90% graduation rate plus over 40% of scholars graduating with CCR (college and career readiness) shows the success of programs that were implemented. While they will likely leave the F list this fall, I am proud to be a Tindley Tiger and I’m fighting every day to meet the goals set by our school community.
How can the community support your school?
While we will have needs for our scholars, I am interested in what Tindley can do for the community. We are so excited to build upon the community service that is already in place and work to take it to the next level. In the future, fundraising events will happen and we will, of course, keep everyone posted.
Why are Tindley Schools a good school choice option?
Within all communities, there is a need for schools of high academic and cultural expectations. Tindley is an amazing school choice option because we have committed to pushing our scholars to excellence in high school and beyond while still learning in our care. 100% of seniors graduated with credits towards their bachelor’s degree in our partnership with Evansville University. If you are a Scholar that wants a loving, caring, and safe environment with high expectations for all scholars, Tindley Accelerated Schools is the place to be.
Why are you an advocate and supporter of school choice?
My experience as an advocate for school choice is rooted in my time as a charter school teacher and administrator on the south side of Chicago at CICS Lloyd Bond. It was during this time that parents and students expressed thankfulness that our school was within a neighborhood where scholars were not getting a quality education.
When the community needs an option because they are not satisfied with the district school, charter schools are a proven option as an alternative. While all charter schools aren’t successful, without them, we would lack the competition necessary to force all schools to be innovative for our students.
Congratulations on your new adventure with Tinley My hope for you is that you are as successful as you were at TC Howe. You have a gift that needs to be shared with the world. You will be missed at how but they will enjoy your antics at Tindley. Much luck much love. Kama Carter president of tc Howe alumni Association