On Saturday, May 25, 2019, the Indy Chapter of the Indianapolis Black Expo held the 3rd Annual African-American Excellence in Education Awards at Martin University. The Indy Chapter of the Indiana Black Expo (IBE) Education Committee Co-Chairs Marlon Llewellyn and Candace Pate sent a request to school districts, schools, and The Mind Trust to nominate black educators who possessed the following skills:
- passion and commitment to the teaching profession
- innovation and creativity in the classroom
- professional growth and development
- leadership in developing a positive school culture
- instructional leadership
- highly effective communication & collaboration skills
- positive community relations
Education Committee Co-Chair Marlon Llewellyn shared it was a rigorous selection process. In addition to the nomination, the nominator had to complete a form which included explaining how the nominee made an impact in the lives of staff, students, and the community that he or she served. Selected educators were recognized with the Excellence in Education Award by receiving a congressional recognition from Congressman André D. Carson. A few educators also received a plaque for a specific Excellence in Education Award.
This program was birthed out of the heart of IBE Indy Chapter President Emil Ekiyor. Llewellyn shared, “He saw a need. All these excellent black educators are in our city and no one was taking the time out to thank them.” Although Llewellyn is the Co-Chair of the Education Committee, he was skeptical about the awards at first. “I was previously nominated for this award. I was a principal at Tindley at the time. I didn’t show up. I didn’t see the value in it.” After he joined the IBE Indy Chapter, his viewpoint evolved. “After I was recruited to join the chapter, I began to see the value. Now, as co-chair of the committee, Emil challenged us to take it to the next level. We want to take it to the national level.”
A hope of the committee is this awards program is used as a model in other cities across the United States. Llewellyn said, “You have great black talent doing the work. They’re doing it in obscurity. Now, we have created a forum to celebrate them.”
Excellence in Education Journalism
Shawnta S. Barnes, The Educator’s Room & Indy K12
Excellence in Education Leadership
Dr. Shawn Smith, Superintendent, MSD of Lawrence Township
IBE Role Model of the Year
Tamara Markey, Pre-Engineering Teacher, McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology in the MSD of Lawrence Township
Excellence in Education/Congressional Recognition
Andrew J. Brown Academy
James Hill, Principal
Cathedral High School
Ken Barlow, Vice President for Community Relations and Diversity
Emma Donnan Middle School
Clyde Smith, Special Education Lead
Emmerich Manual High School
Quincy Jones, Science Teacher
Monique Mays, Athletic Director
Indianapolis Public Schools
Teena Hicks, Administrative Associate, Butler Lab School #55
Flora Jones, Director of Post Secondary Readiness
Crissy Phillips, Interventionist, Butler Lab School #55
Jennifer Schaffer, School Counselor, Butler Lab School #60
Brandon Warren, Multi-Classroom Leader, William Penn #49
Irvington Community Schools
Randy Ballard, Dean of Students, Irvington Prep
Kindezi Academy
Shanae Andrews, Founding School Leader
KIPP Indy Public Schools
Brittany Crawford, Special Education Teacher, KIPP Indy College Prep
Lorena Stevenson, Kindergarten Co-Teacher, KIPP Indy Unite
Lighthouse Academies
Tramaine Williams, Teacher, Indianapolis Lighthouse Charter School
Marian Academy
Latoya Black, Principal
The Mind Trust
Alicia Hervey, Founding School Leader
Kim Neal, Founding School Leader
MSD of Lawrence Township
Candace Norley, Principal, Early Learning at Mary Castle
Tamara Markey, Pre-Engineering Teacher, McKenzie Center for Innovation & Technology
Jerome Omar Lahlou, Principal, Forest Glen Elementary
Dr. Shawn Smith, Superintendent
Keith Story, Academic Coach
MSD of Pike Township
Dorothy Gerve, Speech Pathologist, Eagle Creek Elementary
Diamond Hunter, Guidance Counselor, Pike High School
Breck Mosley, Special Education Teacher, Pike High School
Leiwana Taylor, Spanish Teacher, Pike High School
Ayana Wilson-Coles, Teacher, Eagle Creek Elementary
MSD of Warren Township
Tracey Bus, Academic Coach, Warren Central High School
Kristin Jones, Instructional Specialist, Grassy Creek Elementary
Jennifer Rogers, Teacher, Sunny Heights Elementary
Janie Smith, Principal, Lakeside Elementary
MSD of Washington Township
Byron Brown, Assistant Principal, North Central High School
LaTisha Frazier, Teacher/Field Experience Manager, Northview Middle School
MSD of Wayne Township
Shawnta S. Barnes, Library/Media Specialist, Westlake Elementary
Dennis Coins, Teacher, Ben Davis High School
Albert Coleman, Teacher & Work Based Learning Coordinator, Ben Davis University High School
Pennie Gregory, Assistant Director of Special Services
Dr. Dennisha Murff, Principal, Westlake Elementary
Shatara Smith, Assistant Principal, Robey Elementary
Paramount Schools of Excellence
Josh Adams, Dean, Paramount Brookside
Shelia Jones, Behavioral Counselor
Keith Thomas, Jr., Teacher, Paramount Brookside
Marquez Wynne, Assistant Dean of Discipline, Paramount Brookside
Perry Township Schools
Star Hardimon, Principal, Douglas McArthur Elementary Bethany Peterson-Gibson, Assistant Principal, Perry 6th Grade Academy
Providence Cristo Rey
Patrice Holmes, Academic Counselor
Fred Yeakey, Vice Principal
Purdue Polytechnic High School
Latrice Crawford, College & Career Coordinator
Ronni Moore, Science Coach
Keeanna Reid Warren, Founding School Leader
Speedway Schools
Howard Dorsey, Special Education Interventionist, Speedway High School
Trenton Borom, Director of Student Services, Speedway High School
Thomas Carr Howe High School
Tyrelle Collins, Math Teacher
Lloyd Knight, Principal
Tindley Schools
Marcel Bonds, Athletic Director
Aaron Mickens, Assistant Principal, Tindley Collegiate
Allen Mickens, Assistant Principal, Tindley Genesis
Juanita Price, Kindergarten Teacher, Tindley Summit
Mia Richardson, Special Education Teacher, Tindley Renaissance
Ashya Thomas, Teacher
Tiara Willis, Kindergarten Teacher, Tindley Genesis
Vanguard Collegiate
Alyssa McIntyre, Social Studies Teacher
Rosalie Pettigrew, Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Bobby Thomas, Math & Science Teacher