These 14 Indianapolis educators will get special training to help them run their schools

Fourteen educators from across Indianapolis will have an unusual chance to develop their expertise in school leadership over the next year.

They are the first round of local fellows selected to participate in a principal training program run by Relay Graduate School of Education, a 6-year-old graduate school that emphasizes practical training for educators. The Indianapolis fellows were chosen and sponsored by the Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit.

The fellows will join a one-year program that focuses on using data, creating positive school culture, and teacher and staff training.

We sat down with one of the the fellows, Kyle Beauchamp, to talk about how he got into education. Beauchamp is assistant principal at Paramount School of Excellence, and he will lead a planned second campus Paramount aims to open in partnership with Indianapolis Public Schools. For more stories from parents, students and educators, see our “What’s Your Education Story?” occasional series.

Below is Beauchamp’s story, condensed and lightly edited for clarity:

I’m from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan originally. I came from a teaching family originally — grandfathers, cousins, parents were all educators. My grandfather was a 35-year middle school social studies teacher. My grandmother was a music teacher. I feel like it’s in my blood. I’m really fortunate to have a great family of educators, and I don’t think there was ever a doubt in my mind that’s where I was going.

I graduated from Central Michigan and my first job was very unique. It was the place I student taught at in Farwell, Michigan, a small, small community just north of Mount Pleasant, Michigan. I kind of had a hybrid job where I got to do everything — I got to teach. I was also the school’s athletic director.

I developed a love both of teaching and of administration. I had two just outstanding mentors, two people who really helped me become a professional in every way. They really in my opinion got my career off to a solid start. I’ve spent a lot of my career to get to this point just listening to people who’ve done it the right way.

Here are all the educators chosen as fellows:

Lloyd Bryant, director of principal development for IPS

Susan Kertes, principal of IPS Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School 58

Bakari Posey, principal of IPS James Whitcomb Riley Elementary School 43

Andrew Karr, assistant school leader of Kindezi Academy at IPS Joyce Kilmer 69

Kevin Kubacki, executive director of Enlace Academy and Kindezi Academy at IPS Joyce Kilmer 69

Shanae Staples, founding school leader of Kindezi Academy at IPS Joyce Kilmer 69

Casandra McLeod, assistant school leader of KIPP Indy College Prep Middle School

Ellen Reuter, school leader of KIPP Indy Unite Elementary School

Jason Schall, chief academic officer of KIPP Indianapolis

Mariama Carson, principal of Global Preparatory Academy at IPS Riverside 44

Liset Gonzalez-Acosta, dual language and instructional coach of Global Preparatory Academy at IPS Riverside 44

Mari Dandie, instructional coach of Global Preparatory Academy at IPS Riverside 44

Kyle Beauchamp, assistant principal of Paramount School of Excellence

Tommy Reddicks, executive director of Paramount School of Excellence