4 IPS Educators Receive $25K For Changing Students' Lives

Each day after school, Indianapolis Public Schools teacher Sheila Long leaves her classroom. But she doesn’t stop teaching.

For the last decade, Long has visited a student who was severely injured while walking home from school when he was just 7 years old. A teacher at School 42, she goes to the student’s house each day to read and provide lessons.

It’s that dedication that led a committee to select Long as one of three IPS teachers and a principal honored as Hubbard Life-Changing Educators. Now in its fourth year, the award comes with a $25,000 prize funded by philanthropists Al and Kathy Hubbard.

“These four educators teach and inspire their students to be the best they can be every day,” said Al Hubbard in a statement. “Kathy and I are proud to recognize and reward these teachers and principals for their extraordinary work in education and for going beyond the call of duty to turn kids’ lives around.”

The honorees were chosen from among 584 nominations and 10 finalists. The other winners were:

Maggie Brown, a teacher at the SITE Program at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, helped one student secure an electronic wheelchair and stayed with another who was hospitalized after a car accident.

Julie Herdman is a teacher at SUPER School 19, the district physical fitness magnet school. She teaches students about leading a healthy lifestyle, incorporates academics into fitness classes and stays late at school to tutor students. And she is a mentor to students, supporting them in high school and college.

Shane O’Day, principal of Shortridge High School, was hired to develop the district’s new International Baccalaureate high school. Each day, he greets students by name, and his dedication help set expectations at the school, where he has created a culture of respect.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.