Education

By: Andy Klotz— Muncie, Ind. – A new $100,000 DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center is coming to Southside Middle School this fall. The school is one of just three across Indiana receiving the state-of-the-art equipment as a gift from The National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC), chaired by fitness icon Jake Steinfeld, and in partnership with Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “This is fabulous!” Muncie Community Schools Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski said. “Health and fitness…

By: Ivy Tech Community College— INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College has announced it is offering free classes and trainings for 10,000 participants. The College is elevating its commitment to Hoosiers impacted by COVID-19 experiencing unemployment, reduced hours, and/or furloughs across the state. Participants may take more than one class or training in a range of relevant high-demand areas. Hoosiers can get detailed information about the classes and trainings, and register for free, by visiting www.ivytech.edu/10kclasses. Many of the…

By: Andy Klotz— Muncie, Ind. – The Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees has named Rhonda Ward as the district’s new director of Diversity. Ward is currently the assistant principal at Muncie Central High School where she will continue to serve. “Rhonda is the perfect person for this position as we take the next step with culturally responsive practices,” MCS Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski said. “Her significant experience in Muncie Community Schools and longstanding…

By: Lee Ann Kwiatkowski , Director of Public Education & CEO , Muncie Community Schools— Muncie, IN—In light of yet another senseless killing of an unarmed black man at the hands of the police, we at Muncie Community Schools (MCS) want to reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. There is no justification for anything less. Racism and racist violence, by action or inaction, is intolerable and unacceptable. The Black Lives Matter movement must include all of us as we support our black and…

By: Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, IN—Congratulations to the following graduates: Christian Barton, a senior at Cowan Jr./Sr. High School, is the recipient of the Owen H. Ramey Memorial Scholarship. Barton plans to attend Ball State University to study secondary education. He is the son of Shane Barton and Holly Barton.  Noah Collins, a senior at Cowan Jr./Sr. High School, is the recipient of the Nicholas Brooks Sherfy Memorial Scholarship. Collins plans to attend Earlham College to study sports management. He is…

By: Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, IN—Congratulations to the following graduates – Callie Berry, a senior at Wes-Del High School, is a recipient of the 2020 Jon Hunter Memorial Scholarship. Berry plans to study elementary education at Ball State University. She is the daughter of the late Ryan Berry and Kris Berry.  Emma Davis, a senior at Burris Laboratoty School, is the recipient of the eKeeper Systems Unparalleled Excellence Scholarship and the Lathrop P. Johnson Scholarship. Davis plans to attend Purdue University to study computer science and Spanish….

 By: Melissa Jones— Muncie, IN—Stefanie Onieal is not a teacher, she says. She’s a researcher.  “I’m a researcher of my students. I am researching what they know, what they can do, and I’m trying to take them to the next place, to where they need to go,” said Onieal, a second-grade teacher at Burris Laboratory School in Muncie. And it’s this unique approach and dedication to self-reflection that led to her being named the winner of this year’s Ball Brothers…

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—Congratulations to the following graduates – Edom Alemayehu, a senior at Burris Laboratory School, is a recipient of the Alice Miriam Kitselman Scholarship. Alemayehu plans to attend Ball State University to study biology and pre-med. She is the daughter of Zoide Awoke and Abebe Alemayehu. Sarah Bailey, a senior at Wes-Del Middle/High School, is a recipient of the Zach Greenwalt Scholarship. Bailey plans to attend Ivy Tech Community College to study psychology.  She is the daughter of Lisa Bailey and Michael Bailey. Ashlyn Craig, a senior at…

By: Chris Walker, Principal at Muncie Central High School— Muncie, IN—Friday March 13, 2020 started out as a normal day at Muncie Central High School.  Normal until about 2:50 pm when I was on the public address system informing our students and staff that we would be conducting eLearning the following week and the week after Spring Break. As I outlined expectations for the next three weeks and gave instructions on items that needed to be taken home at dismissal,…