Education

By Ball State Communications— MUNCIE, IN—New research from Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research(CBER) provides a new, easy-to-use way to compare how Indiana public school corporations are performing—one that helps place test results in context and makes comparisons across very different communities more meaningful. CBER’s study uses a “value-added” method that looks at student outcomes and then estimates how much of the difference in school performance is associated with factors that school corporations cannot easily control—such as student…

By David J. Roof— MUNCIE, IN—At a time when many Americans report feeling increasingly anxious, disconnected, and uncertain about their sense of purpose, Ball State University is hosting a public event aimed at addressing those concerns through conversation, reflection, and research-based insight. On Tuesday, April 14, Ball State will welcome Emily Esfahani Smith, bestselling author of The Power of Meaning, for an evening discussion on belonging, purpose, and what contributes to a meaningful life. The event will take place from…

By Ball State Athletics— MUNCIE, IN—Recognized as one of the nation’s top assistant basketball coaches with a proven track record in recruiting and player development, Chris Capko has been named Ball State University’s 21st head men’s basketball coach. Currently the associate head coach with Southern Methodist University and active this week with the Mustangs in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, Capko has spent the past 10 seasons under coach Andy Enfield at both SMU and USC. SMU was…

Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction. By Stacey A. Shannon— MUNCIE, IN—Last August, Muncie Central High School senior Fletcher Kahle tore his ACL for the second time in his high school career. Just like that, plans shifted a bit for the varsity football and baseball athlete. The seven-month recovery time for such an injury kept…

By Lesley DeVoss— MUNCIE, IN – Siobhan Gillespie’s journey to the front of the classroom at Ivy Tech Community College Muncie didn’t begin with a lifelong plan for academia. It began with a GED, a job as a manager at McDonald’s, and a back injury that changed her life. Today, as an Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, Gillespie is using her full-circle experience to help lead the very Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program that launched her career….

By Ashley Mann, Ball State PBS — MUNCIE, Indiana — For a third straight year, Leo Furlong, a seventh grader at Burris Laboratory Middle School, is the champion of the Ball State PBS Regional Spelling Bee. At this year’s competition, held March 7 at Sursa Performance Hall, Mr. Furlong correctly spelled “collegiality” to secure the regional title and earn a return trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 2026 Ball State PBS Regional Spelling Bee featured 35 spellers from 35…

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN—It’s been 15 years since Hannah Schutte and Connie Devers-White have connected. It’s been 20 years since Schutte was a student in Devers-White’s fourth grade classroom in Selma. Still, after all these years, Schutte has not forgotten Devers-White and the way her favorite teacher helped her through some very difficult times in her youth. “I was asked why teachers and counselors are so important, and it’s because you never know what kids are going through,” Schutte…

By Andy Klotz— INDIANAPOLIS – Rising early literacy proficiency rates, improved attendance rates and above average graduation rates are just a few of the reasons Muncie Community Schools (MCS) has been placed in the national spotlight by StriveTogether, a network of local communities across the country working to help young people get on a path to economic mobility. StriveTogether, based in Cincinnati, leads this network in order to reverse the trend of declining economic mobility of children. With only half…

By Ball State Communications— MUNCIE, Indiana — The Ball State University Board of Trustees on Friday approved the scope, budget, and site plan for Village Green—Site 4 of the University’s Village Revitalization Plan. Village Green will be located on the southwest corner of Martin Street and University Avenue in Muncie. It will be a welcoming gathering space designed to strengthen connections between campus and the broader Muncie community. “Village Green represents the kind of thoughtful investment that makes The Village even…