Education

Horizon Convention Center Hosts ‘Innovation Summit’ For Muncie Educators

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN– For two days, teachers and administrators from Muncie Community Schools (MCS) along with their partners from Ball State University together sought innovative solutions to transform education. During the MCS-Ball State Innovation Summit on September 25-26 in Muncie’s Horizon Convention Center, K-12 teachers and principals, Ball State faculty and staff, and community leaders worked on ways to continue the upward trajectory of the school system. Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns praised the teachers and staff for their dedication. “I want to begin by expressing my appreciation to the faculty and staff from Muncie Community Schools,”…

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Ivy Tech Receives Education Award From NAACP

By: Jennifer Gasiorek, Executive Director of Workforce Partnerships and Strategic Communications— Muncie, Ind.—Ivy Tech Community College Muncie received the Education Award during the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet hosted by the Muncie Chapter of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP). Ivy Tech Muncie was recognized, “for ongoing commitment and support for enhancing the lives of students and others.” Dylinn Phelps, Assistant Superintendent of Muncie Central High School, Past President of NAACP, and the chair of the Education Committee highlighted Muncie Central High School Early College Program with Ivy Tech Muncie. Chancellor Jeffrey D. Scott accepted the award on behalf of Ivy Tech….


Delaware County Students From 8 School Systems Convene For First Collaborative Industry Expo

By: Brenda Morehead, Director of Impact, Project Leadership— Muncie, IN—About 600 students from across Delaware County took part today in the first ever Delaware County Industry Expo, a collaborative event organized by school, business and community partners in the Delaware County Comprehensive Counseling Coalition. 8th and 9th graders listened to panelists from local employers in the industries of health and human services, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing and skilled trades, and information and technology. Students across eight school systems – Burris, Cowan, Daleville, Inspire, Liberty- Perry, Muncie Central, Yorktown and Wes-Del – converged on downtown Muncie for morning and afternoon sessions…


How Family And My Hometown Influenced My Career In Higher-Ed Leadership

By: Alison Bell, Chancellor for WGU Indiana— I recently had the opportunity to meet with Muncie city leaders, including Mayor Dennis Tyler, to discuss access to affordable college, a visit that was part of a statewide tour we planned after I took on my new role as Chancellor at WGU Indiana. While I was excited to have the opportunity to visit the new local restaurant, Roots, in the Village, I also found myself reflecting on the city and family members who impacted my pathway to higher education leadership. Growing up in Muncie, I was exposed to higher education in many different…


Cowan Teachers Awarded Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award From The Community Foundation

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. has announced that Courtney Crabtree and Sarah Hill have been awarded the Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award to recognize their innovation through collaboration in the classroom. Crabtree and Hill, kindergarten teachers at Cowan Elementary School, were nominated by former principal, now assistant superintendent, Tim Brown for their partnership to creatively give their students, and students of all ages at Cowan, more access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), through a series of projects funded by Robert P. Bell Education Grants. This spring,…


Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center Open House is August 24th

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—The YMCA of Muncie and Ball State University are committed to strengthening the Muncie community. Through a joint partnership, the YMCA and Ball State’s Child Study Center will be relocating all child care services to the newly renovated Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center beginning August 19th.  The community is invited to attend the open house on Saturday August 24th, 2019 from 10am to 12pm. The center is located at 2809 W. Purdue Ave, Muncie, Indiana 47304. “The innovative integration of these two programs will benefit the entire community, particularly in preparing children for kindergarten,” said Ball…


Innovation Connector and TechWise Academy Announce New STEM Classes for Fall

By: Brandon Coppernoll, Co-Founder, TechWise Academy— Muncie, IN—The Innovation Connector is partnering with TechWise Academy to host a new lineup of STEM classes through the Coding Connector starting on August 16. These classes help K-12 students learn computational thinking and computer science through coding and robotics. New classes this Fall feature Sphero robots for elementary students and new coding classes for middle and high school students. Younger students from kindergarten through second grade will have more opportunities to build and learn with LEGO WeDo robots than before. “What is being taught at the Coding Connector is truly the language of…


High School Teachers Learn About ‘Teaching Economics in American History’

By: Diane Watters, Associate Director, E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center— Muncie, IN—“The problem with hosting a successful program is that you get asked to do it again next year!” said Kathryn Kennison, director of the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center at Ball State University. On June 26, 2019, the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center hosted “Teaching Economics in American History” for Indiana high school teachers.  While the mission of the Center is to offer stimulating intellectual non-credit programs to the community as part of the university’s outreach efforts, organizing a program for teachers was new territory for them that proved…


United Way Tweaks Plans for ‘Listen and Learn’ Session with CEO of Muncie Community Schools

By: Jenni Marsh, President & CEO, United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties— Muncie, IN—United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties is retooling the July 29th open to the public Listen and Learn session about Muncie Community Schools. Originally, the event had been capped at a very small number to hold a kitchen table conversation about families’ hopes for Muncie Community Schools. “When Director of Public Education and CEO of Muncie Community Schools Lee Ann Kwiatkowski was able to attend that conversation, understandably, more people wanted to attend so they could meet her,” explained United Way President & CEO Jenni…


Ivy Tech Community College to host ‘Tidy Up’ Tuesday Event in Downtown Muncie

By: Jennifer Gasiorek— Muncie, IN – Ivy Tech Community College will host “Tidy Up” Tuesday on July 30th  from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 2p.m. to 4p.m. The Tidy Up Tuesday initiative is a collaboration of Ivy Tech Community College, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Muncie Delaware Clean & Beautiful and the City of Muncie coming together to keep our downtown clean and welcoming for all who will visit the downtown area.  It will connect Ivy Tech students, staff and community volunteers with Muncie locals and business owners to clean up the downtown area every month before the…