At the June 25th public hearing of the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA), parents, educators, and community members came together with a unified message: every child in Indianapolis deserves access to a high-quality education—regardless of their background, ZIP code, or school type.
Bony Georges: “Every student deserves to be seen—and supported.”
IPS teacher Bony Georges opened with a moving story of an eighth-grade student who took three buses and walked 25 minutes just to attend school. Despite his determination and academic promise, systemic barriers like unreliable transportation often stood in his way. Bony urged the committee to adopt a more comprehensive approach that supports students beyond the classroom and learns from both charter and traditional schools that are closing the achievement gap.
Read my full speech:
Good evening ILEA members,
My name is Bony Georges, and I’m a teacher at an IPS school. I’m here because I care deeply about the future of our most underserved students—the ones I see every day in my classroom.
In many of these communities, the achievement gap is wide.
Last year, I had an 8th-grade student who lived far from school. He took three public buses and walked 25 minutes just to get to class. He was only 13. His mom didn’t have a driver’s license, and he didn’t live with his father. But he had a dream—he wanted to be an engineer. He was one of my top students, but he missed school when transportation failed or the weather was bad.
I saw him. I supported him. But I’m not sure the system did.
There are many students like him—bright, motivated, full of potential—but held back by barriers beyond their control.
We need a more comprehensive approach—one that supports students beyond the classroom. We also need to learn from schools – charter and traditional — that are closing these gaps.
Please consider the achievement gap when creating solutions for all public school types in Indianapolis. Every student deserves to be seen—and supported.
Thank you.
Swantella Nelson: “All kids can learn.”
Swantella, a parent, educator, and tutor, emphasized that the type of school matters less than whether it meets a child’s needs. She called for smart collaboration between IPS and charter schools, urging the committee to focus on what works for students rather than getting caught in divisive debates. Her message was clear: accountability and unity can drive real progress.
Read my full speech:
Hello ILEA members.
My name is Swantella Nelson. I am a public school parent and I have sent my children to both IPS and charter schools.
I say this because the type of school my children attend has never been more important than ensuring they get what they need from their education setting – a school that meets them where they are. I represent thousands of parents who love and support IPS and also see value in what’s offered by quality charter schools in our community.
As a parent educator and a tutor, I know it takes a lot to alter your lessons to ensure they are engaging for all your students. I know it can be a battle to keep students engaged through short attention spans. But at the end of the day, each student is capable and what I know above all else is that all kids can learn.
As a mom, I want to see our schools be accountable and I want smart collaboration between IPS and the charter sectors. I am really hopeful about this committee and I believe if the focus is what’s best for students – and not on the charter vs. IPS debate – then we can support a strategy that expands opportunity and grows school models that are working. Because our kids all deserve the kind of bright future that stems from an amazing education.
Dontia Dyson: “School choice only works if families can get there.”
As a father of four, Dontia highlighted the critical role of transportation in making school choice meaningful. Without reliable transit or a driver’s license, many families are forced to choose schools based on access—not quality. He called on ILEA to use data and ensure that all students—especially students of color—have access to great schools, teachers, and opportunities.
Read my full speech:
Hello ILEA members,
My name is Dontia Dyson. I’m a proud father with two boys who’ve experienced a range of public schools in the IPS district—from traditional to innovation schools. My daughters have also been in the district in the past. Next year, both of my sons will be attending Matchbook School 63.
I’m here today because I believe this group has a real opportunity to make public education in Indianapolis stronger. That means tackling transportation challenges, using data to guide school choices, and ensuring every child has access to great buildings, great teachers, and great opportunities—no matter what type of public school they attend.
As a dad, I’ve spent years advocating within IPS because I want to see schools held accountable. I want to see the district make smart decisions about which schools to grow—based on which ones are truly closing the opportunity gap and delivering a high-quality education for our students of color.
I’ve also spoken up because I know firsthand how critical transportation is. Like many parents, I’ve had to choose schools based on whether they could get my kids there.
School choice is a powerful promise—but it only works for the kids who can actually get to the schools that are right for them. As someone who doesn’t currently have a driver’s license, I know just how important transportation is to making that promise real.
Thank you for the work you’re doing. I truly hope this group hears parents like me and can bring together all sectors to create real, lasting and positive change for every public school student in our city.
Ada Lemus: “Don’t let transportation erase our progress.”
Ada, a mother of two, shared how her son Cristian’s academic progress—thanks to a new IEP—could be undone if transportation is cut. Without a car, she fears he’ll have to transfer schools and lose the support he’s finally receiving. She urged IPS and charter leaders to work together to improve transportation so families aren’t forced to settle for what’s closest instead of what’s best.
Read my full speech:
Good evening. My name is Ada Lemus, and I’m a proud mom of two—here to speak for my son Cristian and other families like ours.
Cristian is going into 7th grade at Edison School of the Arts. He’s smart, hardworking, and recently got an IEP that’s helping him catch up in reading. But that progress is fragile. If transportation gets taken away, I won’t have a way to get him to school—and he’ll have to transfer, losing everything he’s worked for.
Our family relies heavily on school transportation. If we had more options, I would have sent Cristian to a school that could have supported him earlier—but we didn’t have that choice. Without a car and reliable transit, we’re forced to settle for what’s closest—not what’s best.
I’m here because I believe IPS and public charter schools need to work together to improve transportation. Every child deserves access to the school that helps them thrive.
Thank you.
Vilma Esperanza Hernandez: “That’s not choice. That’s survival.”
Vilma spoke passionately about the inequities families face when access to quality schools depends on bus routes. She called for collaboration between IPS, the city, and the mayor’s office to ensure all families—not just a lucky few—can reach schools where students of color are thriving. She also emphasized the need to invest in school facilities and scale successful models.
Read my full speech:
Good evening. My name is Vilma Esperanza Hernandez, and I’m here as a parent who simply wants what every parent wants: a fair shot for our kids—regardless of ZIP code or background.
I’ve seen schools where students of color are thriving—where educators go above and beyond, and kids are learning with joy and purpose. But sadly, those schools are still too few. And access to them is even harder.
My family, like many others, has had to make school decisions based on where the bus could take us—not what school is best for our children. That’s not true choice. That’s survival.
We need leaders to work together—IPS, the city, and the mayor—to make sure families can actually get to the schools that are working. We also need to invest in fixing school buildings and scaling what’s already helping kids succeed.
Every child deserves that opportunity—not just a lucky few.
Thank you.
A Shared Vision for Change
Each speaker brought a unique perspective, but their message was united: Indianapolis must prioritize access, collaboration and quality schools that close the opportunity gap. Whether through better transportation, smarter school growth strategies, or cross-sector partnerships, the path forward must center on what’s best for students.
