Families, Educators, and Policymakers Participate in Ed Reform Rocks Rally to Celebrate Student-Centered Gains and to Advocate for More Great Schools

Several Education Champions Recognized with Indiana's First Ever Ed Reformer Awards

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gov. Mitch Daniels today joined state legislators, reform advocates and thousands of students and teachers to celebrate student-centered reforms and to call for continued innovation in education. More than 2,000 people participated in The Ed Reform Rocks Rally (http://www.edreformrocksrally.com/) representing a variety of public, non-public and charter schools from around the state.

"Less than a year after passing an education reform package that improves teacher quality and trusts and respects parents to make choices that are best for their children, Indiana has made great strides toward creating more effective schools, said Gov. Daniels.  "Today is a day to celebrate these early successes but also to acknowledge how many challenges lie ahead on the path to the world-class academic results of which we dream."

Several reform-minded groups organized today's rally to call attention to the theme– Demand Great Schools – and the need to focus on ongoing education excellence through the availability of quality teachers, effective schools, and empowered parents. The organizing groups included: School Choice Indiana, The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Stand for Children, Education Reform Now, Indiana Public Charter School Association, StudentsFirst, and Indiana Virtual School Families.

The groups also recognized several Hoosiers as Education Champions at the rally with Indiana's first-ever Ed Reformer Awards. The public submitted their nominations online for leaders championing innovation and improvement in education and the winners include:

• Education Reformer of the Year:  Chair of the House Education Committee Robert Behning.
• Charter Warrior of the Year:  State Senator Scott Schneider.  
• Educator of the Year:  Patrick Jones from Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School in Indianapolis.
• Parent Advocate of the Year:  Monique Christensen from Seymour, Ind. 

"As a Hoosier, I'm proud of the progress Indiana has made toward improving education for all kids," said Christensen.

Kevin Chavous, a co-founder and Board Chair of Democrats for Education Reform and Board Chair of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, served as emcee for the rally. Tarik Glenn, a former Indianapolis Colts player and a founder of DREAM Alive, an organization helping at-risk students in Indianapolis' public school system, presented the keynote address for the event.

SOURCE School Choice Indiana