HSE Schools’ Joshua Heideman among 13 educators chosen
Indiana’s fourth- and eighth-grade students made significant improvements in reading during the early 2010s, but progress has been uneven.
Teach Plus Indiana wants to keep literacy front and center and create the right conditions for success in the state. So, it launched an ambitious 10-year plan calling for at least a 10-point improvement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
Teacher leadership sits at the heart of this effort. In accordance with its plan, the organization has selected 13 exceptional Indiana educators for its 2025-26 Policy Fellowship to focus on literacy and other critical issues affecting student success.
Building on the foundation laid by the previous cohorts of Teach Plus teacher leaders, the new Policy Fellows will continue shaping and championing education policies that ensure more students attend schools with instruction grounded in the science of reading. Teach Plus Policy Fellows and alumni are developing a science of reading guide of resources, to be finalized in the fall of 2025, designed to support educators, parents, and other stakeholders to teach children how to read. The Fellows will also work to further advance the implementation of science of reading across Indiana schools.
“Reading is the foundation for everything students will learn in school and beyond. Without strong literacy skills, Indiana’s children can struggle to advance academically or access opportunities that shape their futures,” Teach Plus Indiana Executive Director Rachel Hathaway said. “That’s why we’re bringing together this group of effective teacher leaders to tackle this crisis head-on. Our state is making strides, but we must continue to keep literacy in the forefront, building policy and instructional practice conditions that ease district and schools’ implementation of effective literacy instruction.”
The new cohort will also focus its advocacy on creating the conditions within the system for literacy success, including teacher preparation, evidence-based teaching, and accountability. Building on the work of previous Fellows, the teacher leaders will continue to advocate for improvements in the teacher pipeline and retention, support effective implementation of the Teacher Appreciation Grant, and contribute to the development of new school accountability measures at the state level.
The 2025-26 Indiana Policy Fellows hail from across the Hoosier State and teach in diverse classrooms from preK-12, including urban, suburban, and rural districts such as Evansville, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Union City, Fishers, Indianapolis (with multiple schools), Seymour, Kentland, and Muncie. The cohort includes educators from traditional, charter, and innovation schools.
Throughout the program, Teach Plus develops and deepens Fellows’ expertise in policy analysis, advocacy, research, and communications, equipping them with the skills to bring evidence-based solutions to the table. Each Fellow was selected for their ability to articulate the needs of their students and communities and their demonstrated excellence and innovation in teaching, ensuring they can effectively advocate for meaningful changes that will benefit children across Indiana.
The 2025-26 Teach Plus Indiana Policy Fellows are:
- Danielle Bringman, Joshua Academy (Evansville)
- Madeline Cripe, Northwest Allen County School District
- Heidi Daren, South Bend Community School Corporation
- Jason Hawley, Randolph Eastern School Corporation
- Joshua Heideman, Hamilton Southeastern Schools
- Treasure Jones, Indianapolis Public Schools Innovation Network
- Jennifer Miller, Seymour Community Schools
- Patrick Newton, KIPP Indy Public Schools
- Alejandro Samaniego, Indianapolis Public Schools
- David Staggs, Purdue Polytechnic High School (Indianapolis)
- Marissa Tanner, MSD of Washington Township
- Casey Ward, South Newton School Corporation
- Misty White, Inspire Academy (Muncie)
The 2025-26 Teach Plus Indiana Senior Policy Fellows are:
- Christine Bizzell, Indianapolis Public Schools
- John Wells, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
- Elizabeth West, MSD of Wayne Township