Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.
Update, July 15: Tiffani Flick, Jayia McCray and Christopher Williams have withdrawn from their respective school board races since this article was published.
Update, June 26: This story was updated to reflect that Lindsey Cornett was added to the ballot as a District 4 candidate for IPS school board.
Fifteen candidates are running for five seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board this November, including an influential charter school advocate and an Indiana Democratic Party leader.
Candidates had until noon June 18 to be on the November ballot, and the list is a first look at who could lead IPS during a time of change for the city’s schools. This was the first time candidates could include their political affiliations.
Of the 59 candidates competing for 31 seats on 10 school boards across Marion County, more than half decided to list a party affiliation, with 23 Democrats and 9 Republicans. Seven candidates are Independents and 20 chose to be nonpartisan. For IPS, 13 listed Democrat and two are Independents.
This election is pivotal for the IPS school board. After two resignations this year, five of the board’s seven seats are on the ballot. It’s also the first election since state lawmakers created the mayor-appointed Indianapolis Public Education Corporation.
IPEC holds key powers for IPS and charter schools in the city including including the ability to ask voters for a tax increase to provide additional funds to schools. The elected IPS board previously had that power, and this year’s possible referendum comes as the district faces critical financial challenges. Per state law, three of the nine members of IPEC are also IPS board members.
Of the five races for IPS school board, the most crowded are for District 3 and the at-large seat with four candidates for each. The District 3 race is especially notable with Hope Duke Star, the current IPS board president and a member of IPEC, and Derek Redelman, who is considered an architect of the state’s 2001 charter school law, both on the ballot.
Alexander S. Nyirendah, the vice chair of the Indiana Democratic Party, is running for an at-large seat and Chris Bultman is running in District 4. Bultman works at Concept Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization and was recently appointed to join the IPS board.
The IPS board members who have terms ending in 2026 are all running for re-election.
School board candidates statewide were previously nonpartisan, but they now have the ability to list a political party affiliation, identify as an independent, or be nonpartisan. Because there are no primary elections, multiple candidates can have the same party affiliation.
Here’s a look at who’s on the ballot. Incumbent candidates are noted with an asterisk.
Candidates for IPS school board:
See the map of school board districts here.
District 2
- Bryan Duarte, Democrat
- Hasaan Rashid, Democrat*
District 3
- Loren Eugene Heger, Democrat
- Hope Duke Star, Democrat*
- Derek Redelman, Independent
- Daqavise D. Winston, Democrat
District 4
- Chris Bultman, Democrat*
- Lindsey Cornett, Democrat
District 5
- Nicole Carey, Democrat*
- Yuri Smith Sr., Democrat
- Pearl Taylor, Democrat
At-large
- Heather Houston, Independent
- Angelia Lois Moore, Democrat*
- Alexander S. Nyirendah, Democrat
- Sacha Nicole Sharp, Democrat
Candidates for school boards across the Indianapolis area:
Beech Grove City Schools
Three at-large seats are on the ballot.
- Brian Downard, nonpartisan*
- Tiffani Flick, Democrat
- Jannis King, Independent*
- Madison West, nonpartisan
MSD of Decatur Township
Three at-large seats are on the ballot.
- Randi Berryman, nonpartisan
- Teresa A. Burns, nonpartisan
- Judith Collins, Republican*
- Dale Henson, Republican*
- Steve Jacobi, nonpartisan
- Patrice Johnson, nonpartisan
- Chase Lyday, Republican*
- Kristyn D. Stoddard, Independent
Franklin Township Community Schools
At-large
- Komal (Komal Kaur) Chohan, Independent
- Dawn Downer, nonpartisan*
- Antonio DeWayne Key, Sr, Democrat
- Tim McVey, Republican
- Christopher Williams, Republican
Northeast District
- Zachary Smith Howard, Republican*
Southeast District
- Matt Morgan, Republican
- Larry J. Walker, Republican*
MSD of Lawrence Township
At-large
- Maria Bertram Cartagena, nonpartisan
- Jessica Dunn, nonpartisan*
District 2
- Larry Brown, nonpartisan
- Craig J Willey, nonpartisan
Perry Township Schools
Three at-large seats are on the ballot.
- Chris Lewis, Republican*
- Brianna Bible, Democrat
- Lee Shively, Independent*
MSD of Pike Township
Three at-large seats are on the ballot.
- Alonzo Anderson, Democrat*
- Wayne Moore, Democrat*
- Sherie Latoya Scott, Democrat
- Terry A. Webster, Sr., Democrat*
MSD of Warren Township
Three at-large seats are on the ballot.
- Terri Amos, nonpartisan*
- Rachel M Burke, nonpartisan*
- Jerry Crites, nonpartisan
- Samantha Douglas, nonpartisan
- Kevin S. Humphrey, Sr, nonpartisan*
- Steve (Coach) Tutsie, Independent
MSD of Washington Township
At-large
- Leslie Bowles, nonpartisan
- Jayia McCray, nonpartisan
District 2
- Jocelyn Sisson, nonpartisan
MSD of Wayne Township
Four at-large seats are on the ballot.
- Brandon Bowman, Democrat*
- Mikeal Gordon, Democrat*
- Raimeka Graham, Democrat*
- Benjamin Wakefield, nonpartisan*
Speedway Schools is not included in this list because the school board is appointed by the town board, not elected.
MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.
