Putting Kids at the Center
The Mind Trust’s singular focus on improving educational outcomes for students has fueled its impact and success.
This is the second blog in The Mind Trust’s series celebrating our 20th anniversary. This series of 20 blogs will feature people who have helped shape The Mind Trust at all stages of our organization. This piece features the perspectives of Jim Schumacher, our Board Chair, Ann Murtlow, Board Treasurer, and Steven Jones, Board Secretary.
Assembling an influential board of corporate and nonprofit leaders is no easy feat.
The Mind Trust has not only accomplished that; the nonprofit has amassed a high-profile group with diverse perspectives who share in their commitment to bettering outcomes for kids.
The board’s leadership – consisting of president Jim Schumacher, treasurer Ann Murtlow, and secretary Steven Jones – say they’re driven to serve by a common goal, which lies at the heart of The Mind Trust’s mission.
“It’s a big challenge, but a narrow purpose, which is to provide quality K-12 education in Indianapolis,” said Murtlow, a former utility company executive and United Way leader who joined the board in 2007. “One of the things that makes the challenge great is the institutions that have been charged with delivering education are very mature. Any time you are trying to move an ocean liner, it’s really hard to do. TMT isn’t afraid of that challenge. When we hit a brick wall we’re not afraid to go through it if that’s what it takes to deliver for children.”
All three leaders’ dedication to The Mind Trust also stems from their shared belief in the key role education plays in elevating the quality of life for Indianapolis and its families. As business leaders with diverse backgrounds, they’ve seen education’s impact from different angles.
Murtlow recognized the importance of education quality as a parent, but it became a business imperative when she led the Indianapolis Power & Light Company two decades ago. School quality made it challenging to attract talent to live in the utility’s key service area, which overlaps with the center-city schools.
“I was frustrated because I felt the company was putting money into band-aid solutions,” she said. “Education is the foundation every child needs to be successful. As stewards of the community, we have an obligation to provide children with that strong educational foundation.”
Jones, who grew up in Indianapolis’ urban core and attended Indianapolis Public Schools, experienced firsthand how important education is to overcoming barriers to succeed. Decades after graduating, he still lists full names of influential teachers who made a difference for him.
“They really set the foundation of what my life could be if I invested the time and the energy,” said Jones, a dean at Wabash College and former HR executive. “Those influences helped shape and mold where I spend my time today,” noting his service with The Mind Trust helps provide opportunities for more kids like him.
Schumacher, a private equity leader and parent of two daughters, was inspired to get involved in education reform after moving back to Indianapolis with his family in 2011. While improving education is complex, he finds hope in tackling it because he views the problem as solvable.
“Unlike some of the challenges in society, education feels like something we can actually make progress on,” Schumacher said. “It’s achievable, and we can do better.”
Commitment to Better Outcomes and Elevating School Quality
The board sees evidence of education progress over the last two decades, driven by The Mind Trust’s leadership. Talented people have migrated to Indianapolis to work in its education sector. High-quality public charter and charter-adjacent Innovation Network Schools have launched and grown to serve more families, driving better outcomes for students. And programs such as Summer Learning Labs have helped students make learning gains in time beyond the school year.
The Mind Trust’s initiatives and scale have changed throughout this journey, but board members say the organization has never lost sight of its core mission.
“One of the things I’m most proud of — both on behalf of the staff and the board — is that our focus on providing better opportunities for kids and families has never wavered,” Schumacher said. “That’s a testament to the leadership of Brandon Brown, David Harris, and Bart Peterson — they’ve kept that north star in sight from the very beginning.”
That focus has been grounded in a moral purpose, Jones said, of keeping kids at the center of the work, even when the politics of doing so has proven challenging.
“Not all adults will agree on how to fix a problem, but it’s important to set aside our differences and focus on what’s best for the students,” Jones said. “When we do that, we have the opportunity to make education the priority it needs to be for Indiana.”
More work remains to help continue elevating education quality in Indianapolis – including increasing student proficiency, creating opportunities to prepare students for high-quality careers, and creating equitable access to resources for all public schools. Board members know The Mind Trust is not resting on past progress.
And while the nonprofit’s primary focus remains on Indianapolis, they see The Mind Trust’s expansion into new communities, including its Connecticut partnership announced last year, as a way to replicate its successful model so that more students can benefit nationally.
“We’re 20 years old now, and that can be the point where some nonprofits lose steam, but you can’t ever lose the belief that things can be better,” Murtlow said. “You can’t rest on your laurels; you have to constantly strive to improve. This team has seen the results of that mindset, and it’s what keeps us moving forward.”