The Mind Trust Announces Selection of Fourth Cohort of Emerging Leaders Fellowship

INDIANAPOLIS – (June 11, 2026) – Four Indianapolis educators have been selected to join The Mind Trust’s fourth cohort of the Emerging Leaders Fellowship, a three-year program designed to support emerging school leaders as they grow their impact in classrooms, schools, and communities across Indianapolis.

Through the fellowship, participants receive individualized coaching, high-quality professional development, access to national and local education leaders, and a $30,000 stipend distributed over three years, contingent on remaining at their school throughout the duration of the program.

“Strong leaders build strong schools, and Indianapolis is full of educators who are deeply committed to growing their impact for students and families,” said Dr. Tianay Perrault, Senior Director of Indiana Fellowships at The Mind Trust. “This cohort represents the passion, talent, and leadership already present in our schools, and we are excited to support each fellow as they continue developing the skills and confidence to lead meaningful change in their communities.”

About The Mind Trust’s Emerging Leaders Fellowship

Since its launch, the Emerging Leaders Fellowship has supported 16 Indianapolis educators across 15 different schools. The three-year, cohort-based experience helps Indianapolis educators strengthen their leadership skills while expanding their impact on students and school communities. To date, eight fellows have been promoted into new or expanded leadership roles within their respective schools.

Throughout the program, fellows participate in virtual and in-person learning sessions, school visits, and opportunities to connect with national and local education leaders in cities across the country. The fellowship progresses in phases: fellows begin with a focus on personal leadership development, expand their influence at the school level in the second year, and ultimately explore broader systems-level challenges and opportunities that shape education in Indianapolis and beyond.

Each fellow also receives personalized coaching and targeted professional development aligned to their role, leadership growth, and long-term goals. In addition, fellows design and lead a capstone-style impact project to address a meaningful need within their school community and create lasting organizational improvement. Through this work, fellows strengthen their ability to think and lead at a systems level by examining how cross-functional partnerships, strategic decision-making, and organizational structures can work together to drive sustainable change for their school communities.

Emerging Leaders Fellowship Cohort 4

Miranda Brookshier, Instructional Coach/Advanced Programs Coordinator at BELIEVE Circle City High School

Miranda Brookshier serves as the Advanced Programs Coordinator at BELIEVE Circle City High School, where she oversees dual enrollment programming for more than 140 students in grades 9–12. Since joining the school in 2021, she has helped students earn 25 associate degrees and 15 technical certificates while providing individualized advising that connects students’ high school experiences to their postsecondary goals. She concurrently serves as the AP U.S. History teacher at BELIEVE and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she graduated summa cum laude and received University Honors.

Karina Calvillo-Brown, Instructional Coach at Vision Academy @ Riverside

Karina Calvillo-Brown is an Instructional Coach at Vision Academy @ Riverside, where she partners with teachers to strengthen math instruction through classroom coaching, data analysis, and professional development. A Teach For America alumna and two-time master’s degree holder in Healthcare Administration and Teaching, Karina brings a multidisciplinary perspective to education leadership. She was recognized as Teach Indy’s 2022 Latinx Teacher of the Year and received the 2025 Excellence in Education award from United Schools of Indianapolis. Karina also served on the Indianapolis Advisory Board for the Latino Educator Collaborative and is committed to culturally responsive instruction.

Makayla Imrie, Humanities Instructional Coach at Christel House Watanabe High School

Makayla Imrie serves as the Humanities Instructional Coach at Christel House Watanabe High School, where she supports humanities teachers through coaching, data-driven PLC leadership, and differentiated professional development. With nearly a decade of classroom and instructional leadership experience, Makayla has been recognized four times as Teacher of the Year by organizations including Charter Schools USA, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Christel House, and Teach Indy. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Marian University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She is also a frequent guest lecturer and conference presenter focused on learning science and instructional strategy.

Justin Kirby, PreK–2 Assistant Principal of Academics at Indiana Math and Science Academy West

Justin Kirby is the PreK–2 Assistant Principal of Academics at Indiana Math and Science Academy West, where he has spent nearly a decade growing from classroom teacher to instructional coach to school leader. Justin partners with teachers, administrators, and families to implement data-driven strategies that strengthen student engagement and achievement in the earliest grades. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Special Education from IUPUI and is deeply committed to building high-trust school communities and expanding opportunities for Indianapolis students.

To learn more about the current cohort of Emerging Leaders Fellows, visit themindtrust.org/fellows. For more information about all of The Mind Trust’s fellowships, visit themindtrust.org/fellowships.