Lidia Vidal Sandate

Lidia Vidal Sandate will lead the high school expansion of Monarca Academy, an Indianapolis Public Schools Innovation Network School currently serving students in grades 6–8, in Indianapolis. With support from a $2 million Lilly Endowment grant, Monarca Academy will add 9th grade in Fall 2026 as part of a continued expansion of its community-focused model. 

Vidal Sandate is a bilingual educator and instructional leader with more than a decade of experience serving students in Indianapolis. Most recently, she served as a Spanish and English Language Development (ELD) teacher. A recipient of the Latinx Teacher of the Year Award (2021), Global Preparatory Academy Teacher of the Year (2019), and multiple above-and-beyond recognitions, Lidia brings a deep commitment to bilingual and dual-language education. She holds a Master’s in School Administration from Butler University’s Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals, a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional.