An Indianapolis Public Schools veteran who turned around a failing school, a former U.S. State Department counter-terrorism analyst, and team of a businessman and school administrator were chosen this week as the first “Innovation School Fellows,” who will get the opportunity to design and run their own Indianapolis public school.

A native city educator, a former counter-terrorism analyst, a charter school operator and an academic dean are under the spotlight now as they set out to design new teaching models in a bid to turn around three failing Indianapolis schools.

The Mind Trust awarded its first three Innovation School Fellowships to a longtime Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) educator who led a dramatic school turnaround; a former senior analyst with the U.S. Department of State who has studied youth engagement in entrepreneurship as an antidote to terrorist group involvement; and a team that includes one of the nation’s best education entrepreneurs and a seasoned school administrator.

Indianapolis has an idea. Chicago should try it.

The Mind Trust has selected a group of diverse education and community leaders to serve on the Selection Committee tasked with choosing its first round of Innovation School Fellowship winners.