Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Public Schools honors two as ‘Teacher of the Year’
Do you need to know a secret?
That was the query Indianapolis Public Faculties Superintendent Aleesia Johnson had for a number of dozen first graders at James Whitcomb Riley Faculty 43 on Friday.
They did, in fact. And it was a fairly large one.
Certainly one of their academics was the most effective elementary faculty trainer in your complete district. They usually have been all about to shock her.
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Moments later, DaMeisha Fleming was being cheered and hugged, surrounded by college students, household and IPS officers gathered within the Faculty 43’s library to inform the first-grade trainer that she was one among two IPS academics chosen because the district’s “Trainer of the Yr.”
“My thoughts is blown,” stated Fleming, who thought she was taking her class to the library for storytime with the superintendent. “It’s really an honor and a privilege to carry such a giant title.”
For the primary time, IPS selected two of its academics as “Trainer of the Yr.” Whereas they have been chosen to characterize completely different elements of the schooling system – one for elementary grades and one for secondary – they’re each working to make the district a extra equitable place for all college students.
For Fleming, meaning strolling into her classroom daily prepared to like her college students, meet them the place they’re and ensure they see themselves represented within the supplies they examine.
“I simply know that I’ve to instill in my college students a way of identification and a way of affection,” she stated. “They arrive right into a classroom the place they’re accepted and appreciated every day.”
For Paige Sjoerdsma, a seventh and eighth grade English trainer at Butler Lab Faculty 55, meaning setting excessive expectations for all of her college students.
“Despite the fact that she’s actual strict, she pushes us to go additional,” stated Willayah Brewer, an eighth-grade scholar at Faculty 55. “She needs us to chase our goals.”
One other eighth-grader, Ausieana Dugan, stated Sjoerdsma by no means provides up on her college students.
“She means lots to me as a result of she pushed me to maintain going,” Dugan stated, “even after I gave up.”
They have been two of dozens of scholars packed within the Faculty 55 library to shock Sjoerdsma on Friday afternoon. Wiping away tears, Sjoerdsma stated she was blown away to stroll right into a room filled with “all of the folks I like and care about.”
The IPS Trainer of the Yr for center and highschool grades, she has had a winding profession that’s about to take her in a brand new path – out of the classroom.
A trainer for 9 years, first on the elementary degree after which at seventh and eighth grades, she’s helped construct out the center faculty applications at each of the district’s Butler lab faculties. Subsequent 12 months, she’ll transfer into a training position that can permit her to assist academics all through the constructing. Nonetheless, she stated, she’s not leaving instructing.
“I will likely be in all the school rooms,” she stated. “I hope to spend virtually all my time in lecture rooms, so I’m actually enthusiastic about that.”
Fleming will likely be again in her first-grade classroom subsequent 12 months, however with even larger plans.
She’s going to increase on her Black Historical past Unit, instructing her younger college students about vital Black figures all year long, quite than simply throughout Black historical past month. Studying modifications throughout that unit, she stated, and he or she needs to construct on the engagement she sees when her college students are studying about those that appear like them.
Fleming stated she submitted for the award not as a result of she does one thing particular, however as a result of she needed recognition for Faculty 43. She’s spent all 5 years of her profession there and thinks it’s a particular place. So, she knew she needed to end placing collectively her portfolio, even after her shedding her father just a few weeks earlier than it was due.
“I actually needed to place our faculty on the map,” she stated, “as a result of I do consider that we do a variety of nice issues right here.”
Name IndyStar schooling reporter Arika Herron at 317-201-5620 or e-mail her at Arika.Herron@indystar.com. Observe her on Twitter: @ArikaHerron.
Indianapolis, IN
‘Glee’s’ Matthew Morrison and ‘Wicked’ stars will perform in Indianapolis this year
Successful Broadway shows in Indianapolis
“Hamilton,” the hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton, had an amazing run in Indianapolis in December 2019. Here’s a look at Broadway shows that were a big hit here over the years.
Dwight Adams, dwight.adams@indystar.com
A main character from the TV comedy series “Glee” and several stars from Broadway’s “Wicked” will sing at The Cabaret this year.
Matthew Morrison, who played energetic glee club leader Mr. Schuester, will deliver a deeply personal show with “Rhythms and Revelations” in March and lead free masterclasses for more than 500 local high school students while he’s in Indianapolis. Fans of Broadway’s “Wicked” will recognize Norbert Leo Butz, Derek Klena and Patti Murin from the New York and touring shows.
The Cabaret, 924 N. Pennsylvania St., announced a 2025 winter-spring season that’s chock-full of Tony and Grammy award winners and star singer-songwriters who will share behind-the-scenes stories as they perform works that have been central to their personal and professional lives.
Ticket prices range from $25 to $150, with discounts for students and those ages 35 and under. Tickets are on sale now for Butz’s February show at thecabaret.org. The pre-sale for subscribers and donors who give $250 and more starts at 10 a.m. Jan. 9. General ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. Jan. 14.
Here is The Cabaret’s schedule from February through mid-June.
- Feb. 14-15: Norbert Leo Butz. Starred in Broadway musicals “Catch Me If You Can” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” — for which he won Tony and Drama Desk awards — as well as on TV and film. Butz’ Indianapolis show also will include original compositions and covers from the likes of Tom Waits and Elton John.
- March 7-8: Matthew Morrison. Along with “Glee,” known for his turns in Broadway’s “Hairspray” and “The Light in the Piazza.” In describing “Rhythms and Revelations,” Morrison writes that he’s “stepping outside of all the characters I’ve played” as he explores his own authenticity and vulnerability.
- April 4: Jazzmeia Horn. Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and arranger whose albums include “A Social Call” and “Love and Liberation.” With big band album “Dear Love—”, Horn includes poetry and spoken word while talking about her community, love and herself.
- April 12: Ball State’s Next Generation. Showcase performed by students in the university’s Department of Theatre and Dance.
- April 25-26: Derek Klena. Merges his experience of fatherhood with music that’s shaped him over the years. Klena’s credits include Broadway’s “Jagged Little Pill,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” and “Wicked,” and he’s appeared on TV in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Quantico.”
- May 2: The Big Broadway Sing-Along. Sing-along celebrating Broadway with Indianapolis favorites Scott Semester and Sean Baker.
- May 9-10: Joaquina Kalukango. Especially known for her Tony Award-winning performance in Broadway’s “Paradise Square,” other stage credits include “Slave Play” and “Into the Woods.” Kalukango also played Betty X in the film “One Night in Miami.”
- May 16-17: Patti Murin. Star turns include Broadway’s “Wicked” and “Frozen” as well as TV credits that include Hallmark Channel movies and “Royal Pains.” Her show “Once Upon a Stage” explores balancing motherhood and a performing career.
- June 13: Bashiri Asad. Indianapolis-based artist who’s a 2025 Cabaret Artist in Residence. In “The Everyday SoulSinger,” audiences will hear the style that Asad calls “IndySoul,” which includes influences from shoo-wop style singing groups, classical music, Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder.
Looking for things to do? Our newsletter has the best concerts, art, shows and more — and the stories behind them
Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis drivers fought through snowy conditions on many roads Monday after the city was hit with 7-10 inches of snow.
News 8 caught up with one of Indiana’s newest Hoosiers at a gas station on Monday evening, when he learned he had a flat tire after his first big snowstorm as a one-month resident of Indiana. Edwin Maldonado moved from Orlando, so the winter storm was quite the transition.
“It just kinda feels like the ‘Matrix’ when you’re driving in snow,” Maldonado said. “Everything is kinda moving in slow motion. I haven’t really experienced icy roads since I’ve been here. This is kinda the first time I’ve experienced really snowy conditions and then I have a flat tire, so that’s just the cherry on top of it all.”
Maldonado says the roads could have been better treated in some areas. “I feel like they’ve done a pretty good job with main roads but then going into neighborhoods, that are also frequently busy roads, they definitely could be plowing.”
Most city roads were bad Monday with just the main thoroughfares plowed.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works says it has approximately 70 drivers working around the clock in 12-hour shifts.
Kyle Bloyd, chief communication officer for the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, said Monday, “The square mileage of Indianapolis is quite large, and we’re dealing with this wind as well. A driver can plow these thoroughfares and by the next time they come around their work has already been undone.”
The city has an interactive map showing which roads are being prioritized over others for plowing.
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