Brady Kalb is the Co-Founder and President of Skyepack, an educational technology and services provider based in West Lafayette, Indiana. Skyepack focuses on workforce development and career-connected education in K-12, and affordability in higher education. Brady has taught business and marketing classes at Ivy Tech and Entrepreneurship at Purdue University.

Growing up in a small town in southern Indiana, occasional trips to the "big city" of Evansville were a highlight for my family. We'd make the trip to shop at the mall, or if we were lucky, the Toys R Us store. (A real treat for this 80’s kid!)  Having not visited Evansville for more than two decades, I was looking forward to the MDLF Class VI Education Lecture session at the Signature School. With a career rooted in education, whether teaching or in my current role at an educational technology and services organization, I'm always excited to connect with other professionals in the education sector. The energy and passion for education that permeates such gatherings always lead to captivating and enriching conversations, and this MDLF session did not disappoint.

The day began with a discussion led by Scott Bess, the first Head of School at Purdue Polytechnic High School, and Betsy Wiley, the President & CEO of Hoosiers for Quality Education. They chatted about compelling topics like the Science of Reading, the quest for individualized education, the challenges Indiana faces in meeting its workforce demands, and the potential for incorporating best practices from other states and countries to elevate Indiana's educational landscape.

Following this stimulating discussion, Dr. Katie Jenner, the Indiana Secretary of Education, shared how the state utilizes data to inform educational policy decisions. She also emphasized the significance of iREAD 3 in tracking Indiana's literacy goals and the importance of career and post-secondary readiness credentials. Later, we had the privilege of hosting Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor of Evansville, and Holli Sullivan, Former State Rep HD 78, for lunch and engaging roundtable discussions.

In the afternoon, the event continued with an impactful presentation from Maureen Weber, the President & CEO of Early Learning Indiana. She emphasized the critical need for affordable and high-quality early learning opportunities. Shockingly, over 70% of rural families in Indiana reside in what are termed "childcare deserts" (locations where affordable childcare is not available within a reasonable driving distance), which translates to 1.5 million Hoosiers. Maureen shared the initiatives of her organization to enhance access to quality early learning, both in rural and urban areas.

The presentation on early childcare was followed by an engaging panel discussion centered around higher education. Chuck Johnson, President of Vincennes University, Christopher "President P" Pietrusziewics, President of the University of Evansville, and Daniela Vidal, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Evansville, offered insights into their respective institutions and their roles in Indiana's higher education landscape. An interesting takeaway from this discussion was how these organizations are utilizing apprenticeships to provide students with valuable hands-on learning experiences beyond traditional classroom settings. The apprenticeship programs at Ivy Tech with Deaconess Hospital and Vincennes University with Amazon were particularly noteworthy examples.

The day wrapped up with what, for me, was the highlight: we had the privilege of hearing from four senior students at the Signature School, with an introduction by Bob Koch, the school's President. These seniors shared their experiences as Signature School students, including the many types of extracurricular activities available to them. Notably, if a student wished to pursue an interest not currently represented, they were actively encouraged to establish a new student club. The students also shared their ambitious plans for the future and how they believed that the Signature School had set them on a path to achieve their personal and academic goals. It was an incredibly impressive group of students, and I have no doubt they will find success, however they define it.

Class VI Education Lecture Class at Signature School in Evansville, IN.