Whether or not you return to the classroom, there is something special about the new school year. Purchasing that new planner and starting planning and setting goals for your projects is a fresh start.
The school year was also a new start for the Chalkbeat Indiana team. With the addition of two new members, our bureau is well staffed and we look forward to the future work.
Covering school is never a dull moment. We want to bring you the news you need to make decisions about education in Indianapolis and Indiana at large.
After reading an article, you may decide to contact local officials to share your thoughts on a topic. Perhaps what you read will influence your vote in the next election.
As we bring you news, we also want to know about you.
Please invite us to your event. Request a visit to the classroom. Email us your story. Also, sign up for our newsletter here.
In the meantime, here are some old photos and fun facts.
Pictured is kindergarten Alexandra Appleton in Chalkbeat, Indiana, addressing statewide education issues.
Courtesy of Alexandra Appleton
Alexandra Appleton, statewide education reporter
Places I’ve Been: Anywhere! I was born in Serbia and moved to America at the age of 5. I grew up in Southern and Central California before moving to New York for graduate school. I started working as an educational reporter in Fresno, California, and moved to Indiana in 2021 after covering schools in Las Vegas.
What I do: I write about education statewide. This includes covering education bills coming out of Congress during the session. In my off months, I write about how state policies affect schools and students across Indiana.
Fun facts to know about me: I have a super fun 4 year old who knows more about cars than I do. This summer we grew our first vegetable garden and it was an amazing success. I can’t say anything about sports, but I memorize the words from the musical episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
How to contact me: aappleton@chalkbeat.org
What I am most excited about about grades 22-23: Tutoring and literacy instruction. I’m also interested in what the school does with the federal relief fund this year.
Amelia Pak-Harvey was in charge of public schools in Indianapolis and attended the Montessori and International Baccalaureate programs as a student.
offered by Amelia Pak-Harvey
Amelia Pak-Harvey, Indianapolis School Reporter
Hometown: I’m from North Carolina, but I attended college in Boston and from there I covered Lowell Public School in Lowell, Massachusetts. Then I moved to Las Vegas to cover the huge Clark County School District. In 2020, I moved to Indianapolis to cover City Hall for the Indianapolis Star.
What I do: Responsible for the Indianapolis public schools and other public school systems in Marion County. That means you don’t have to attend lengthy board meetings. That also means monitoring transitions from neighborhood schools to elective or charter schools within IPS to understand how the pandemic continues to affect students in Indianapolis.
Fun Facts To Know About Me: I started playing the piano at a young age thanks to my strict Korean mother. My high school job was playing churches in rural North Carolina, but it wasn’t quite as pretty or impressive as playing a side gig as an adult.
How to contact me: apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org or 919-619-8258.
What I am most looking forward to about grades 22-23: I am looking forward to our students truly returning to normal school for the first time since COVID. I would also like to get acquainted with IPS and its associates.
MJ Slaby runs through the driveway after the first day of kindergarten.
MJ Slavie, Bureau Chief
Birthplace: Raised in Northern Indiana and graduated from IU Bloomington. I’ve covered education in newspapers in Lafayette, Bloomington and most recently the Indianapolis Star here in Indianapolis. During that time, he worked as a journalist in Knoxville, Tennessee and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In August she joined Chalkbeat.
What I do: As Bureau Chief, I lead the team in Indiana to help develop story ideas and edit drafts. Also photography, graphics and social he collaborates with the larger Chalkbeat team on media, daily newsletters and ways to meet and interact with readers like you. My job is to lead each day while thinking about the big picture and goals of the team. A report is also planned.
Fun Facts To Know About Me: I grew up in northern Indiana near a place where time zones change, so my school was on a different time than my home. A big basketball fan, I covered the WNBA as a freelancer a few summers ago. My dog’s favorite place, so you can catch me at Farmer’s Market most Saturdays (I’m a fan too).
How to contact me: mslaby@chalkbeat.org or 317-671-3376
What I’m most excited about about grades 22-23: Working with this group of journalists and telling stories about what it’s like for them to be in school now and all I am excited. Complexities Surrounding Education in Indiana. We also look forward to meeting our readers and hosting events that bring us together.
Andrew Ujifusa (pictured behind a Komodo dragon) previously worked as a journalist in Maryland and Mississippi and taught English at two high schools in Japan.
Courtesy of Andrew Ujifusa
Andrew Ujifusa, Story Editor
Hometown: I’m from New York, and after graduating from college, I worked as an English teacher in Japan for a year and as a temporary writer for a Japanese-English bilingual newspaper in Los Angeles. I also worked for local newspapers in Maryland and Mississippi. Before coming to Chalkbeat, Education Week covered national education politics and policy.
What you do: As a story editor, you will work closely with bureau chiefs and reporters in Indiana and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on everything from story ideas and reporting priorities to editorial clarity, newsiness, and style. I am working on it.
Fun Facts To Know About Me: I put a (sedated) African elephant on a radio collar and counted the eggs laid by sea turtles on the beach in the middle of the night. Supporting the New York Mets, Utah. Jazz, Washington Mystics, Arsenal.
How to contact me: aujifusa@chalkbeat.org
What I’m most excited about about grades 22-23: The way national politics is influencing state and local K-12 decisions due to structural issues such as changing enrollments and learning recovery. But I’m also thrilled to be working with the new smart, hard-working Chalkbeat Indiana team that’s ready to serve our readers.
MJ Slaby is the Director of Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact MJ mslaby@chalkbeat.org.
