HLS Recap: Education Day
8/19/25
Every year, the Hoosier Leadership Series (HLS) devotes one class to learning about education in Indiana. It provides students with an opportunity to take a deeper look at the realities of local school board elections, the materials taught in the classroom, and alternative education pathways. This year, we were joined by six field experts who shared on topics ranging from homeschooling to educational freedom. Read below for a glimpse of what the day looked like!
We were excited to welcome the following guests to our “Education Day” class:
- Representative Becky Cash gave us a look behind the curtain at the efforts to bring transparency and accountability to local school boards. Her work on partisan school board races reflects a growing recognition that the values being taught in classrooms are not neutral—and neither should our elections be.
- Former Representative Cindy Noe walked us through the deeper history of American education, reminding us how far we’ve drifted from a system rooted in local control, moral grounding, and civic responsibility.
- Betsy Wiley, with the Institute for Quality Education, brought the numbers and strategy. Her insights on school vouchers and enrollment trends made clear that families are hungry for options—and that the momentum is on the side of educational freedom.
- Lifewise Academy’s powerful presentation showed us what’s possible when communities creatively integrate Bible education into the public school day—legally. Their model is transforming lives, one school district at a time. We are also grateful for their sponsorship of Education Day.
- Kylene Varner gave us a glimpse into Indiana’s thriving homeschool movement, which continues to grow as parents seek greater control over what and how their children learn.
- Brian Wheeler, owner of Vertical Immersive, graciously offered to host this month’s class at his facility and spoke to the class about alternatives to higher education.
We are incredibly grateful for the many individuals who took time out of their day to speak to our class! We also want to extend a special thanks to our sponsors, who help make the Hoosier Leadership Series possible: Adler Law Firm, The Heritage Foundation, LifeWise Academy, B23 Strategies, Americans for Prosperity, Ash and Oak, and Samaritan Ministries.
It’s not too early to start thinking about signing up for next year’s HLS class! If you’re interested in joining us next year, you can apply here or email HLS Director Valerie Swack with any questions: valerie@hoosierfamily.org.This class is an excellent way to learn how to apply your faith in a more effective way within the public square. We highly encourage you to consider participating next year!