The STARTedUP Foundation recently announced the 2024 cohort of the Indiana Innovation Educator Fellowship.
The initiative selects a group of educators each year to “embark on a yearlong journey of professional development, collaboration and innovation.”
The 2024 cohort includes these Northwest Indiana teachers:
- Dawn Combis — Lake Central High School
- Anne Dines — Merrillville High School
- Debera Hinchy — Lowell High School
- Krissy LaFlech — Munster High School
- Brian Niksch — Valparaiso High School
- Daniel Schultz — Hobart High School
The program includes these components: collaboration, professional development, community engagement and certification as a a level 1 / 2 / 3 STARTedUP Nationally Certified Innovation Teacher.
“The Northwest Indiana Region has a lot opportunity for growth and new business development,” Dines said. “Our students are our future, and I can't think of any better way to spur economic development than to raise up a new generation of entrepreneurial-minded individuals.”
The STARTedUP Foundation was founded in 2018 and has grown statewide. In 2018, STARTedUP and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. launched Innovate WithIN, an elite high school pitch competition. Applications are due Feb. 2.
