March 13, 2024
The GRAD Partnership is proud to announce Indiana’s Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) as its newest Intermediary. CELL, which was founded in 2001, is affiliated with the University of Indianapolis, and it joins a growing coalition of organizational partners engaged in advancing student success systems throughout the nation.
The GRAD Partnership and its Intermediaries work together to plan, implement, and sustain high-quality student success systems so that middle and high schools are prepared to graduate all students ready for the future. Intermediaries serve as regional catalysts for this work, and they advance the GRAD Partnership’s mission by reaching local schools, connecting with community resources, and building regional expertise to support ongoing student success work.
While local communities and schools directly benefit from Intermediaries’ support, serving as an Intermediary also brings value to the organizations serving in this role. Intermediaries develop local and regional relationships that enhance their own missions; and they also garner increased visibility through collaborating with national partners with decades of experience in student success work.
“We are very excited that CELL will join us as an Intermediary. They are recognized educational leaders in Indiana, and their mix of urban and rural school partners provides an opportunity to develop a compelling national model.”
Patricia Balana, managing director for the GRAD Partnership
CELL serves as the leading convener, catalyst, and collaborator for innovative education change and transformation across Indiana. Since its establishment, CELL has impacted the entire educational ecosystem by building educators’ capacity, spearheading school-wide policy and practice changes, creating collaborative networks, and promoting evidence-based practices in education. CELL’s longest-running initiative is the Early College High School initiative, and CELL is the only organization authorized to train and designate endorsed Early College High Schools in Indiana.
“Our Early College model focuses on student data, relationships, and rigorous instructional practices, which make it exceptionally aligned with efforts to scale high quality student success systems.. CELL’s collaboration with the GRAD Partnership will increase opportunity and access to postsecondary education for all students, especially underserved and first-generation college-going students.”
Jeremy Eltz, CELL’s director of rural education
We invite you to learn more about GRAD Partnership Intermediaries and encourage you to contact a member of the GRAD Partnership team for more information.