Board Members

The Indiana Charter School Board consists of nine (9) members. The members are appointed by the following elected officials:

• Governor appoints four members. Not more than two (2) may be members of the same political party;
• Superintendent of Public Instruction appoints one member with previous experience with or on behalf of charter schools;
• Senate President Pro Tem appoints one member;
• Senate Minority Leader appoints one member;
• Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints one member; and
• Minority Leader of the House of Representatives appoints one member.

Members appointed by General Assembly leadership cannot be current legislators. Board members, who are appointed to serve four-year terms, are ultimately responsible for the ICSB’s authorizing activities, including decisions to grant, renew and/or revoke a charter.

Beth Bray, Program Officer, K-12 Focus Area, Walton Family Foundation 
bb.icsb@yahoo.com
Chair Beth Bray has served as a Program Officer with the Walton Family Foundation since 2013. In her role with the Foundation, Beth is responsible for managing K-12 investments in Indianapolis – one of WFF’s thirteen target cities – as well as Arizona and Ohio.  Beth is also actively engaged in the Foundation’s broader investments in charter facilities and public policy. In 2016, Beth led the creation of the Building Equity Initiative, a $250 million strategic investment fund established by the Walton family to help charter schools access affordable facilities. Prior to joining the Foundation, Beth served as the Director of Charter Schools under Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and was responsible for the oversight of 24 public charter schools. Beth began her career in public policy as a researcher and lobbyist for The Children’s Bureau, a statewide children’s service agency, before joining the charter schools team under former Mayor Bart Peterson in 2007. Beth holds a B.S. from Ball State University and a M.S.W. from Indiana University. She lives in Carmel with her husband and young son. Beth Bray was appointed to the ICSB by Governor Eric Holcomb.

Jill Robinson Kramer PhD, Principal Consultant, JRK Consulting
kramer.jillr@gmail.com
Dr. Jill Robinson Kramer is the board's vice chair and serves as president of JRK Consulting, LLC and senior fellow at the Gardner Institute. Her past positions include roles at Strada Education Network, Ivy Tech Community College, and Lumina Foundation for Education. A graduate of Hanover College, Dr. Kramer also has a Masters in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University and a PhD in Education Leadership from Indiana State University. She was first appointed to the ICSB by former Indiana House of Representatives Speaker Brian Bosma and reappointed by current Speaker Todd Huston.

Violet M. Hawkins, Dean for the Schools of Business and Information Technology, and the Garatoni School of Applied Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ivy Tech Community College South Bend/Elkhart Campus
mariehawkins1957@gmail.com
Board Member Violet Hawkins has worked in education for over 18 years. She currently serves as Dean for the Schools of Business and Information Technology, and the Garatoni School of Applied Entrepreneurship at Ivy Tech Community College South Bend/Elkhart Campus.  Directly prior to her work at Ivy Tech, Ms. Hawkins was the Fund Distribution Director for the United Way of St. Joseph County, Indiana. Her other experiences include Assistant District Attorney, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and In-House Counsel for the International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation. Ms. Hawkins earned her Bachelor’s and Law degrees from Howard University in Washington, D. C.

Michael J. Jasaitis, Partner, Austgen Kuiper Jasaitis P.C., a full service law firm in Crown Point, Lake County, Indiana.  
MJJICSB@austgenlaw.com
Michael focuses on the areas of civil litigation, real estate, business and school law, including representation of students, parents, employees, administrator and superintendents. A magna cum laude graduate of Valparaiso University School of Law, Michael has practiced law since 2000 and is licensed in Indiana and Illinois. He is also admitted to the U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana; and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois.  Heavily involved in the Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA), Michael has been elected to the Board of Governors for multiple stints, most recently served as the 2021 Chair of the ISBA House of Delegates and currently serves as the ISBA’s Vice President.  Moreover, Michael is slated to serve as the President of the ISBA for the 2024-2025, and was also the President of the Lake County Bar Association in 2013, an organization that he has been a member of since 2000. Michael also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Lake Area United Way, in 2021, after serving on the Board for several years.  Michael was instrumental in the merger of Lake and Porter County United Ways to form the United Way of Northwest Indiana, upon which he now serves on the Board as Immediate Past President.  Michael, the father of three, volunteers as a coach, and has done so for the past 8 years in various activities and sports for his children.

Anna Shults, Education Consultant
ashultsicsb@gmail.com
Board Member Anna Shults knew as a little girl she wanted to be an educator and has dedicated the last 25 years to the profession in various capacities.  After 12 years in the classroom as an elementary teacher, she was honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash recipient and the 2007 Indiana Teacher of the Year and spent the subsequent Year of Service uplifting Indiana educators and advocating on behalf of students statewide.  Ms. Shults has held the position of Literacy Specialist at the Indiana Department of Education and Deputy Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives at the Florida Department of Education.  After a year working on national education initiatives at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she was recruited by Building Excellent Schools to design a game-changing charter school for elementary scholars in Indianapolis. Ms. Shults spent two years launching ACE Prep Academy, a K-5 charter school on the northside, and served as the Founder & Head of School for its first seven years of operation. Ms. Shults was appointed to the ICSB by Governor Eric Holcomb.

Terri J. Austin
terri@terriaustin.com
Terri Austin worked in education for more than thirty years.  She also served as a State Representative for twenty years, representing House District 36 (2002-2022).  As an educator, she has served as a classroom teacher, district-wide administrator and professor at Anderson University.   From 2000-2003 she served as the Executive Director of a county-wide education initiative funded by Lilly Endowment in support of K-3 reading and family involvement.  Her other experiences include serving as a consultant to the US Department of Education in the area of technology and curriculum and as the Executive Director of a large-scale educational technology project involving multiple partners and schools funded by the US Department of Education. Ms. Austin earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, master’s degree in Elementary Education and Political Science, and her K-12 Special Education endorsement from Ball State University.  She received her Administration and Supervision Certification from Butler University’s EPPSP Program. Terri and her husband, Michael, live in Anderson, Indiana and are the parents of two grown sons.

Rev. David W. Greene Sr., Senior Pastor of Purpose of Life Ministries
dgreene@purposeoflifeministries.com
Board Member Rev. David W. Greene Sr., M.Div. is the Senior Pastor of Second Baptist Church (doing business name of “Purpose of Life Ministries”) in Indianapolis for over 25 years.  Pastor Greene founded Purpose of Life Academy in 2002 and is an Indiana Paths to Quality Level 4 and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAYEC) certified facility.  Pastor Greene is a strong determined humanitarian, civic leader, educator, an advocate of mental health, and a drum major for social justice serving as the President of the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis Inc. since 2015.  Pastor Greene is a strong supporter of education and has served as a Board Member of Marion Academy Charter School from 2015-2019.  David graduated valedictorian of his high school class at Caverna High School, with honors from the University of Kentucky with degrees in Math and Computer Science; a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Crossroads Bible College with a degree in religious studies; a Master of Divinity degree from Anderson University School of Theology. Pastor Greene was appointed to the ICSB by Senate Minority Leader, Greg Taylor.

Dr. Ryan Donlan, Professor, Department of Educational Leadership at Indiana State University
dr@ryandonlan.com
Dr. Ryan Donlan, Professor in the Indiana State University and Bayh College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership, served for 20 years in K–12 education, as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in both traditional and charter schools and school districts. Dr. Donlan provides educational program reviews, speeches, and trainings for educators.  Currently, Board Trustee for the Mensa Education and Research Foundation and Editorial Advisory Board Chair of the Mensa Research Journal (MRJ), he has served prior as Acting Associate Dean of the Bayh College of Education and Chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning.  Once an avid skydiver, Dr. Donlan has written/co-written numerous articles and books for educators.  He holds a Doctor of Education and Educational Specialist degrees from Central Michigan University, a Master’s Degree from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan-Flint.  Dr. Donlan lives in Terre Haute, Indiana with wife Wendy and was appointed to the ICSB by President Pro Tempore of the Senate Rodric D. Bray.