PLA: Reinventing America's Schools

Phalen Leadership Academies featured for blazing new trails in the book "Reinventing America's Schools ."

PLA Scholars are Back for the 2019-2020 School Year!

PLA schools across the country are officially back in session. Welcome back to our amazing teachers and our extraordinary scholars. We missed you! Let's get ready for an incredible school year!

College and Career Readiness for Students on Indy’s Far Eastside Phalen Leadership Academies Awarded $125K Glick Fund Grant

PLA has been awarded a $125K grant from Glick Fund to build a college and career readiness program aiding scholars in one of the city’s most underserved communities.

Jones-Clark and Smith Middle School Gain New Resources Under Phalen Leadership Academies

With the help of Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA), Mae Jones-Clark Elementary School and Willie Ray Smith Middle School will receive an infusion of technology and resources that support teacher development, scholar learning and overall student growth.

It’s a New School Year and Jones-Clark Elementary and Smith Middle School Are On The Rise!

“At PLA’s core, we put children first, we show gratitude for our scholars, families and community, and we believe in having determination in making sure that our scholars and schools reach their goals. PLA, Smith Middle and Jones Clark Elementary are amazing partners; and we know that our scholars and families will be able to feel that this fall.”

PLA Talks Making a Difference in the Lives of Scholars on Indy's 1310 The Light

Phalen Leadership Academies Live on air at 1310 The Light with Tina Cosby

Phalen: We Need Bold Action to Transform Our Schools

This essay is part of a special series commemorating the 65th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education school desegregation case.

RTV 6 Feature: Changing Lives for Scholars on the Far Eastside

"You will never feel nothing like it," Eric Faden, an 8th grader at the school, said. "They care so much - it's unreal how much they care."

Far east side church converting into new community arts center: ‘This is going to transform their lives’

Story by Melissa Crash, Fox 59

Founder of Phalen Academies to Talk With Arts Leaders About New Arts Center

Thanks to a $3,045,350 grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., Phalen Leadership Academies is transforming an old church into an arts center. On Thursday, April 4, 10 a.m., Earl Martin Phalen, the Founder & CEO of the school network will meet with local arts organizations and arts education advocates to solicit their feedback.

PLA Joins the Beaumont Community

'We believe our scholars have the ability to be the best.'

Phalen Leadership Academies Partners with Beaumont Schools to Ensure Scholar Success

“We are excited to meet and support the scholars, parents and teachers at Jones Clark Elementary and Smith Middle,” said PLA CEO and Founder Earl Martin Phalen.

PLA STEM Scholars Featured on WISH-TV

PLA serves 16 schools across the country with 4 A-Rated schools in Indianapolis

Fight For Life Foundation Works to “Be A Blessing” to PLA Families

Over 700 PLA scholars got toys for the holidays, enjoyed a pizza party, games, and activities from Jack and Jill Magazine.

PLA to Help Transform Community by Providing Beauty and Art on Indy’s Far Eastside

Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) has received a grant of $3 million as part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Strengthening Indianapolis Through Arts and Cultural Innovation initiative.

Grand Slam: All 4 PLA Indy Schools Now A-Rated

"Our scholars can and will continue to improve, but to note that all four of our Indy schools are A-rated is a grand slam. We are working to create a new narrative in school turnaround.”

Looking ahead: Tampa teacher plans fair to empower parents

Tampa Bay Teacher at PLA Partner School Working to Empower Parents

Thank You! Hundreds of Indy Families Come Out for the PLA Trunk-or-Treat

On Tuesday, October 30, Phalen Leadership Academies hosted its first annual Trunk-or-Treat in partnership with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Other community partners included The Indianapolis Public Library and Covering Kids & Families Indiana (Advocating Health Coverage for Central Indiana). The event welcomed over 700 people (an estimated 800 attendees with 700 confirmed) to George and Veronica Phalen Leadership Academies.

Join Phalen Leadership Academies and the IMPD at PLA’s First Annual Trunk-or-Treat

The event will be held at George and Veronica Phalen Leadership Academy [2323 N. Illinois Street] from 5:30pm-7:30pm and is open to the public. PLA CEO and Founder Earl Martin Phalen encourages Phalen scholars, parents, and community to attend.

PLA for the Win! Organization Delivers on its Promise as Scholars Outperform Local Schools

PLA’s schools and scholars have been working to master and improve academic performance. This years’ ISTEP results show they did just that with all four PLA Indy schools outperforming local peers.

PLA Indy Scholars and Self Empowerment Theatre

I am smart. I am important. I am unique. I am strong.

PLA's STEM Program Earns Apple Sponsorship

The partnership supports student learning the Swift programming, a powerful and intuitive programming language for macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS.

Changing Lives Through Education

Watch Now: PLA Founder and CEO for The Kauffman Foundation

Phalen Leadership Academies Launches New Mobile App

Parent and community engagement enhanced with new PLA mobile app

PLA Pushes for Teacher and Scholar Success with the PLA Coaching Cycle

“At Phalen Leadership Academies, we are really blessed with amazing teachers and scholars,” said PLA Founder and CEO Earl Martin Phalen. “If we want to continue to be our best, we have to consciously seek opportunities to grow and get better each day."

Young Actors Theatre Joins Phalen Leadership Academies

The drama education program, also known as Self-Empowerment Theatre, is an award winner with National Youth Theatre Group and is one of the nation’s most progressive youth theatres.

PLA Featured in NY Publication for Redefining Education

"We really love our scholars..and we want to make sure that they are getting the education they deserve."

Merrillville School HIAT Joins the PLA Network

A new school is joining the Phalen Leadership Academy network. The Higher Institute of Arts and Technology (HIAT) located in Merrillville, Indiana is in the process of joining the PLA family.

PLA Scholar Featured on WISH TV

A 3rd grade scholar at Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) has added a rare accolade to her name—author. Samiah Turner, who participates in PLA’s STEMNASIUM partnership has released her debut autobiography “My Life as an 8-Year Old Engineer.”

Education Week Features Partnership between Indianapolis Public Schools and Phalen Leadership Academies

Creating District-Charter Alliances – Meet Lewis Ferebee, 2016 Leader to Learn From

PLA Expands to Tampa

As the story goes, Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) started as a summer program, expanded into innovative charter schools, and now, with the support of excellent staff, PLA has sparked partnerships with school districts across the country to improve the educational experiences of scholars. Now, PLA’s next stop is Tampa, Florida.

All PLA-JRP 8th Graders Eligible for Full-Ride College Scholarships

All 8th grade scholars at James and Rosemary Phalen Leadership Academy (JRPLA) have been given a golden opportunity to have their college tuitions paid in full by Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program–saving parents and scholars up to $40,000 in college tuition.

Elementary Students Build Drones, Mobile Apps, and Excitement for STEM

PLA Detroit Charter Schools to Continue in Excellence

PLA is working with both Central Michigan University (CMU) and the MECC Board to have CMU as their new charter authorizer for Stewart, Trix, and Murphy Academies in Detroit.​