Shareyna Chang
This Indiana University (School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs) and Marion University (Master of Arts in Teaching) graduate will now serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff at IPS.
Chang began her career as a 2013 Teach for America Corps Member teaching 1st and 2nd grade. During 2015-2017, she worked under Mayors Hogsett and Ballard as a Senior Academic Performance Analyst monitoring/evaluating the academic and governance health of mayor-sponsored charter schools in the office of education innovation.
In 2017, Chang joined teamIPS as the Teacher Prep Coordinator on IPS talent strategy team leading the development and implementation of the district’s teacher prep pipelines and residency programs. That position parlayed her in 2018 to the Director of School Quality position where she worked to develop and implement systems to assess and bolster the health of all IPS schools. And in 2022, Chang was promoted to the Executive Director of Portfolio Strategy where she supported the district in the development of the rebuilding stronger plan.
While not at work, Chang enjoys visiting her family in her home state of Virginia and catching up with her three sisters as well as her niece and nephews. She is also an avid traveler both stateside and abroad, with only five more states left to visit.
As a Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series (SKL) Class XLV alum, Chang is an active volunteer with a variety of organizations and serves on several boards.
Amy Wackerly
Amy Wackerly has been named the Principal for Center for Inquiry School #2. Wackerly has been an educator for 24 years. She was a teacher at CFI 2 from when it opened in 2000 until 2016 at which time Wackerly went to help start CFI 70. She has 23 years of experience with CFI as an educator with the last 3.5 years as a school administrator at CFI 70. During her time with CFI, she has contributed to the field of education as a presenter and co-author. Wackerly was the 2015 IPS Teacher of the Year and a Top Ten Candidate for the Indiana State Teacher of the Year.
Wackerly graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in Sports Management while also playing Division I women’s intercollegiate volleyball. She obtained her elementary education degree from Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis. She completed her MBAE at the University of Indianapolis where she was also a Woodrow Wilson Fellow in Education Leadership.
Wackerly and her husband, Rick, live on the southside. They have two daughters, Lauren and Emily, who are both in college.
Adrienne Kuchik
Adrienne Kuchik has been named Executive Director of Schools. Kuchik is a seasoned educator who earned her bachelors from Indiana University Bloomington and Masters in Business Administration in Education Leadership from the University of Indianapolis. Before joining Team IPS in 2016, Kuchik spent eight years serving students and families in Gary, IN in various roles.
Kuchik began her career in IPS as the Assistant Principal of James A. Garfield. In September 2018 she served as the Interim Principal until she was named the permanent principal in June of 2019. During her time leading the school, they have decreased out of school suspensions by 98%, been the recipient of the 2022 IPS Hall of Fame Engaging School, and raised standardized test scores in both reading and math. Kuchik implemented a full STEM curriculum at Garfield that has been nationally recognized multiple times and earned the school the title of Project Lead the Way Distinguished School for Launch and Gateway.
Kuchik is the recipient of the 2022 School Choice Leadership Award, 2021 Middle School Principal of the Year for Marion County Nominee and was a 2022 Principal of the Year finalist for IPS. She was selected to be part of the inaugural cohort of Woodrow Wilson Fellows at the University of Indianapolis, who studied educational practices in Switzerland in 2015. Kuchik is a dedicated leader who has a strong track record of valuing urban education, always putting students and equity first, and building strong relationships with all stakeholders.
At her core, Kuchik believes that all students are capable of success regardless of their race or socioeconomic status.
Andrew Strope
Andrew Strope has been named as the Deputy Superintendent for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS). In his capacity as Deputy Superintendent, Strope will continue to oversee the implementation of IPS Strategic Plan 2025 as well as lead the Digital Strategy, Racial Equity, Portfolio, and External Affairs teams.
Strope most recently served as the Chief of Staff for IPS and has been responsible for overseeing and aligning critical district administrative functions, processes and strategic projects under direction from the Superintendent.
This has also included leading the cross-departmental priorities of the organization to ensure effective execution, progress monitoring, and accountability. Strope also served the district as the Performance and Continuous Improvement Officer and the Director of Special Projects.
Before joining IPS, Strope taught 7/8th grade math in Chicago Public Schools, where he was awarded a Real Change Award for meeting and exceeding academic growth goals. He also served as a Teacher Leader and Math Instructional Lead for the Academy for Urban School Leadership. Strope began his career with Ernst & Young LLP as a Senior Associate for Assurance Services.
Strope holds a BSAcc/MAcc in Accountancy from the University of Missouri, an Ed.M. from Harvard University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration from The Broad Center.
He is a member of the Broad Residency Class of 2016-2018 and was a 2011 Teacher for America Corps member in Chicago.
Strope has been a member of the IPS team since 2016.