A $335,000 grant has been approved for the continued development of the iGrad program, aimed at supporting students in Bartholomew County. The grant, funded by the City Redevelopment Commission, will provide critical support for the program’s growth and sustainability. iGrad Program Director Jennifer Steadman Ryan was present when the grant request was advanced to the City Council.
“I was at the Redevelopment Commission meeting when the Commission voted to move the request on to the City Council,” Steadman Ryan said. “I’m very proud of the iGrad Program and happy to hear the support from the Commission and others at the meeting.”
The iGrad program provides support for students who are struggling academically or falling behind in earning the necessary credits for graduation. Currently serving around 600 students in Bartholomew County, the program offers a range of services designed to help students succeed.
“iGrad is a program that helps students who are struggling with their classes and behind in credits,” Steadman Ryan said. “We have 2 full-time team leads, 11 graduation coaches, and 2 college and career readiness coaches.”
The $335,000 grant will be primarily used to fund the salaries and benefits of these team leads and coaches. These individuals are responsible for providing direct support to students, offering mentorship, coaching, and academic assistance to ensure they stay on track.
“This money all goes towards the salaries and benefits for the team leads and coaches, the money from TIF does let us use other monies for programming for the students,” Steadman Ryan said.
The impact of the iGrad program has been overwhelmingly positive, with students benefiting from the thorough support it provides. By addressing both academic challenges and personal development, the program has helped many students improve their performance and get back on track toward graduation.
“The support from students and educators has been tremendous, the feedback we receive is so positive, students feel that iGrad becomes like a family to them because of the support they receive,” Steadman Ryan said. “We are developing new programming for 10th graders this year that will help students think about potential career paths and skills.”
Community involvement is also a part of iGrad, helping to strengthen the connection between students and local resources. By engaging community members, iGrad creates opportunities for students to receive additional support and guidance outside of the classroom.
“We have community volunteers who come in to tutor in subjects such as math and science, we also have plans to have community partners come into the schools to talk about their careers and education,” Steadman Ryan said. “Donations from the community also help stock the program’s ‘Care Cabinets,’ which provide essential items like hygiene products for students in need.”
Looking ahead, the long-term vision for iGrad includes expanding its community volunteer program to further enhance the support available to students. By growing this initiative, iGrad aims to bring in more community members who can offer the mentorship, tutoring, and career guidance necessary for the program.
“My long-term goals for the iGrad Program are to expand the community volunteer program so students have more opportunities to work with tutors,” Steadman Ryan said.
