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Award Notification:  Melody Coryell (IN '15)

Melody Coryell Is Indiana's 2015-16 Milken Educator

Melody Coryell, an English teacher and the International Baccalaureate (IB) coordinator at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, has dedicated her career to bringing advanced educational opportunities like IB, AP (Advanced Placement), and dual credit to her students. Why? "I think rigorous educational opportunities should be available to all students, not just students who already have everything going for them," Coryell said at her surprise Milken Educator Award notification.

Coryell teaches teachers, too: As the school's mentorship coordinator, she leads weekly professional development sessions for all faculty. In addition to her academic classes, Coryell coaches students in speech and debate, and guides them as they plan their future after high school. "She's taught me a lot of stuff personally," said one student. "She's opened my eyes and helped me realize what I really want to do, as opposed to what I thought I would want to do."