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EDUCATION

Tindley chief stepping down

Chelsea Schneider
Chelsea.Schneider@indystar.com

One of the most visible leaders in Indiana’s charter school sector announced his resignation Monday.

Marcus Robinson is departing as leader of Tindley Accelerated Schools after serving there for 12 years. Robinson will continue to work with Tindley under contract through the end of June, according to a statement from the charter school network. Kelli Marshall, principal of Tindley Collegiate, will serve as CEO on an interim basis.

The search for Robinson's replacement will begin immediately.

“We are thankful for Marcus Robinson’s contributions. In large measure due to his vision and belief in what is possible when educating urban children, our schools are consistently highly rated, reflecting our great academic success,” Jan Guffin, chair of Tindley's board, said in a statement.

The statement said Robinson stepped down as the network’s chancellor and CEO to focus on completing a doctorate at Columbia University.

Amid the transition in leadership, Guffin said, the board will focus on “sustainable growth” and “financial stability.”

The amount Robinson will be paid for his remaining time at Tindley was unavailable Monday evening, but the statement said he would “assist the board as needed.”

Tindley runs six schools serving more than 1,600 students ranging from kindergarten to high school.

Robinson’s leadership also was marked by struggles.

Tindley Accelerated Schools had run Arlington High School before it was transferred back to Indianapolis Public Schools for this school year. The charter school network had told the state it was no longer able to run the school because of funding issues. Arlington had been assigned an outside operator because of chronic low performance.

"There is no way I put my team in that building without some clarity about what happens after this year," Robinson told the Indiana State Board of Education in 2014.

Tindley launched its first charter school in Indianapolis in 2004.

Call IndyStar reporter Chelsea Schneider at (317) 444-6077. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyStarChelsea.