Robert Marshall, Executive Director

Robert Marshall’s personal mission is to act as an instrument of positive change in his community, inspiring youth to be their best academic selves and helping them become leaders in thought, word and action. Mr. Marshall has lived out his personal mission by founding Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis – a public charter school on the westside of Indianapolis that is unapologetically focused on the academic success of its scholars, educating 6th-8th grade students through high-quality instruction, rigorous curriculum, and character development to succeed in college and become leaders in thought, word and action.

A native to Indianapolis, Mr. Marshall is committed to ensuring high quality public education options for minority and under-served youth in our city. His career began in program management largely focused in youth development. With a deep concern for the achievement gap experienced by so many of our children, he has approached every challenge with the goal of leveling the playing field. Having held leadership positions in organizations such as 100 Black Men of Indianapolis and the Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis, Mr. Marshall has been an integral part of large fundraising initiatives, strategic plan development, program implementation, and volunteer management. Mr. Marshall served as the Senior Director of Programs at the Center for Leadership Development, and managed programs supporting the advancement of minority youth in Central Indiana as future professional business and community leaders. He is a former Building Excellent Schools (BES) Fellow. As a Fellow with BES, Mr. Marshall studied and deeply analyzed best practices of over 40 high performing urban charter schools and has received extensive development in the areas of organizational development, instructional design, charter accountability, and leadership. Currently, Mr. Marshall is an alumni of the Diversity in Leadership Program (Marian University). He also is a member of the Class of 2021 Indianapolis Business Journal’s Forty Under 40. He received his B.A. in Political Science and Law from Morehouse College.
 

Donovan Ferguson, Instructional Assistant

Trashun (Trey) Harrison, English Language Specialist

Mr. Harrison loves making class fun and engaging for students while also providing individuality and creativity to each lesson. He consistently promotes the growth of communication skills and socialization for students to take with them into the world. Mr. Harrison was born and raised in Dallas, TX and graduated from the University of North Texas where he earned his Bachelors of Science in Integrative Studies with concentrations in English, Political Science, and Business Management. He is completing his Masters in Education Teaching. Mr. Harrison enjoys reading new book series and writing poetry when he has the time. He also enjoys playing video games, reading/watching his favorite manga and anime, and playing saxophone.
 

Troi Journey, English Language Arts Teacher

Ms. Journey earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in both Psychology of Human Development and Interpersonal Relations at Ball State University- Muncie, Indiana. Ms. Journey began and gained experience with working with the youth while in college by becoming a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters Program her junior and senior year of college. To further her career in education along with advancing her knowledge in working with youth, Ms. Journey worked as an elementary/middle school paraprofessional. Ms. Journey is very intentional with establishing authentic relationships with both students and families to create a positive social-emotional learning environment for our scholars. She looks forward to incorporating her knowledge and experience to teach and guide students in growing intellectually, mentally, and emotionally.
 

Eric Kelso, Social Studies Teacher

They teach Social Studies which includes World History and American History classes. Prior to joining Vanguard Collegiate, Mx. Kelso attended the Universities of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in History with a concentration in Secondary Education and a Master’s degree in Public History. Mx. Kelso has experience working with youth through Scouts BSA, and their work as a Museum Professional in Baltimore, Maryland. Mx. Kelso is currently attending Marion University for their Masters in Education while participating in the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows program and The New Teacher Project. Mx. Kelso comes to us after an exciting career in the Museum field and is excited to bring their expertise to the classroom. Mx. Kelso seeks to help our scholars become critical thinkers and build a safe space for all students to be their authentic selves.
 

 
Marcia Lomax, Mental Health Therapist.

Ms. Lomax has worked in the mental health field for more than 20 years, she started off as a caseworker for numerous mental health agencies and then moved into therapist positions within these mental health agencies. She received a Bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) in Psychology from St. Augustine’s University in 1999, graduating #1 in the Psychology Department and #7 in her class. She also received her Master’s degree (magna cum laude) in Psychology from Martin University in 2007. She then opened her own mental health private practice agency in 2012. Ms. Lomax works with all demographics and all diagnoses. She currently does family and individual relationship counseling on various days within the school building. In addition to her support of VCI students, she maintains a private practice. Below is her professional information for private appointments.

Marcia Lomax, MS
Lomax Counseling Services, LLC
317-340-3833


Alyssa J. McIntyre, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Alyssa McIntyre is currently the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis. She is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing all instructional systems at Vanguard Collegiate. McIntyre is a one of the founding teachers at Vanguard and has worked as a 5th-8th Social Studies teacher and later a lead teacher at the school. Prior to joining Vanguard Collegiate, Miss McIntyre attended The Ohio State University where she graduated with a B.A. in African-American and African Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Miss McIntyre also has a Master of Arts in Teaching from Marian University. Miss McIntyre prides herself on being able to build strong relationships with her scholars and the teachers at the school. Her mission is to empower each scholar to become productive leaders in their community.
 

Adelita Romo, Office Manager

As the office manager, Ms. Romo keeps Vanguard Collegiate running smoothly and is often the first face many families see at VCI. She is experienced in business technology and fluent in Spanish, as well as school information and operational systems. Prior to joining Vanguard Collegiate, Ms. Romo worked in administration at two other charter schools in Indy and with WFYI. Ms. Romo is a graduate of Independence JobCorps Center. Ms. Romo is excited to work at VCI and make a positive impact on the scholars and families of the Haughville Community.
 

Tina Siddle, Math & Science Teacher, Director of Scholar Experiences

Ms. Siddle engages our scholars in meaningful math lessons while increasing their academic self-confidence by modeling BEST mathematical practices. Prior to joining Vanguard Collegiate, Ms. Siddle provided direct math instruction to scholars and professional development to classroom teachers (KG-12) in Baltimore County, MD, Dallas, TX, Fort Wayne, IN, Jefferson County, IN, Indianapolis, IN and Washington, DC. Ms. Siddle has presented at the Education Research Development Institute (ERDI), National Alliance of Black School Educators (NASBE) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Ms. Siddle is the Mathematics Consultant for 100 Black Men of Indianapolis and an active member of Kiwanis International. She is a native of Indianapolis, IN. After graduating from Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, Ms. Siddle has used her expertise in mathematics to encourage scholars to “walk it, like you talk it.” Mathematics is a beautiful language and her scholars speak it well. As the Director of Scholar Experiences, Ms. Siddle finds opportunities for our scholars to experience the real-world application of what they learn in the classroom. She creates and plans the field trips, guest speakers, and activities that fill our scholars’ days.
 


Bobby Thomas, Senior Director

 

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