Staff Directory

Team Member Bios

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.

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Donovan Ferguson
Donovan FergusonInstructional Assistant
Donovan Ferguson graduated from IPS George Washington High School, and continued his education at Ivy Tech taking General Studies. He went on to Major in Early Childhood and Special Education, finishing his undergrad at Wiley College (Marshall,Texas) and Indiana State University (Terre Haute, Indiana). Mr. Ferguson started out working with private schools and faith based institutions (infants-5th grade). He was also a Teaching Specialist within DCS/Children Bureau. From mentoring to coaching to counseling, Mr. Ferguson has a passion for helping inner city youth succeed. In his 10 years of service towards inner city youth, he has always worked to go above and beyond to make sure no child is left behind.
Troi Journey
Troi JourneyEnglish 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.
Marcia Lomax
Marcia LomaxMental Health Therapist, Lomax Counseling Services, LLC
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.
Alyssa J. McIntyre
Alyssa J. McIntyreDirector 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
Adelita RomoOffice 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
Tina SiddleMath & 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.
Samantha Taylor
Samantha TaylorSpecial Education Teacher
Ms. Taylor recently graduated from Marian University with her Masters in Teaching. This year marks her third year of teaching.
She enjoys the opportunity to help students that need extra support and services to enhance the quality of their academics.
When she’s not teaching, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her grandchildren.
Bobby Thomas
Bobby ThomasSenior Director
Bobby C. Thomas is an accomplished engineer and educator with a passion for building both structures and futures. He graduated from IUPUI in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Management Technology (CEMT) and began his career as a Project Engineer for Hunt Construction Group. He played an instrumental role in several high-profile projects, including the Indianapolis Public Library Downtown and the FED Ex Terminal Apron Addition at the Indianapolis Airport, while earning a reputation for his technical expertise and problem-solving skills.

In 2014, Bobby embarked on a new journey, transitioning from engineering buildings to engineering lives. He spent a year as a substitute teacher before accepting a full-time position at a local charter school, where he quickly made a name for himself as a dynamic and dedicated educator. He later served as a founding staff member and Math Teacher at Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis, where he helped shape the school’s culture and curriculum.

With a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University and currently in pursuit of a special education certification from Sped Acts, Bobby is well-equipped to serve as the Senior Director at Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis, where he is excited to continue making a difference in the lives of students and the community. Bobby is proud to make daily contributions to the school’s success and the lives of children; he looks forward to continued growth and impact in the years to come.