School board

School Board Member, Indianapolis Public Schools

At large

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The school board sets policy, hires the superintendent and adopts the budget for Indianapolis Public Schools.

Candidates Compare by issue

Alexander S. Nyirendah

Democratic

Board member and co-director, Marion County Board of Voter Registration

The gist

Supports the IPEC referendum and its proposed rate.
Proposes steering resources to the highest-need schools.
Pledges to protect classrooms first in budget cuts.
Supports a district focus on literacy and foundational skills.

More about Alexander

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Supports the IPEC referendum and its proposed rate.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, I support the IPEC referendum and the proposed rate.”
Proposes steering resources to the highest-need schools.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I would address this by directing resources to schools with the greatest needs, expanding tutoring and counseling, supporting teachers”
Pledges to protect classrooms first in budget cuts.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“My approach would be to protect the classroom first.”
Supports a district focus on literacy and foundational skills.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“The district needs to focus on improving literacy and foundational academic skills.”

Sacha Nicole Sharp

Democratic

Associate professor of medicine, Indiana University

The gist

Supports the referendum but calls its rate too low.
Supports requiring charters to show need for referendum funds.
Pledges to work with the teachers union for teacher-retention funding.
Pledges to refuse special-interest money that conflicts with her values.

More about Sacha

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Supports the referendum but calls its rate too low.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, I support the referendum. No, I do not support the rate.”
Supports requiring charters to show need for referendum funds.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I would like to see more evidence of need from the charter public schools to justify the split of referendum funds.”
Pledges to work with the teachers union for teacher-retention funding.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I also plan to advocate alongside the teachers union for more resources to keep high quality teachers.”
Pledges to refuse special-interest money that conflicts with her values.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I will not accept funds from special interest groups that do not align with my values.”

Heather Houston

Independent

Educator, Liberty Grove Schools

The gist

Supports public reporting and oversight of referendum spending.
Pledges to cut waste before classroom programs.
Proposes stronger school mental-health and wraparound services.
Pledges to refuse outside special-interest campaign donations.

More about Heather

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Supports public reporting and oversight of referendum spending.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“We need clear spending priorities, public reporting, strong oversight, and measurable outcomes.”
Pledges to cut waste before classroom programs.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“Cut waste before we cut classrooms, protect students with the greatest needs, diversify our revenue, and make every dollar accountable.”
Proposes stronger school mental-health and wraparound services.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“We need to strengthen school-based mental-health and SEL supports, intervene earlier when students begin missing school, expand wraparound services”
Pledges to refuse outside special-interest campaign donations.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I will not accept donations from outside special-interest groups or organizations seeking to influence IPS policy.”

Angelia Lois Moore

DemocraticIncumbent

Finance manager, City of Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety

The gist

Supports the IPEC referendum despite wanting a higher rate.
Supports a close partnership between the IPS board and IPEC.
Supports pursuing grants and partnerships alongside the referendum.
Supports investing in foundational literacy and stronger math instruction.

More about Angelia

View sources (1)

Supports the IPEC referendum despite wanting a higher rate.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“Although the final rate was not my ideal, I see it as an opportunity to continue investing in our students.”
Supports a close partnership between the IPS board and IPEC.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“IPEC and IPS are partners, not competitors.”
Supports pursuing grants and partnerships alongside the referendum.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“the district should continue pursuing grants, philanthropic partnerships, business collaborations, and advocating for adequate state funding”
Supports investing in foundational literacy and stronger math instruction.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“continued investment in foundational literacy, strong mathematics instruction, and opportunities that prepare students for college, careers, military service, and civic”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 4 issues covered in this race.