Sagamore’s Global Teach Exchange & Scholarships for Education Choice Connect with Laurel at Mission Increase West Michigan and Indianapolis

Workforce 2040 at Sagamore Inside Indiana Business: Teresa Lubbers: Hoosier with a Heart for Service Learn about how Teresa co-founded the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series

Education & Opportunity

Q: One Big Thing

One Big Thing: Laurel leads Sagamore’s two education programs, Scholarships for Education Choice and Global Teach Exchange , where she harnesses her background in teaching, school administration, and curriculum development to expand high-quality educational opportunities for students in Indiana and across the U.S.

Opportunity & Education

Since our founding, Sagamore has been committed to expanding opportunities for high-quality education for students in Indiana and throughout the country. From our scholarship and exchange programs to curriculum development and policy leadership, Sagamore is at the forefront of ensuring that future generations have the skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed.

Our Leaders

Laurel Vandenberg

Director, Scholarships for Education Choice & Global Teach Exchange

One Big Thing

One Big Thing: Laurel leads Sagamore’s two education programs, Scholarships for Education Choice and Global Teach Exchange, where she harnesses her background in teaching, school administration, and curriculum development to expand high-quality educational opportunities for students in Indiana and across the U.S.

Three Other Things You Should Know

Laurel has spent much of her career championing educational opportunity, particularly for underserved communities. At the StreetSchool Network, she led a team that helped schools get started and accredited and supported the implementation of the Infusionomics curriculum that teaches students practical economic literacy and entrepreneurial skills.
Laurel is also the Area Director for Mission Increase Indianapolis and West Michigan, where she teaches nonprofit leaders on key fundraising and organizational development strategies.
Outside of Sagamore, Laurel is a seasoned global traveler and enjoys hiking, painting, and knitting.

Sagamore’s Global Teach Exchange & Scholarships for Education Choice
Connect with Laurel at Mission Increase West Michigan and Indianapolis

One Big Thing

One Big Thing: Teresa Lubbers is one of Indiana and the Midwest’s most experienced education and workforce leaders. Teresa served for 17 years as the Commissioner for Indiana’s Commission for Higher Education. Prior to this, she was a member of the Indiana State Senate, where she chaired the Education and Career Development Committee, and served as Chair of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet.

Three Other Things You Should Know

Teresa and a team of researchers produced Sagamore Institute’s Failure to Launch report, part of Workforce 2040, which examines the unique challenges facing boys and men in Indiana.
Teresa serves on the board of Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation, one of the nation’s leading foundations focused on expanding post-high school education quality and access.
Learn more about Teresa’s career in education policy from the Midwest Higher Education Compact.

Workforce 2040 at Sagamore
Inside Indiana Business: Teresa Lubbers: Hoosier with a Heart for Service
Learn about how Teresa co-founded the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series

Teresa Lubbers

President, Sagamore Institute

Fmr. Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education

Increasing Access to Quality Education

We believe that all families and caregivers should have meaningful choices when it comes to education. The Scholarship for Education Choice, a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO), leverages tax‑credited donations to expand access to high‑quality educational options for Indiana students.

Sagamore’s Global Teach Exchange brings international educators into classrooms, enhancing learning through diverse perspectives and experiences. Our program matches high-quality educators with schools in need and fosters learning environments that prepare students to engage thoughtfully in an interconnected world.

Innovation in the Classroom

Transforming education and expanding opportunity requires bold experimentation in the classroom.

Sagamore was instrumental in founding Herron High School, an innovative public charter school in Indianapolis, delivering a classical liberal arts college preparatory education. Since opening in 2006, Herron has become one of Indiana’s highest-performing charter schools, earning national recognition and proving that rigorous, student-centered education can thrive in an urban setting.

Sagamore has also championed Infusionomics, a creative approach to economic literacy that meets students where they are. Developed in collaboration with Sagamore fellow Amy Sherman and educators working with underserved youth, Infusionomics weaves core economic principles into short, practical lessons across existing subjects — making economics relevant and accessible to students who might otherwise never engage with it. The program has since reached more than 3,500 students across 35 schools nationwide.

Sagamore also helped incubate Elevate Indianapolis, an intensive mentoring program that places full-time teacher-mentors in IPS schools to build lasting relationships with urban youth. With Sagamore’s continued support as an operating partner, Elevate has driven graduation rates to 90% or higher among participating students.

Educating Citizens

A healthy democracy depends on informed, engaged citizens. Building civic knowledge requires creative, accessible tools that meet people where they are.

Sagamore partnered with former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. William J. Bennett to bring his landmark history series, America: The Last Best Hope, into Indiana classrooms. Written as a compelling narrative rather than a dry analysis, Bennett’s work was designed to close the gap between the richness of the American story and the uninspiring way history is too often taught — helping shape the next generation of informed citizens.

Sagamore Institute Senior Fellow Alan Dowd created Pathfinder, a curated resource designed to help Americans better understand the history, context, and challenges of U.S. foreign and defense policy. Drawing on insights from diplomats, military officers, historians, and scholars, Pathfinder provides foundational reading across two pathways: the roots of America’s role in the world, and the threats and challenges it faces today.

Liberty Tracks

Our Learning Resources on Renewing the American Idea

Want to be the kind of citizen America was built on? Renewing the American Idea is your starting point. Sagamore has curated our most powerful resources on civics, history, and self-government into three focused tracks — whether you’re a student, an educator, or simply someone who believes democracy takes work. Dig in, and help keep the American experiment alive.