Meet Our Staff
Indiana Virtual Charter School
Board of Directors
Ron Brumbarger serves as the chairman of the Indiana Virtual Charter School Organizing Group. As one of Indiana's most recognized technology entrepreneurs, Mr. Brumbarger has started and planned several businesses, including co-founding BitWise Solutions, a fast growing technology company, where he serves as the president and chief executive officer. Mr. Brumbarger brings a depth of business experience to the Indiana Virtual Charter School as well as creative and strategic thinking to help drive the school. From his position on the Governor's Education Technology Council, Mr. Brumbarger understands the critical importance of connecting the places of education and work to provide young people with the skills they need to succeed in a 21st-century knowledge economy. A father of two children and home-schooling parent, Mr. Brumbarger is passionate about education and believes strongly that technology and the K12 education program can expand quality education options for Indiana children, which is what led him to take a leadership role to help establish the Indiana Virtual Charter School.
Rep. Terri J. Austin has over 20 years experience in education as a classroom and special education teacher and district administrator, including having served as the executive director for organizational development for the Anderson Community School Corporation. She has also served as a national consultant for the U.S. Department of Education in the areas of technology, school reform, and professional development. A member of the Indiana House of Representatives representing District 36, Rep. Austin serves as the ranking member of the House Technology, Research and Development Committee. She is also an assistant professor of education at the Anderson University School of Education, and a member of numerous civic and community organizations, including the Ball State Teacher's College Alumni Board; however, one of her most important roles is as a mother to two school-age sons. Rep. Austin brings her wealth of experience in education and public policy to the Indiana Virtual Charter School to help shape and guide the school into one of the premier learning institutions in Indiana.
Sandra S. Carr is a registered nurse and an attorney, licensed to practice law in Indiana. Her legal experience includes the practice areas of medical negligence, products liability, insurance defense, and negotiation with governmental agencies. She is also a mother of three children, all of whom attend public school. Exemplifying her strong commitment to education, Ms. Carr is also the founder and president of Learn Another Language, Inc., a non-profit corporation dedicated to second language learning for elementary school students by facilitating before-school Spanish language classes, where her activities include communicating with parents and coordinating classroom space and transportation. Ms. Carr is concerned that all children in Indiana have quality educational opportunities and believes her skills and background can help make the Indiana Virtual Charter School successful in furthering that objective.
Jim Schwartz is a founding partner and currently serves as vice president of ICORN L.L.C. of Cicero, Indiana, the first and only Internet-based seed corn company selling direct to the farm. Privately owned and operated and selling in three states via the Internet, ICORN created a totally new sales model and brand in a very traditional industry, not unlike the advent of virtual schools in public education. Mr. Schwartz is a graduate of Purdue University, and his professional experience includes providing sales call support, dealing with customer compliant service calls, as well as managing budget and administrative functions for a company with annual sales in excess of $45 million a year. Mr. Schwartz is also the father of two boys and has been involved in their schooling at home using the K12 curriculum, where he has gained a firsthand knowledge of the high standards and engaging learning approaches on which the curriculum is based. Mr. Schwartz seeks to bring his customer-focused background and personal experience with the K12 curriculum to help shape the Indiana Virtual Charter School into a high-performance, student- and family-friendly school.
Stacie Porter BilgerDirector of University Relations
Indiana Venture Center, Inc.
Over the years, Stacie Porter Bilger has been influential in many education policies and initiatives throughout the State of Indiana. In the late 90s Ms. Bilger was recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal for Who's Who in Education. She also was part of several committees, task forces, and boards, such as Indianapolis Private Industry Council Board, Independent Residential Living Development Corporation Board, SMART Partnership Executive Committee, Bridges to Success Council, Science Bound Executive Committee, Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School Board, IPS Yellow Ribbon Task Force, Girls Inc. Technology Committee, 10 Point Coalition, IMA Tax Committee, and Coalition to Restore Indiana's Property Tax Controls. Ms. Bilger played an influential role in launching the Charles A. Tindley Charter School, the SMART Partnership, the IPS GRADES community group, as well as the partnership between Indianapolis Public Schools and Purdue in launching the "Science Bound" initiative.
Ms. Bilger currently acts as the Director of University Relations for the Indiana Venture Center, working with university talent and high growth start-up companies on commercialization strategies. She has developed several programs; such as the University Entrepreneurial Challenge and the Venture Creation Accelerator, which connects top talent to high growth, entrepreneurial companies.
Previously, Ms. Bilger was the Director of Education Policy at the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, where she developed and implemented an internship system to reduce Indiana's "brain drain" - Indiana INTERNnet. She was also responsible for organizing and influencing community leaders and elected officials to arrive at a compromise on a $250 million bond issue to improve Indianapolis Public Schools facilities. Ms. Bilger has advocated and guided others in the creation of charter schools in the Indianapolis Community by serving on boards, recruiting leaders to serve on boards, and raising funds. She was also instrumental in directing the raising of more than $4 million during her tenure at the Chamber.
Ms. Bilger received her formal education from the Indiana University School of Environmental and Public Affairs, with a concentration in Public Finance. She has also completed a four-year nationally recognized leadership development program at the Institute for Organizational Management, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce organization.
