Jessica Neill is a relationship-driven educational leader with extensive executive experience as an Assistant Superintendent, building principal, instructional coach, and teacher. She holds an Ed.S. in K-12 District Leadership from Indiana State University and an MBA in Educational Leadership from the University of Indianapolis. As Director of IMC, she leads the strategic vision, fiscal management, and educational programming for IMC’s public charter school network across Indiana.

George Philhower is the superintendent of the Community School Corporation of Eastern Hancock County and the founder and CEO of the Indiana Microschool Collaborative (IMC), a publicly funded network of microschools. Guided by his belief that every child should wake up excited for school, feeling safe, engaged, successful, and cared for, George leads efforts to design schools that feel personal and full of joy. Together, Eastern Hancock and IMC envision a future where every Hoosier student gets to attend a school that feels like it was designed just for them.

Erin is a former classroom teacher and the founding lead educator of Nature's Gift, the first site in the Indiana Microschool Collaborative. She is the architect of the Commons App learning framework, defining the IMC badge system and how student growth is recognized across the network. She brings expertise in learner-centered design, competency-based assessment, and microschool operations.

Chelsey Sullivan is a Farmland, Indiana native and 2009 graduate of the University of Southern Indiana.  She has been teaching for over 18 years in the public school setting, but has enjoyed the jump over to the microschool setting at Deerfield Innovation Studio.  She resides in Farmland with her husband, Micheal, son, Kaden, two daughters, Runa Mae and Odella and two standard poodles, Sherman and LeeLou.

Brian was first exposed to Montessori education when he was 4 years old.  He received his Bachelors Degree from Ball State University where he studied Physics, Education, and Military Science.  Upon graduating he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.  After a 12 year, decorated career, he left active duty. Brian eventually retired from the Army Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel. Brian and Almira decided to open the Montessori Science Academy to give their children and those within the community the kind of head start in education that he attributes to his success. 

David is the founder and chairman of First Internet Bank. He brings entrepreneurial leadership and a longstanding commitment to education, innovation, and workforce development.

Erin is a former classroom teacher and the founding lead educator of Nature's Gift, the first site in the Indiana Microschool Collaborative. She is the architect of the Commons App learning framework, defining the IMC badge system and how student growth is recognized across the network. She brings expertise in learner-centered design, competency-based assessment, and microschool operations.