VANESSA COLES NAMED AS FORTUNE ACADEMY’S NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL
On Friday, May 2, 2019, Fortune Academy announced Vanessa Coles as the next Head of School starting June 1, 2019. She will succeed Janet George, who established the school in 2002 with six students and grew it to 97 students today. Fortune Academy serves students in grades 1 – 12 with diagnosed language-based learning differences and is a leader in research-based education.
Mrs. Coles, appointed by the Board of Trustees, has served as Fortune Academy’s Lower School Division Head for the past 2 ½ years. After a thorough and thoughtful review by the board, Coles’ success in that leadership role allowed the board to be confident in their appointment. She is a proven leader that will continue the commitment to provide research-based instructional programs to students with learning differences and provide expert programming to the community.
An educator with over 28 years of teaching and leadership experience, Mrs. Coles brings substantial knowledge from both the public and private school settings. She has completed the Associate and Certified Level OG training, by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators and has a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Certificate of Cognitive Coaching from Butler University.
“I am both humbled and honored to carry on the mission that was set forth by our founders to provide transformative education to students with language learning differences. Every student deserves a classroom environment that allows them to thrive. I am committed to serving the students and staff so that, together, we can reach our full potential.”
Mrs. Coles has been married for 25 years to her husband, Jeff. They have a son attending Indiana University in the fall as a freshman and a daughter who will be a junior in high school.
Mrs. George will continue her involvement with Fortune Academy as an Honorary Board of Trustees member. She will also pursue the development of OG certified trainers both for Fortune Academy and for other schools in central Indiana.