Indiana State University alumna and New Palestine Elementary Principal Kayleigh Fosnow received the surprise of a lifetime this morning at what she thought was a schoolwide assembly to welcome Governor Mike Braun and Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner. Instead, the event she helped plan was held in her honor! Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards, traveled from California to announce Fosnow as Indiana’s recipient for the 2025-26 school year. What’s more, the national honor comes with an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000.
“Kayleigh Fosnow leads with purpose, passion and an unwavering commitment to academic success,” said Dr. Foley, a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator herself. “She sparks a genuine love of learning in her students at New Palestine, and the data-driven initiatives she has implemented have not only increased student achievement, but have also elevated the school as a model of excellence.”
“Having started her career in the classroom, Principal Fosnow is very intentional about creating trust and connections with students, families, and teachers alike that maximize each student’s academic success,” said Dr. Jenner. “This includes meeting with teachers every week to look at the data, celebrate wins, and identify areas where students may need additional support.
Principal Fosnow is a Sycamore alumna earning a bachelor’s in elementary and special education in 2008 and a master’s in elementary education in 2012. Fosnow, who taught special education, second and third grade before advancing to school administration, is a natural teacher leader who infuses excellence into everything she does at her school. Her data-driven instruction led her to launch “SOAR to Excellence,” a program designed to improve schoolwide student performance in ELA and math. Teachers join Fosnow weekly to review data, identify strengths and discuss interventions for improvement. The results speak for themselves: After the first year of SOAR, students in grades 3 and 4 saw an 8-9% increase in math and reading proficiency.