Sullivan named to board of national Democratic education reform group

Former Indiana state representative Mary Ann Sullivan, who now is considering a run for the Indianapolis Public School Board, has been named a national board member of Democrats for Education Reform.

DFER announced 11 board members today. Sullivan will join a group that includes Adrian Fenty, the former mayor of Washington, D.C.; former Colorado lieutenant Gov. Barbara O’Brien; and Indianapolis native Kevin Chavous, a former Washington, D.C., city council member and a charter school proponent.

Mary Ann Sullivan

DFER launched an Indiana chapter based in Indianapolis in 2010, but it ceased operations in 2013.

Sullivan was often the only Democrat who supported reforms like charter schools and a statewide overhaul of teacher evaluation when she was in the legislature. In 2012 she left the House to run an unsuccessful challenge to state Sen. Brent Waltz, R-Indianapolis.

In March, Sullivan and former IPS board member Kelly Bentley said they were both strongly considering running for the IPS board, but neither has officially announced yet that they are running.

Sullivan said she was likely to challenge IPS board President Annie Roof for an at-large seat. Bentley said she would likely run in the district of board member Samantha Adair-White, who last week said she would announce a decision in July as to whether she will seek re-election.

Roof and a third IPS board member, Michael Brown, have announced their intentions to run again for the board.