South Bend, IN — May 13, 2026 — The Career Academy Network of Public Schools (CANOPS), Bethel University’s Education Department, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor have entered a partnership to launch “Success Academy at Bethel University,” an innovative laboratory classroom model designed to provide high-quality early learning experiences while preparing the next generation of educators.

Set to begin in the 2026–2027 school year, the model will operate on Bethel University’s campus as an extension of Success Academy at the Boys & Girls Club (SABGC). Kindergarten and first grade students will be served in a mixed grade level classroom.

“The partnership with Bethel and the Club expands opportunities for students by connecting high-quality instruction with meaningful, real-world learning experiences in the community. As public schools that are free and open to all, we are proud to partner in expanding access for students,” said Jeremy Lugbill, CEO, Career Academy Network of Public Schools.

Success Academy at Bethel University’s lab classroom is designed to deliver developmentally appropriate, high-quality instruction while serving as a clinical training site for Bethel teacher candidates.

Students will benefit from:
– A safe, engaging, and developmentally responsive learning environment
– Increased adult-to-student personalized support and individualized attention
– Experiential learning opportunities in the community aligned with real-world projects
– Instruction grounded in the Science of Reading
– Access to high-quality instructional materials aligned to state standards.

At the same time, Bethel teacher candidates will gain hands-on, real-world classroom experience, allowing them to apply coursework in a structured and supervised setting alongside a certified teacher.

“I am excited about this partnership with the Career Academy Network and Boys and Girls Clubs. This collaboration will provide students with a highly supportive learning environment. Bethel teacher candidates gain invaluable hands-on experience in a laboratory setting, allowing them to support these young learners. This is a truly impactful partnership that strengthens both student learning and teacher preparation,” said Dr. Jim Bennett, Program Director and Department Chair for Education at Bethel University.

A central component of the partnership is a shared commitment to the Science of Reading, ensuring that literacy instruction is research-based, systematic, and effective.

The classroom will serve as a demonstration and innovation site, where best practices in teaching and learning are continuously modeled, refined, and improved through collaboration between university faculty and K–12 educators.

The laboratory classroom reflects a shared commitment between CANOPS and Bethel University to bridge theory and practice, ensuring that both students and educators benefit from a continuously improving instructional model.

The classroom will follow Success Academy at Boys and Girls Club’s academic calendar, with instruction scheduled to begin August 5, 2026. Enrollment information can be found on the school website at www.successacademybgc.com.

Career Academy Network of Public Schools transforms lives through passionate, innovative, and impactful learning experiences. Serving students across St. Joseph County, the schools emphasize project-based learning, strong community connection, and a relentless focus on preparing every child for success in college, career, and life.

Bethel University is a higher education institution committed to academic excellence and the development of students in character, scholarship, and service. The Education Department prepares future educators through a rigorous, hands-on approach that integrates theory with real classroom experience. Through strong partnerships with local schools, Bethel provides teacher candidates with meaningful clinical opportunities, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and practical experience needed to be effective educators from day one.

Since 1974, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor has enabled and inspired young people, especially those who need Clubs most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Media Contact:

Vincent Liew – Chief Marketing Officer
Career Academy Network of Public Schools
vliew@mycanops.com

South Bend, Ind. — The Portage School of Leaders, part of the Career Academy Network of Public Schools (CANOPS), today announced a partnership with Purdue Polytechnic High School South Bend (PPHS), two of the nation’s most innovative high school models and both members of the Carnegie Foundation’s Future of High School Network. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to South Bend students through competency-based learning, meaningful student agency, and authentic preparation for college, career, and civic life.

The partnership follows a decision by the PPHS Board of Directors to transition its South Bend campus. Both schools share a commitment to project-based, experiential learning that empowers students to take ownership of their education and engage with real-world challenges.

“We are grateful for our partnership and energized by the shared vision that brings our organizations together. We believe — just as Purdue Polytechnic High School does — that student success is built through meaningful, deep learning experiences, community engagement and strong connections to workforce opportunities,” said Jeremy Lugbill, Chief Executive Officer of CANOPS. “Together, we are expanding access for students to gain the durable skills and credentials that lead to real social and economic mobility, and we are excited about the impact this collaboration will have for years to come.”

As part of the partnership, CANOPS will lead a carefully planned and seamless process to support PPHS students ahead of and into the Fall 2026 semester of the 2026–2027 school year as they elect to transition to The Portage School of Leaders or another CANOPS school. Transition planning will focus on maintaining academic continuity, supporting credit alignment and grade placement, and providing families with clear, consistent, and timely communication well in advance of key milestones.

“CANOPS has excellent facilities and a similar student-focused approach to teaching and learning. We are fully confident in the network and its highly qualified leaders, faculty and staff to deliver an exceptional education to our South Bend students,” said Dr. Keeanna Warren, CEO of Purdue Polytechnic High School.

Families of PPHS students will receive direct communication from school leadership with additional details, including enrollment information, frequently asked questions, and opportunities to attend information sessions as plans are finalized.

About Career Academy Network of Public Schools
The Career Academy Network of Public Schools transforms lives through passionate, innovative, and impactful learning experiences. Serving students across South Bend, Career Academy schools emphasize project-based learning, strong community partnerships, and a relentless focus on preparing every child for success in college, career, and life.

Media Contact:

Vincent Liew
Chief Marketing Officer
Career Academy Network of Public Schools
vliew@mycanops.com

South Bend, IN — October 31, 2025

The Career Academy Network of Public Schools (CANOPS), School City of Mishawaka (SCM), and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor (BGCNIC) have been jointly selected by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) as one of three statewide teams to lead a groundbreaking, three-year pilot program aimed at reimagining how Indiana schools manage transportation systems to better serve students and communities.

The initiative, established under House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1515, was designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and efficiency in how schools deliver essential support services to students. The local partnership between CANOPS, SCM, and BGCNIC was recognized for its community-driven approach to building a flexible, reliable transportation network that strengthens student access — to and from school — and to a range of work-based learning and extracurricular opportunities.

“We’re honored and grateful to join School City of Mishawaka and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor,” said Jeremy Lugbill, Chief Executive Officer of the Career Academy Network of Public Schools (CANOPS). “This pilot represents what’s possible when schools and community partners work together to remove barriers, expand access, and create impactful opportunities for students and families.”

Under this pilot, the three organizations will leverage existing school fleets alongside South Bend’s public transportation system (Transpo) to create an integrated transportation model that maximizes efficiency, improves scheduling flexibility, and expands student access to school, work-based learning, and extracurricular opportunities.

“Transportation can be a major factor in determining student success and we are proud to partner with Transpo, BGCNIC, and CANOPS to examine innovative ways to provide better transportation services to students in our area,” said Dr. Theodore Stevens, Superintendent of the School City of Mishawaka (SCM).

The Indiana Department of Education’s official notification commended CANOPS for demonstrating “a strong commitment to innovation, collaboration, and community-centered planning,” noting that participants will help “reimagine how Indiana supports students through improved transportation systems.”

“The participation of CANOPS, SCM, and BGCNIC underscores our collective role as statewide leaders in educational innovation and collaboration — continuing our shared mission to connect learning, career development, and community partnerships in meaningful, sustainable ways,” said Duane Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor (BGCNIC).

Participating schools in the HEA 1515 pilot will establish independent local boards to oversee implementation, collect data aligned with state metrics, and share best practices with other districts statewide. The program will officially begin during the 2026–2027 school year and continue through 2028–2029.

The participation of CANOPS, SCM, and BGCNIC underscores their collective role as statewide leaders in educational innovation and collaboration — continuing their shared mission to connect learning, career development, and community partnerships in meaningful, sustainable ways. 

About Career Academy Network of Public Schools (CANOPS)

The Career Academy Network of Public Schools transforms lives through passionate, innovative, and impactful learning experiences. Serving students across South Bend, Career Academy schools emphasize project-based learning, strong community partnerships, and a relentless focus on preparing every child for success in college, career, and life.

About School City of Mishawaka (SCM)

School City of Mishawaka serves approximately 5,000 students in preschool, kindergarten through high school, and its Young Adults Program across nine schools. Located in northcentral Indiana in the heart of Mishawaka, SCM is dedicated to its goals, community partnerships, and its ongoing commitment to Creating a Culture of Excellence.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor (BGCNIC)

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor (BGCNIC) has served youth across six counties for over 50 years, providing safe and enriching afterschool programs. With 38 Club sites reaching more than 5,100 kids and teens in 16 school districts, BGCNIC aims to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.

Media Contact:
Vincent Liew

Chief Marketing Officer

Career Academy Network of Public Schools
vliew@mycanops.com