Indiana Agriculture and Technology School Fort Wayne Set to Open in August 2025
By La’Crystele Brown
FWIS Contributing Writer
Fort Wayne will soon welcome Indiana Agriculture & Technology School Fort Wayne, a tuition-free charter school focused on hands-on learning, career readiness, and academic excellence. The school will be located inside Come As You Are Community Church, which is overseen by Pastor Anthony Payton, and located at 7910 S. Anthony Blvd. It is set to open its doors on August 7, 2025, and will follow the Fort Wayne Community Schools calendar to make scheduling easier for families.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Education Consultants Anita Dortch and Deborah Watson, two dedicated professionals helping bring this school to life. Their passion for education and commitment to providing students with real world skills was clear from the moment we started talking.
Indiana Agriculture & Technology School Fort Wayne will be the fifth campus location, joining existing campuses in, Evansville, IN at the University of Southern Indiana, Greencastle, IN, Trafalgar, IN, and Rensselaer, IN. This expansion into Fort Wayne provides more students with access to agriculture and technology-focused education while maintaining the school’s commitment to hands-on learning and career training.
Indiana Agriculture & Technology School Fort Wayne will use a blended learning model, combining in-person instruction with online coursework through the Skyward Student Management System and Edgenuity online software program. Each student will receive a Chromebook, and while much of the curriculum is online, licensed teachers will be in the classroom to provide instruction and support. To further ensure every student gets the help they need, the school is hiring learning advocates who are staff members dedicated to providing one on one academic support, tutoring, and mentoring. Watson explained, “We want to make sure students don’t fall through the cracks. If a student is struggling, we’ll have someone there to guide them.”
For its first year, each grade level, which will be 7th-9th, will have 20 students per class, with a total expected enrollment of 60 students. The school plans to grow each year, eventually serving students through 12th grade.
One of the most exciting aspects of IATS Fort Wayne is its career-focused curriculum. Students will have the chance to earn certifications in robotics, coding, welding, media technology, CDL (commercial driver’s license), OSHA safety, and drone aviation. A licensed Drone Instructor and Pilot have expressed interest in working with students, opening the door to hands on learning in aviation and drone technology. “A lot of kids don’t even know these careers exist,” Dortch said. “We want to expose them to opportunities they might not have considered.”
A major focus of the school is agriculture education, blending traditional farming knowledge with modern technology. The school has partnerships with Huntington University, Ivy Tech, and Parkview Health, offering students access to greenhouses, live animal care, and hands on agriculture programs. A greenhouse is planned for construction on campus, where students will learn about sustainable farming, plant science, and food production. Additionally, local farms and agricultural businesses have expressed interest in working with students, offering field trips and hands on learning experiences. IATS Fort Wayne is also forming partnerships with organizations like the Allen County Public Library, Boys & Girls Club, and the YMCA. Students will have access to a new podcast studio, a 3D printing lab, and digital media tools at the library. The s hook is also working on being able to give each student a YMCA membership, allowing them to participate in physical education during and after school.
Beyond the classroom, students will gain real world experience through college visits, career and job fairs, and employability skills development. “We’re not just preparing students to graduate,” Watson explained. “We’re preparing them for life beyond high school, whether that means college, trade school, or going straight into a career.” IATS Fort Wayne is officially registered with the Indiana Department of Education and, as a public charter school, is required to provide information about its performance, finances, and operations to the public.
IATS Fort Wayne is committed to providing nutritious meals for students. Breakfast and lunch will be provided and based on the National School Lunch Program, meaning it will follow federal nutrition guidelines to ensure students receive well balanced meals. Smile More, a Black Owned food service business in Fort Wayne, will provide the meals, offering students healthy and locally sourced food options. “We want to make sure students have access to nutritious meals that support their learning and well being,” Dortch said. “We’re excited to work with Smile More to provide quality meals that align with our school’s focus on agriculture and health.”
Mission:
Indiana Agriculture & Technology School will focus on a creative and innovative agriculture/agribusiness focused high school education. The school will promote intellectual and personal development through professionally focused and formative learning opportunities, preparing students to succeed, lead, and serve. The school will provide student-centered services in a professional and compassionate manner, utilizing highly trained and committed staff to individualize educational strategies that will empower each student to succeed.
Vision:
Indiana Agriculture & Technology School will strive to be recognized as a model of academic excellence, characterized as engaged, dynamic, growing, and adding value to the lives of its students, staff, and community. The school also aims to become a laboratory for the development of best practices in every aspect of online education.
Enrollment is now open, and families can begin the first step of enrollment and access the school’s social media accounts at linktr.ee/iatsfw. For direct inquiries, families can email the school at enrollment@indiana.ag. The Student/Parent Handbook and Course Catalog can be accessed on the Indiana Agriculture & Technology School website at https://indiana.ag.
As the school prepares to open its doors in August 2025, Dortch and Watson are eager to see the impact it will have. “We’re offering something special here,” Watson said. “This school is about giving students opportunities they never thought possible.”