Meet our Head of School
Shy-Quon Ely II
A visionary leader in education, Shy-Quon Ely II brings a diverse background to his role as Founder and Chancellor of Genius School, Inc., a newly state accredited private school network. Before entering the field of education, Shy-Quon dedicated himself to serving his community through volunteer work and tutoring, instilling a passion for giving back to the youth. His journey led him to become the Head Black Belt Instructor at a prestigious martial arts college, while simultaneously serving as a behavior specialist and remedial tutor within the Indianapolis Public Schools. These unique experiences led him to develop an enrichment program that combined martial arts philosophy with academic reinforcement to inspire creativity, self-discipline, and academic progress.
Transitioning to traditional education, Shy-Quon applied his innovative methods in the classroom, leading his students to achieve high levels of success in a top-performing charter network in Indiana. His leadership skills and exceptional focus on school culture and student well-being propelled him to a co-principalship where he oversaw consecutive years of high achievements atop the mayor’s office portfolio of elementary schools.
Eager to make a lasting impact on the critical areas and schools in urban Indianapolis, Shy-Quon co-founded an Innovation Charter School, where he served as Head of School and successfully began the turnaround of one of the most chronically underperforming schools in Indiana. His dedication and expertise led to significant improvements in academic growth, enrichment, and overall school culture. Continuing his mission to provide high-quality education to all students, Shy-Quon established The Genius School Indy, a public elementary school within inner city Indianapolis that quickly rose to the top quartile of mayor-sponsored schools.
As a researcher, ordained minister, and community ambassador, Shy-Quon is a sought-after public speaker in the areas of educational leadership, brain-based teaching and learning, mental and emotional well-being, meditation, and peak performance. He is a certified consultant for the Heartmath Institute, Neurochange Solutions, and is also a certified John Maxwell life coach. With a bachelor’s degree in Health Science, an MBA, and a Building Level Administrative education license, Shy-Quon is on the brink of completing his doctorate in educational leadership. His commitment to inspiring intellectual growth, character & spiritual development, and peak performance make him an invaluable asset to our school community.
GSI Senior Leadership
Board of directors
Dr. Alicia C. Ramsey
Board Chair
Mrs. Alicia C. Ramsey, born Alicia Beidleman, is a native of Elyria, Ohio. She is the oldest of Gary and Beverly Beidleman’s four children. Mrs. Ramsey graduated from Elyria West High School, then attended the University of Akron where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education in 1993. After moving to Indianapolis in 1995 to marry her current husband of twenty-two years, she furthered her education at Indiana University where she received her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership in 2005. In 2015, Mrs. Ramsey took classes at Ivy Tech Community College in Early Childhood Education to serve as the director for Rhema Childcare and Preschool Ministry.
Mrs. Ramsey spent fourteen years working in Perry Township Schools. She maximized her tenure in Perry Township as the principal of Clinton Young Elementary School and Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy. Prior to those positions, she was an Assistant Principal and Dean of Students at Southport Middle School. In 2002, Mrs. Ramsey was the first African-American female to be elected to the school board in Pike Township for a four-year term. In June of 2009, she decided to make a life change for her family and she resigned from her position as Principal of Clinton Young Elementary School. Mrs. Ramsey has taken her professional experience and is currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at New Life Worship Center Church in Indianapolis, IN.
Mrs. Ramsey is the founder of “Women of Excellence” a non-profit ministry that empowers women through self-help seminars, events, and workshops. She participates on many women discussion panels, does motivational speaking, and is a strong advocate for families of special needs children.
Mrs. Ramsey was appointed to the Governor’s Council for People with Developmental Disabilities in 2014. Their youngest son Jeremiah David was born in 2001 with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum a serious brain defect which causes Epilepsy, Mild Cerebral Palsy, and Intellectual Disabilities. Mrs. Ramsey has taken her passion for advocacy and in 2017 founded AR Consulting a business that conducts educational workshops, presents motivational workshops, along with giving educational counsel and support to ensure the best quality of life for special needs children.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading and spending quality time with her husband John F. Ramsey Sr, their two sons, John, Jr. twenty, Jeremiah David sixteen and their baby girl Judah Maree who is seven years old.
Delano Robinson
Board Member
Delano Robinson is a senior technology leader and community activist with aspirations of creating pathways to success for those in need. He is a seasoned pharma-tech professional with more than ten years of experience.
Delano lives by a mantra which he coined to help him focus his life efforts, “the lifted, uplift!”
Angela Dabney
Board Member
After nearly two decades as a Fundraising Executive at United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI), Angela Dabney retired from the organization but not from her passion for this community. She founded Philanthropy Resources LLC to provide fundraising capacity-building for nonprofit organizations seeking to grow their mission through fundraising and community engagement. Areas of focus are training, coaching, building culture and fundraising strategy planning. Angela has long experience and success leading fundraising growth and change as demonstrated by the transformation in fundraising under her leadership at UWCI, where she built strategies to raise more than $750 Million during her tenure there. She was responsible for cultivating United Way of Central Indiana’s first and second $10 Million gifts from individual donors. In addition to serving as board chair for Ignite Achievement Academy, her community involvement includes, participating in a Habitat for Humanity Build, serving on the Steering Committee for the Race and Cultural Relations Network, the WRTV Advisory Committee and advocating for equity and inclusion wherever possible. Community service and philanthropy are her passions. Angela and is married to her high school sweetheart, Michael and they have two grown daughters.
Ramon Morrison
Board Member
Ramon is one of the founding partners of METICULOUS,
overseeing global business development, client strategy,
and market engagement, as well as the firm’s marketing
strategies. Ramon leads all business development efforts
marketing full service architectural, urban design, urban
planning and interior design services to discerning clients
in all market segments, ranging from Pre-K-12 & Higher
Ed, Multi-family housing, Municipal/ Civic, Healthcare,
and Recreation/Hospitality markets.
Ramon brings a wealth of practical corporate and
entrepreneurial resource knowledge, as well as a
proven record of collaborating with clients to help
bring complex development projects from concept to
fruition. Ramon is adept in strategic community and
stakeholder engagement and consults with a diverse
mix of clients and non-profit organizations on all aspects
of development and expansion. Ramon is Vice Board
Chairman of LISC Indianapolis (Local Initiative Support
Corporation), leveraging over $20 million of annual
strategic investments that spur community and economic
development in diverse neighborhoods in Indianapolis
and regional Indiana markets. As board member for
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), Ramon helps champion
strategic investments to ensure sustainable engagement,
environmental equity, and place making in targeted
communities of the city. He is a Life Member of Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., past alumni president, and
chairman of Indiana Guide Right Foundation, empowering
at-risk youth through scholarship, life skills mentoring and
social impact projects.
Kellee Weston
Board Member
Kellee Weston is a dedicated Child Care Provider with a strong foundation in finance and over 25 years of valuable experience in business management and entrepreneurship. She holds a Bachelor is degree in Finance from Indiana University Bloomington, bringing a unique blend of financial acumen and passion for early childhood education to her current roles.
With a solid academic background, Kellee has seamlessly transitioned her skills into the realm of Early Childhood Education, where her commitment to excellence and nurturing stands out. Over the course of her extensive career, she has successfully managed various business ventures, showcasing her resilience and strategic thinking.
Kellee Weston is journey exemplifies a seamless blend of financial expertise, entrepreneurial prowess, a genuine passion for early childhood education, community development, philanthropy, and spiritual leadership—a combination that sets her apart in her diverse
and impactful roles.
Autumn Smith
Board Member
Autumn Smith is an effective situational leader with fifteen years of experience teaching, training, and developing natural and spiritual gifts of children, youth, and adults. She with her husband, Derek Smith, are the founders of Words of Wisdom Words of Power LLC (WOWWOP), a multiproduct life-affirming company based in Indianapolis. Autumn currently works in the DEI space for a fortune 300 company and volunteers as a Big Sister for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Corporation. She loves the arts and has been known to perform in plays locally and around the country. Her singing voice has given her the opportunity to share the stage with many national and international gospel
artists.
Autumn believes in education for all ages. She has obtained her Associates Degree and is currently in a progressive AS to MSM degree program at Indiana Wesleyan
University.
Autumn is esteemed by her peers as a devoted wife, mother of 3 amazing children, faithful minister, and for having a high emotional intelligence and a genuine love for people.
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