Former New Palestine educator Jacob Apollos has been hired as the new director of education for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
INDIANAPOLIS — An educator with ties to Hancock County is the new director of education for the The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum . Officials there announced the hiring of Jacob Apollos, effective June 24.
Apollos will provide creative and strategic leadership for all aspects of educational programming, including directing a new STEAM classroom, for the re-imagined Museum, opening spring 2025 officials said in a release.
With more than 15 years of classroom and educational leadership experience, Apollos comes to the Museum from MSD Decatur Township, where he was Principal at the Decatur High Ability Academy and the District’s High Ability Coordinator.
Prior to that Apollos served for 10 years as Plainfield Community Schools’ IDEALab/STEM Facilitator and a science teacher, where he was responsible for training, coordinating project-based learning plans with teachers, and facilitating professional development for design-based thinking in STEM.
Apollos also has classroom teaching experience at the middle and high school levels, working at Benjamin Rush Middle School in Rush County Schools and at Doe Creek Middle School (New Palestine Junior High) and New Palestine High School, both are part of the New Palestine Community Schools district. Apollos earned his undergraduate degree from Indiana State University and his master’s degree from Ball State University.
“I am very excited to be part of this unique opportunity at the IMS Museum and cannot wait to see what we are able to accomplish as part of such an amazing and dedicated team,” Apollos said in the release. “I have always been passionate about providing learners with applicable learning experiences while also giving them opportunities to practice authentic problem-solving skills. This is what will make learners of all ages ready for a future with problems, careers, and changes that we cannot predict today.”
Apollos went on to say he’s exited to work at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway due to the excitement the Indy 500 creates.
“I am confident that, through the collaborative practices of our team, we can build authentic educational opportunities that will spark a learner’s passion while exposing them to potential career opportunities in STEAM and the motorsports industry,” Apollos said.
Officials with the IMS are just as excited to have Apollos on board.
“Creating an environment that inspires and engages young people in science, technology, art and math has always been a cornerstone of our plan for the re-imagining of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, and we are grateful to The Lilly Endowment for helping us bring a robust STEAM education initiative to Indiana students of all ages and from all backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented populations,” said IMS Museum President Joe Hale. “We are excited about the expertise Jake brings to the Museum’s STEAM classroom, educational programming and partnerships, all of which will make the science behind the Indianapolis Motor Speedway come to life for students.”
While the Museum remains closed for renovations, Apollos will direct the setup of the new STEAM classroom, purchase classroom equipment and provide feedback as new exhibits are developed. Once the Museum is fully opened, he will work with outside consultants to design K-12 educational programming that addresses key portions of the state’s STEAM curriculum requirements; foster relationships and partnerships with schools, nonprofit educational organizations, community groups and businesses; serve as the Museum’s liaison with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the 500 Festival for collaborative educational programming.
“Education has always been a foundational component of our mission, exhibits and guest experiences,” said IMS Museum Vice President of Curation and Education Jason Vansickle. “Jake’s classroom and leadership experience in STEM will help us identify and implement additional opportunities that infuse even more educational elements into our new exhibits while also creating hands-on programs for students that encourage them to consider careers in science and technology.”
