InnoPower 2020 Entrepreneur Spotlight: Francisco Valdiosera

Francisco Valdiosera: Innovation School Fellow, The Mind Trust

Francisco Valdiosera is a first-generation college graduate who has first-hand experience navigating opportunity gaps and structural inequities that keep students from achieving college and career success. He began his career as a social science teacher and AVID program director at his alma mater in Redwood City, California. After moving to Indiana, he served at Indianapolis Public School’s George Washington Community High School, first as an ESL teacher, then as assistant principal. Following administrative roles at Providence Cristo Rey High School and Manual High School, Valdiosera became Director for Indianapolis Public Schools’ ESL department, where he planned and managed ESL instructional programs for 30 schools.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Stanford University, a Master’s degree in Education from Stanford University, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Butler University’s Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals.

Francisco Valdiosera will develop a middle school anchored in an appreciation and examination of Latino culture, with an intentional focus on cultural competency for students from all backgrounds. The school will seek partnerships with Latino community organizations in Indianapolis and will be grounded in the concepts of ganas (perseverance), orgullo (pride), and comunidad (community) to drive student success and family engagement.