White House highlights Annette “Mickey” Lentz as a leader in Catholic education and “Champion of Change” for helping to prepare America

WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, January 25th, Annette “Mickey” Lentz, of Indianapolis, will be one of the nine leaders in Catholic education from across the country who will be honored at the White House as Champions of Change for their service to their communities and our nation.  These extraordinary individuals have made a significant impact on the students, families, and educators through Catholic schools and universities throughout America.  Their innovative ideas and dedication to students and to the wider community, demonstrate the strong commitment to ensuring that every child has an opportunity for greatness.  

“We are thrilled to recognize these extraordinary Champions in Catholic Education at the White House.  Each of these nine leaders embody the values of education, innovation and service through their stellar contributions to Catholic schools and the wider communities they serve,” said Alexia Kelley, Senior Policy Advisor White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. “These Champions, like their colleagues in Catholic education across the country, inspire all of us to build up our communities and our nation’s young people.”

The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

To watch this event live, visit www.whitehouse.gov/live at 1:30 pm ET January 25th.

Annette “Mickey” Lentz has served the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, as a teacher, principal, and administrator in the Office of Catholic Education for 50 years. Since 2009, she has served the Archdiocese of Indianapolis as chancellor.  Mrs. Lentz has also been the executive director of Catholic Education and Faith Formation, Associate Director for Schools, a principal and a teacher for the Archdiocese.  She created The Mother Theodore Catholic Academies – a consortium of schools to strengthen Catholic education in the urban area. The Mother Theodore Catholic Academies are made up of four Indianapolis center-city elementary schools. The Mother Theodore Catholic Academies are open to children of all religions, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds. Our schools remain anchors to the neighborhoods they serve and are committed to closing the achievement gap for low income and minority students. Mrs. Lentz is a tremendously capable leader with a wealth of experience, excellent interpersonal skills and a great passion for serving the people of the Archdiocese with integrity and compassion.