Scott Bess is an education entrepreneur who has founded two innovative school models, serves as a consultant and advisor to multiple education organizations and recently launched the Indiana Charter Innovation Center, which advocates for charter schools throughout the state of Indiana. Scott led the creation of Purdue Polytechnic High Schools, designed to increase the pipeline of underrepresented students to Purdue University. Scott and his team redesigned the high school model, creating space for students to have voice and choice in their work while also bringing rigor into the student experience. The schools launched in 2017 and now serves 1,000 students in four locations. With its first three graduating classes, PPHS more than quadrupled the number of underrepresented minority students matriculating to Purdue University from Indianapolis.

Prior to coming to Purdue, Scott was President of Goodwill Education Initiatives (GEI). While at GEI, Scott led the development of the Excel Center, a high school designed for adults who had previously dropped out of high school.  Under Scott’s leadership, GEI grew from a single, small high school to a network of schools serving over 10,000 students across the United States.

Before assuming this role in 2004, he was CIO for Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana and served in similar technology roles in the private sector.  Scott began his career as a teacher and coach and also served four terms as a member of his local school board. Scott received a bachelor’s degree in math education from Purdue and a master’s degree from Marian University. Scott is on the boards of Indiana Youth Institute, the Washington DC Excel Center, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Fullscale, and was recently reappointed to the Indiana State Board of Education. He is also a graduate of the Pahara-Aspen fellowship program. Scott lives in Danville, Indiana with his wife Robin and enjoys hanging out with his four grown children and their spouses and six grandchildren.