Signatures
262
People who signed Lifewise's petition
State Law
Indiana is a
"Shall" state
Active Schools
Lifewise Enrollment
| Location Map | Garrett, IN 46738 DeKalb County |
| Lifewise Local Program Website | Link (opens in a new tab) |
| District Poverty Rate | 13.1% (data source) |
| Non-White Students | 11.3% (data source) |
| NCES Link | NCES District Info |
| Last Updated | December 1, 2025 |
What Can My School District Do?
All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.
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Schools in the District (3)
| School | Grades | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Garrett Middle School | 6th, 7th | |
| J E Ober Elementary School | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th | |
| Garrett High School | ||
State Law and School Board Policy
| School District Policy | |
| Policy Notes | |
| Indiana State Law | Schools are required to allow students to be released for religious programs. This does not mean schools do not have the ability to create policies that protect the school's instruction time. |
| State Law Link | https://iga.in.gov/laws/2025/ic/titles/20#20-33-2-19 |
| Law Notes |
Local Personel
Download All Lifewise Personel List
| Title | Name | Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Ellie Chamberlin | elliechamberlin@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Director | Hollie Best | holliebest@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Director | Tina Wooldridge | tinawooldridge@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Teacher | Becky Finkle | beckyfinkle@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Teacher | Chad Kennedy | chadkennedy@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Teacher | Cheryl Parks | cherylparks@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Teacher | Hannah Gilliland | hannahgilliland@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Teacher | Kierstin Ott | kierstinott@lifewise.org | Yes |
Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
262
December 1, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
263
January 4, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
262
April 11, 2023
Enrollment Data
| School Enrollment | Lifewise Enrollment | % | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 859 | 200 | 23.3% | December 2024 |
Lifewise enrollment numbers come from social media, newsletters, press, and public record requests. Contact RPS with enrollment numbers.
Associated Organizations
| Org Type | Org Name | Address | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submit churches, businesses and non-profits that support Lifewise. | ||||
