Ahmed Young
Director, Indianapolis Mayor's Office of Education Innovation Indianapolis
Financial resources, political courage and a slew of other issues are preventing other cities from continuing to step outside of the box and create new ways to educate our students. We need to bring more partners together and have difficult conversations. It takes a certain level of political courage and just nuance to get that done. The parties here in the city of Indianapolis have been doing that for an extended period of time. I don't see that stopping.
We became somewhat complacent over the last five years or so. I don't think we were pushing the envelope like we should have and we're going to continue to push the envelope and make sure that when new applicants come in they know that we have high standards but we also want creative leaders that are really trying to not only impact academic outcomes for our students, but enrich their lives as a whole.
I'm one of six boys and two girls. One of the things my mother taught you growing up was you have to serve other people even on the days in which you are most celebrated. So on our birthdays when I was younger, she made sure that we went out and did something for somebody else. So, when I was a kid I'd walk down the street to Miss Piersall's house, knock on Miss Piersall's door and say, "Miss Piersall, is there something I can do for you?" I didn't know this until after the fact, as an adult but my mother would prep Miss Piersall and say, "Have this ready for Ahmed." So I'd go down to Miss Piersall's house in the middle of November, knock on her door and either rake the leaves, take out some trash, clean the bathroom, sweep her hallways. Do something. That was the impetus to my dedication to service. Making sure that on the days when you are most celebrated on your birthday, that you're still doing something for somebody else. It isn't all about how I can line my pockets or how I can do this but how can you ultimately make your community, your family and others better?
