Lewis Ferebee
Superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools Indianapolis
I think with any change in education, you always try to keep the focus on student learning and student success and how we best support students and their families. But, ultimately when there's significant change, there comes resistance as it relates to adult interest. For me, that continues to be the most trying aspect of all of my work, is that inserted in this effort to provide better service to our students and their families come comfort and discomfort for employees. Typically, when there's significant change, there's a lot of discomfort associated with that. But, we continue to stay committed to our students and their families. We know how important it is to ensure that our students are really, really prepared to take care of themselves or their families when they leave us and prepared for college and career when they leave us. That continues to be our north star.
But, I wouldn't be honest, and transparent, and frank if I didn't say that that doesn't come with a lot of criticism. There's a lot of discomfort associated with how we're planning to do business. I think the other challenge is, we were operating for decades from a district-directed perspective, and shifting from a school-based, autonomous, school leader-led approach has been difficult at times. Continuing to navigate that and put our principals and school leaders in the best position to manage that well, and build a capacity to do that, is a challenge that we recognize, but a challenge that we welcome."
