Growing the Next Generation of Leaders at ICS
My journey at ICS didn’t start as the Executive Director. I first worked in Human Resources, focused on people, culture, and supporting others in their work. But along the way, there were individuals who saw leadership in me before I fully recognized it in myself. They took the time to invest in me, to encourage me, and to create opportunities where I could grow. Looking back, I can see how pivotal that investment was—not just for my career, but for my confidence and sense of purpose.
Now, I have the privilege of being part of a community that does the same for our students.
Every day, I witness leadership in our classrooms and hallways. It shows up in the student who helps a classmate feel included, the one who speaks up with courage, or the one who quietly takes responsibility and follows through. These are not just glimpses of who they might become someday. They are reflections of who they already are. And that is why it matters that we invest in them now.
That’s the heart behind our new Young Leaders Academy.
Designed for students in grades 3 through 5, the International Community School Young Leaders Academy is an after-school program created to help students grow in key leadership skills like self-awareness, self-control, communication, collaboration, decision-making, and confidence.
What makes this program special is how practical and grounded it is. Students aren’t just learning abstract ideas. They’re practicing real skills like planning and hosting meetings, engaging in diplomacy, and delivering group presentations. Leadership is taught in a way that connects directly to their daily lives at school and in their community.
The program was started and is led by our Director of Human Resources, Naima Abdur-Rashid, whose vision has been instrumental in bringing it to life. As she shared, “My hope is that students leave the ICS Young Leaders Academy understanding that their voices matter and that leadership can take many forms, including service in local government.”
A key part of that vision is exposure and helping students see and learn from leaders who are actively shaping their communities.
This month, our students had the opportunity to hear from Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, who visited ICS and met with members of our Young Leaders Academy, Beta Club, and Student Council. She offered a window into how local government works and shared her own leadership journey, helping students understand how decisions are made and how leaders serve their communities at every level.
What stood out most was how she connected big ideas to real impact. From her work in animal welfare to her efforts to expand access to green spaces, protect local ecosystems, and support sustainable environments, she helped students see that leadership can be both practical and deeply purposeful.
Her visit left a lasting impression. As Naima reflected, “Meeting Commissioner Michelle Long Spears gave students valuable exposure to local politics while also allowing them to see a strong female leader serving her community with purpose and vision.”
Moments like this matter. They expand our students’ understanding of what leadership can look like and who can step into those roles. They help students begin to imagine themselves not just as participants in their communities, but as contributors and change-makers.
For me, this is what investing in young leaders is all about. It is about recognizing potential early, creating meaningful opportunities for growth, and surrounding students with people who will challenge and inspire them. It is about helping them see that their voices matter right now—not just in the future.
I am grateful for the leaders who invested in me along the way. And I am equally grateful that, through programs like the Young Leaders Academy, we have the opportunity to do the same for our students.
Because the leaders we are hoping for tomorrow are already sitting in our classrooms today
Fran Carroll, ICS Executive Director, brings to ICS over 15 years of leadership and management experience in the for-profit and non-profit arena. For the last 3 years, Fran has served as the HR Manager, Interim Business Manager and most recently Director of Operations & Finance at ICS. In her spare time, when not spending time with her family, you can find Fran involved in the entrepreneurship arena in the Metro Atlanta area. She graduated from the Start:ME Southside Cohort in 2018 through Emory’s Goizuetta Business School. She loves entrepreneurship! In the past 3 years she has brought a lot of the entrepreneurial spirit to ICS. In 2020 she was listed as one of 11 parents who are making a difference!