Alumni Spotlight: Carrie Gaffney Discusses How the District Shaped Her Life
Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) takes pride in our graduates' diverse, inspiring journeys. We’ve created the IPS Alumni Spotlight to celebrate our former students and highlight their experiences, achievements, and personal interests. We believe every graduate has a unique path, and we can all learn from their journeys.
Recently, IPS asked Carrie Gaffney, a 1994 Thomas Carr Howe High School graduate, about the impact the district had on her life.
After graduating from high school, she earned a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education from Indiana University, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Murray State University.
She has also built an impressive career contributing to education initiatives at both the local and national levels. Locally, she helped facilitate the Hoosier Writing Project, an Indiana site of the National Writing Project, and served as a consultant for The Children's Museum of Indianapolis' Power of Children exhibits. Nationally, she served two terms on the board of Learning for Justice, helping advance educational equity and excellence for students and educators across the country.
Today, Carrie serves as the district's Advanced Academics Coordinator, enabling her to partner with each high school to implement and strengthen the district's Early College initiatives. She also plays a key role in developing the Arsenal Technical High School STEM Fellowship, an innovative program designed to expand leadership development, real-world learning experiences, and career opportunities for students pursuing STEM pathways.
How did your experiences at IPS shape your educational foundation and career aspirations?
I am forever grateful for my foundations as a student in IPS. As early as first grade, my teachers saw my potential as a writer and thinker. But more than that, I have realized that even in elementary school, my teachers were able to build communities where children could authentically connect regardless of geography. As an adult, I realize what a rare gift I received by participating in this intentional space-building.
Can you share memorable moments or teachers who had a significant impact on your time at IPS?
Oh gosh. It's honestly too many to name. I'll start with Mrs. Davis in second grade at 106 (who actually recognized me when I returned to the building as an after-school care worker during college). Ms. Roach at Arlington Woods 99, who let me write plays when I was done with work early. Ms. Willett and Ms King, also at Arlington Woods, who encouraged us to dig in the atrium garden. Mrs. Embry, who was my middle school algebra teacher at Forest Manor, and who was the first person ever to tell me that getting a D might be a good thing because it meant I was growing. Ms. Bancroft and Mr. Stwerart at Howe, who let me be their student assistant my senior year. But mostly, Ms. Friedly, my senior English teacher; Mr. Ireland, my senior calculus teacher, and Mr. Lewis, my HS choir director. Those three adults changed my life in 1000 ways. They were the adults who believed in me when I did not believe in myself. They were with me for every failure and success when I went to college.
How has your education at IPS influenced your personal and professional development since graduating?
As a high school senior, my teacher Ms. Friedly suggested I should be a teacher. At the time I laughed and said, "Teachers are the most stressed people on the planet. No thanks." But as I got into the real world, I began to realize how unique my educational experience was. Moreover, as I got older, I realized how much other people appreciated my experiences in IPS.
What specific skills or knowledge gained at IPS have proven most valuable in your current life or career?
First, let your curiosity and heart lead you. IPS taught me that to be successful is to ask questions, listen, and move forward in a way that serves everyone. Second, if we say we want to live in a diverse world, we must lean into discomfort and empathy in equal parts. Each pain point I experienced as a student and even now as a leader is an opportunity for me to learn more about the world outside of me. My experiences are limited, and it's very cool that I am in a city and school district where we can learn from each other.
In what ways have you stayed connected with the IPS community, and what advice would you offer current IPS students for a successful future?
I stayed in my neighborhood, raised my children in IPS, and continue to work here. My advice is to be proud of being a student in IPS, when you're here and when you leave. Whenever I meet people in the city, they are so interested in my experiences as an IPS student.
What challenges did you face during your time at IPS, and how did overcoming them contribute to your personal growth?
IPS has always been subject to the whimsy of outside forces. I changed schools multiple times based on new initiatives or district mapping. I had to decide between a magnet program several miles away and my home school when I entered 9th grade. All these shifts taught me time and time again that I am not limited by what someone outside tells me I should be. Every school I attended gave me a stellar education, and this has informed the work of my life.
Have you been involved in any initiatives or projects aimed at improving education or opportunities for current IPS students? If so, could you share your experiences and insights from those efforts?
I was proud to serve as the IB Middle Years Coordinator for the CFI schools, which were the first authorized IB Middle Years Programs in the state of Indiana. Being part of that work from the ground up was a very rewarding experience. It was amazing to introduce people outside of Indiana to our students, to their teachers, and to the rich curriculum in IPS. Every person who visited our classrooms was so impressed with our students.