Believe in Youngstown City Schools

I am honored to be given the privilege to work in Youngstown; I love this city. Leaving my hometown of Chicago was difficult for me because I left the support structure and security of the place I called home for 38 years.

My desire to follow my passion to improve the educational outcomes of low-income kids of color is what made me pack my life into the bed of my pickup truck and move here. I moved into a small Cape Cod home on the South Side of Youngstown the night before my first day as the first CEO of the Youngstown City Schools.

chasing a dream

On June 29, 2016, my dream to lead a district was beginning. I started a new job and a new chapter – a day that I will always cherish.

My first few months here I met so many wonderful people within the district, and across the region, some of whom will be friends for a lifetime. I have never felt a deeper sense of pride from a community for their city. I was (and still am) enamored with the people, the culture, the history and the feeling of family that Youngstown and the entire Mahoning Valley embodies.

While my introduction to the Valley was positive, I was also struck by the many people I met who believed that the district could not and will not succeed.

People blamed the school board; others blamed the parents. Some blamed the educators for the failures. But here’s the thing: they are all wrong. It’s not one person’s fault or any group’s fault. Spending time placing blame is counterproductive and will not move our district forward.

This district will succeed, our school board will find harmony, and the educators will finally be given the proper support so they can have a deeper impact on the lives and education of our children. Our students will find that school is an oasis – a safe and loving environment where they can learn and grow. The educators of this district will change the trajectory of thousands of children’s lives and that will have an impact on future generations.

YOUNGSTOWNERS don’t quit

One thing I have learned in the eight months of being here is that there is no “quit” in Youngstown. We may be down, but the spirit of this magnificent city is to rise. That’s why I’m a bit surprised when I hear people give up on the school board or the school district. We need support from the entire community. We need every adult in the region to believe excellence is within every child. We need all adults to believe that we have the best teachers in the area, to believe our leaders have the passion, skill and commitment to remove all obstacles and clear a path for improvement. To believe this district will be among the best urban school districts in this country. To believe in Youngstown. To believe in us.

Krish Mohip is chief executive officer of the Youngstown City School District. The Vindicator has invited Mohip to write a column from time to time on the progress the district is making to improve students’ academic performance.