Indy's Black Leaders

Indy’s Black Leaders

By Terry L. Watson

Information Obtained from Indiana Public Schools

Dr. Aleesia Johnson

Superintendent - Indianapolis Public Schools

Dr. Aleesia Johnson serves as superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), the largest district in Indiana serving more than 30,000 students. Named superintendent in 2019, Dr. Johnson has entered her second decade of service as an educator, achieving success as a teacher, school leader and administrator in both public charter and traditional district schools. She is the first Black woman to serve as superintendent in Indianapolis Public Schools.

A native of Evansville, Indiana, Johnson comes from a family of educators, including her mother, who is an elementary school principal; her grandfather, who was one of few African American administrators in the Evansville area during the 1970s and 80s; and her grandmother, who worked as a high school classroom assistant. Growing up in her mother’s middle school classroom, Dr. Johnson began her career as a 6th-grade Science and Social Studies teacher.

Dr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and African American Studies from Agnes Scott College, a Master of Social Work in Children and Youth and Community Organizing from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Secondary Education and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, both from Oakland City University.

Dr. Johnson believes deeply in service not only to the students and families of IPS but also to the broader Indianapolis community. She demonstrates this belief through her membership on several local organizational boards, including The Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis 500 Festival, the IUPUI Board of Advisors, and the Board of Trustees for Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis Campus. She serves on the advisory board at Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research and is also a member of the Aspen Superintendents Network as well as Chiefs For Change, a national advocacy organization of state and district education leaders. Dr. Johnson is privileged to also be an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Johnson and her husband, Andre, are the proud parents of an adult daughter, Deja, and three school-aged children, Frederick, Naomi, and Grace, who are also IPS students.

Maggie A. Lewis

Executive Director - Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis

Information and Photos obtained from Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis

Indiana State University alum Maggie A. Lewis earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Community Health Education and Masters Degree in Public Administration after graduating from Columbus East High School. Since graduating from Indiana State, she has solely dedicated her career towards serving the public and those in need. She served as president of the Indianapolis City-County Council for six years and is the first woman in Council history to hold this position. Recently, Lewis made history again, becoming the first woman elected to serve as majority leader of the Council.

When she’s not serving the Indianapolis community, Lewis spends her time serving as chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis (BGCI). Prior to joining BCGI she supported the quality assurance and community engagement efforts of Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, and she has worked for a variety of non-profit agencies where she led all fund-raising efforts and developed collaborative partnerships to expand the organizations’ missions and visions.

Her organizational involvement includes Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Circle City Chapter of the Links., and she is a member of the Mount Paran Church.

She is married to Indiana State University alum, Leroy Lewis, III. They are the proud parents of Leroy Lewis, IV.

Derrin Slack

CEO - ProAct Indy

Information Obtained from ProAct Indy

Derrin Slack is the Founder and CEO of Know More LLC and Founder of ProAct Indy. With over 10 years of experience in training facilitation, nonprofit management, and leadership, Derrin is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Community Impact Professional (CIP), Licensed Facilitator of The Arbinger Institute, Authorized Provider of the EverythingDiSC and Five Behaviors leadership tools, and a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assessment. He has helped transform the cultures and mindsets of many organizations and communities through training, coaching, mentoring, and a suite of implementation tools and program experiences, proactively meeting people where they are to enable youth, organizations, and their people to achieve results that are only possible with an outward mindset. He calls this Human-Centered Community Service™.

Derrin’s vision is to stand in the gap for vulnerable youth and underserved communities through human-centered social good. He is responsible for representing and upholding the interests of donors, volunteers, youth participants, and other stakeholders, as well as developing and executing the strategic direction and operational plans of the organization. Derrin is also a podcast host, speaker, and thought leader who shares his insights and stories on social impact, diversity, and leadership.