Pat Hackett talks with local educators about the importance of public education in realizing the American dream

Kareemah Fowler joined the South Bend Community School Corporation as Chief Financial Officer in September of 2019. Kareemah is responsible for advising the superintendent in business and financial operations and providing long-and short-range financial projections and planning, working with administrative staff supervising and coordinating business activities, and preparing reports and public presentations for the superintendent.

In 2015, Kareemah, IAMC, CMC was elected South Bend’s 22nd City Clerk. By receiving the most 2015 general election votes of all other candidates on the ballot, Kareemah became the first minority elected to a full time executive office in St. Joseph County. Kareemah is responsible for a myriad of activities, but is primarily responsible for supporting the City’s goal of open and transparent government. One of the first things she did to ensure this was establish the ‘Clerk’s Corner Column’ in the monthly water bill which updates residents on seasonal information of interest. As City Clerk, Kareemah maintains an accurate record of all public meetings and proceedings, making sure all public proceedings are in accordance with the Indiana Open Door Law. Subsequently, she is also the steward of the City Municipal Code, the City Seal, and the City Charter. The Office of the Clerk also manages the overall operation of the City’s Ordinance Violation’s Bureau. Most recently, Kareemah established the first annual Parking Ticket Amnesty Day which allows individuals with outstanding parking tickets to come pay the tickets without late fees.

Kareemah is a proud graduate of South Bend’s Riley High School. She received her Bachelor’s (B.A.Sc.) degree in Business Administration with a minor in Public Service from Bethel College. At the age of 25, Kareemah owned and managed a successful retail start-up on the City’s Near Northwest side. With over 18 years of experience in municipal government, she is both a certified member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerk-Treasurers as well as the Municipal League of Clerks and Treasurers. Kareemah is also a certified State of Indiana Level-2 Assessor/Appraiser. Before her election to become City Clerk, Kareemah successfully performed every function within the Clerk’s Office including, Council Secretary, Ordinance Violations Clerk and Chief Deputy City Clerk. As Ordinance Clerk, she orchestrated the transitioning to a more efficient electronic ticketing system. While serving as Chief Deputy Clerk. she worked collaboratively with the County to create an inter-local government agreement to improve the out-of-date communications system while simultaneously making all Common Council public meetings video recorded, live-streamed and cached as part of public record.

Kareemah has also served 10 years in the County Assessor’s Office. There, she worked as a Compliance Officer and Office Manager during the 2008 tumultuous economic decline. During that time, she managed a three-fold increase in tax appeals while personally aiding local nonprofits and churches in navigating the appeals process. While being Compliance Officer, she was the first in the County to utilize the Indiana Gateway System and consulted to the Indiana Bar Association on the Federal Sales Disclosure reform. She also worked directly with the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) and was instrumental in managing over $8,000,000,000 in assessment data. Kareemah also facilitated new processes mandated by Governor Mitch Daniels including a complete system overhaul. Knowing she and her team were responsible for helping thousands of Hoosiers keep their homes and businesses, Kareemah is especially proud of her tenure and service in the Assessor’s Office.

Kareemah is a recent graduate of the prestigious Emerging Leaders Project, an Indiana Election delegate and a graduate of the Michiana Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program Class XLI. She serves on various boards and organizations including being a proud Charter Member of 100 Black Women, a Founding Member of the Minority Business Entrepreneurs/Women’s Business Entrepreneurs Diversity and Inclusion Board, the Impact Committee at Mount Carmel, the St. Margaret’s House Board, the South Bend Civic Theater Board, the SBCSC IT Governance Committee and the City of South Bend Wellness and Sustainability Committee.

Kareemah fervently enjoys serving the South Bend Community and bridging the gap between people and government. Kareemah also keeps busy as a mother of two extremely active children- Kashlin and Franco.

A product of Elkhart Community Schools, Ashley followed her parent’s legacy and attended DePauw University for her undergrad education and excelled as an English Literature scholar and avid volunteer. After graduating from DePauw with honors, Ashley spent 2 years working as an event planner in Chicago before returning to school to earn her first Masters degree in Education. Ashley married her college sweetheart, Wes Molyneaux in 2006.

Ashley earned her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University Chicago and spent 8 years serving as a high school teacher and administrator in Chicago-area schools. Through her professional experience, she has demonstrated her capacity as a leader and has collaborated to build a student-centered culture of learning. These myriad positions coupled with her M.Ed. course work and 2nd Masters Degree from National Louis University in Administrative Leadership helped Ashley to assemble a valuable tool-box of instructional, supervisory and leadership experience.

Ashley’s experience in education led her to take a closer look at what was happening in her hometown school district, and she realized she could be of help! Along with her sister, Hayley Boling, Ashley co-founded The Elkhart Education Foundation to help fill the budgetary gaps that prevent All students from getting the extraordinary educational experience they deserve. Ashley was voted by the board of directors to be the first full-time employee of the foundation and began her job as the Executive Director of EEF in August of 2015. After commuting from Chicago for her first year of work with the Education Foundation, Ashley, her husband Wes, and their 3 children (Ryan 9, Lyla 7, and Noah 3) moved home to Elkhart to focus their efforts on improving the schools full time.

Ashley’s leadership at the Elkhart Education Foundation led the new organization to have significant impact in a very short time. Wherever there was a gap that needed to be filled, Ashley and the EEF team identified the issue, sold the vision, raised the funds and implemented the programming to great success.

Ashley was most recently a democratic candidate for mayor in the city of Elkhart. Ashley’s work in the Elkhart community was recognized as a Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Award Winner. She was voted an “Angel Among Us” by the Goshen News and, under her leadership, the Elkhart Education Foundation was named the #1 Charity in Elkhart County in 2018.

Ruth Warren began her career teaching mathematics at John Adams High
School after graduating with a B.A. in Mathematics from Indiana University
Bloomington. During that time, Warren attained an M.S. in Secondary Education,
also from IUB.

As Director of Title I, she led successful school improvement efforts at several elementary schools, focusing primarily on literacy and shared governance.

After earning her Ed.D in Educational Leadership at Indiana University Bloomington, she was appointed principal at Eggleston Elementary. There, she continued to lead school wide reform efforts. In 2002, Warren became principal of Clay High School, and retired from that position in 2010. While at Clay, her accomplishments were initiating Freshman Academy, Smaller Learning Communities, Peer Mentors and READ 180. Clay High School was the first school to partner with Robinson Learning Center in implementing Restorative Justice. She also led groups of students on educational tours to China.

Upon her retirement, Warren spent two years teaching English in Hangzhou, China. Interested in other cultures and languages, she has a beginning level proficiency in German and Chinese. Other retirement activities have been volunteering at Indiana Legal Services, John Adams High School, and the St. Joseph County Public Library.

Daughters Emily, Naomi and Esther attended Perley, Jefferson, and Edison,
graduating from John Adams High School. Warren and her husband, Jesse
travel extensively and spend time with their six grandchildren.