Curiosity, Leadership & Big Dreams: 5 Questions CICS Prairie Students Asked Arne Duncan
On Wednesday, October 22, CICS Prairie middle schoolers were treated to a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: an ‘ask me anything’ Q&A session with Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, and now Managing Director of Chicago CRED, an organization committed to dramatically reducing the amount of gun violence in Chicago.
Students sat eagerly, hands in the air waiting to ask their questions. Middle schoolers took the opportunity to ask Mr. Duncan about his incredible career, advice for life, lessons learned, and even the Obamas! Their thoughtful questions led to equally insightful and powerful responses.
The conversation covered everything from policy to personal reflection, with students driving the most fascinating discussion points. Here are five key questions our CICS Prairie middle schoolers posed to Mr. Duncan:
Reflecting on Success: "What made you successful, and what inspired you to work in education?"
Big Picture Thinking: "If you could change anything in history…what would you change?"
Community Impact: "How can a student in middle school get involved in making their community safer?"
Looking Ahead: "What do you think technology will look like in the next 10 years?"
The Personal Connection: "How did you meet President Obama?"
“It is an honor to have Mr. Duncan visit our community,” said Dolores Ruiz-Villalvazo, Community School Coordinator at CICS Prairie, whose personal connection with Mr. Duncan made the day’s visit possible. “We appreciate the work that Arne is doing in Roseland, to make a direct impact on the lives and futures of our students and their families. The opportunity to spend time with and learn from such a respected leader in Education was a real honor for the CICS Prairie students.”
Thank you to Mr. Arne Duncan for taking the time to connect with our CICS Prairie middle schoolers—the energy and inspiration in the room were unmistakable, leaving our students with tangible lessons about leadership, community service, and setting big goals. We are incredibly grateful to Ms. Dolores for bringing this unique, inspiring opportunity to life and for showing our students that possibility is endless!
