Kara H. Ahmed

Dr. Kara H. Ahmed leads New York City Public Schools’ early childhood education system, inclusive of all financial, operational, and programmatic aspects, with a capacity to serve ~140,000 children birth to age 5. Dr. Ahmed was Principal of the Living for the Young Family Through Education (LYFE) program for 14 years, which she transformed into a nationally recognized early childhood education program that now models a three-generation strategy supporting student parents, their children, and their families. Dr. Ahmed began her career as an educator, later serving as the Early Childhood Supervisor for New Brunswick Public Schools, where she supported the statewide implementation of preschool in New Jersey. She has also taught graduate courses at Teachers College, Columbia University.