Get to Know Ismahaan Aden, Facilitator of Leadership, Organizational, and Cultural Development

May 4th, 2026

The HCPSS Get To Know series features school system leaders who answer a mix of personal and professional questions in an effort to let employees, students and families get to know them better.

Why did you choose to work in education?

My journey into education wasn’t linear. During a senior year high school internship, I discovered my love for teaching, though I was still interested in going to school for nursing. I started college as a pre-nursing major but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit and switched to education in my second semester. I’m grateful I had time early in college to figure out my path and make a shift that aligned with my passion. My passion for learning and education is definitely rooted in my upbringing. My wonderful parents instilled in me the importance of education from an early age, and I’m forever grateful for the sacrifices they made to ensure my siblings and I had access to meaningful opportunities. I was also influenced by my elementary school teachers, particularly those I had in 3rd through 5th grade – Ms. Armiger, Ms. Neal, and Ms. Harris. They shaped my love for learning and inspired me to become an elementary teacher!

What is your role within HCPSS?

I’m a Facilitator in the Office of Leadership, Organizational, and Cultural Development. In this role, I develop and facilitate professional learning while providing customized support to schools and offices. I support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Liaisons (DEILs) at the elementary level with school-based equity efforts and lead professional learning experiences connected to leadership development for aspiring elementary leaders, foundational equity work in education, and well-being efforts.

What is the best professional advice you’ve ever received?

The best professional advice I’ve received is to always remember your why and prioritize your well-being so you can better serve others and sustain impact over time. In a profession where we’re constantly pouring into others, prioritizing well-being is essential. I was also once told that “to provoke greatness, you must lead from love and joy,” and I carry that reminder with me in my work.

What is something you like a lot that would surprise people?

I’ve always valued quality “me time”, whether that’s going to the gym, walking, cooking, or reading. However, one of my newer forms of self-care has been unplugging and watching reality TV on Bravo. I finally get the hype!

What is on your bucket list?

A few things I’m hoping to cross off my bucket list soon are learning to play the piano, traveling to countries on my list (ideally a country in East Africa or Portugal next), and taking classes to improve my Arabic reading and writing skills.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

What I enjoy most about my role is the joy that comes from building capacity, supporting others, serving as a resource, and building relationships along the way. One of my favorite parts of working with students in the classroom was witnessing their growth and progress, both big and small. It’s a meaningful opportunity to now support leaders and educators in a similar way through professional learning.