Madison school district board members voted on Monday to name the newly constructed school on Madison’s South Side after Lori Mann Carey, who was an active community member and former student of the district before passing away in 2020.
The elementary school had used the temporary name of “Southside Elementary” since it opened in 2023, but an ad hoc committee assigned to choosing potential names for the school had been operating since then.
Going into Monday’s board meeting, the committee had ranked the top four choices for names based on community and student input: Southside Community, Ada Deer, Lori Mann Carey and Nine Springs. Based on these recommendations, the board members decided to move forward with naming the school after Mann Carey because of the strong message the name sent about the value of educators.
“I think the story we've been told about the person behind this name and their meaning to this community is deeply compelling, and it is a rare and unique opportunity that we get to uplift educators and the people who work in the interests of our young people,” board member Ali Muldrow said during the meeting.
Board of Education President Nichelle Nichols also spoke in favor of Mann Carey, explaining the value of naming a school after everyday people who advocate for change.
“I think there is something really powerful about elevating the work of folks who have dedicated many, many hours and talent to our district, and that doesn't always show up as being the accomplished doctor or the first EOC officer,” she said. “Those folks are notable and incredible in their own right, and you can have other ways that folks are making incredible contributions to our district.”
Ultimately, the motion to name the school after Mann Carey passed 6-0.
Mann Carey’s life, educational legacy
Mann Carey was raised on the south side of Madison and attended Memorial High School during her early years.
As a mother, Mann Carey continued her involvement in the school district by working with the board on new initiatives and programs for the district, such as the 4.0, which worked to raise the GPA of student-athletes.
Her biggest project was the co-creation of the Mann Educational Opportunity Fund, which provides mentoring and educational tools for primarily Black students in the district. She also served on the Black Chamber of Commerce and the African American/Black Business Association for many years in Madison.
