Brian Ahmer

A 2004 Sandburg alum, Brian Ahmer serves as the Chief Operations Officer of High School District 113, overseeing the facilities, safety, and security of the students and staff at Highland Park and Deerfield high schools.

With a degree in construction management from Bradley University, Brian has spent his career managing facilities, including the construction of the Ryan Fieldhouse at Northwestern University, and then as the project engineer for the State Farm Center at the University of Illinois.

Brian used his experience and leadership skills to improve District 113 facilities and led the work to install a photovoltaic solar panel system that would reduce energy consumption by 25%. His passion and unrelenting pursuit of keeping buildings safe and secure took on a new meaning when he earned the position of Chief Operations Officer at a high school district.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brian worked directly with Walgreens and hosted a vaccine clinic that administered over 13,000 vaccinations for teachers in Lake County, Illinois, and students within the District. He also built a COVID-19 testing center where students received COVID-19 tests twice weekly to ensure the safety of the schools.

On July 4, 2022, tragedy struck Highland Park during a parade when a gunman shot and killed seven people and injured 48 others. After the shooting and in the chaos that followed, Brian immediately traveled to the school to ensure all students in the parade were reunited with their parents. He witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of this calamity and knew he needed to ensure both high schools were safe places. He then worked with the FBI to build a family assistance center at Highland Park High School, where community members impacted by the tragedy received services. Then, Brian worked with the superintendent to secure a weapons detection system at the doors of the school, which was no small task. He knows - perhaps better than most - the importance that everyone needs to feel safe. His goal is to work within his power to prevent future tragedies.