What’s in a word? When that word is equity: everything.
For Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., back in his high school days, it meant access to Honors classes, classes containing college level curricula. As the new Superintendent of Alexandria’s public schools, equity means to him that “we must meet students where they are.”
With an easy, open manner and wearing his signature bow tie, Hutchings discusses coming back home to Alexandria, where he grew up, and what he’s finding.
“Change is difficult, but in this city, necessary,” he says.
As a high school student, Hutchings had to petition his principal to gain access to honors classes. Signed by his fellow classmates, the petition demonstrated his resolve and convinced John Porter, the principal of T.C. Williams, to put Hutchings in those college level classes. Today, the two are good friends.
As a young man, one of Hutchings’ main sources for advice was the late Ferdinand T. Day, Alexandria’s elder statesman and the first African American to be elected chair of a public school board in Virginia. An equitable education was of supreme importance to Mr. Day, CCNA’s (Concerned Citizen Network of Alexandria’s) Emeritus Board Member. “I am part of his legacy,” Hutchings said during the opening ceremony of Alexandria’s newest elementary school named in honor and tribute to Mr. Day.
No stranger to ACPS as an educator, Hutchings served as director of its pre-K-12 initiatives and led its middle school programs, implementing its new middle school curricula, as well as supervising principals. It was during this time that he championed CCNA’s after school tutoring and mentoring program called RARE (Reach & Rise for Excellence).
He left Alexandria in 2013 to lead the Shaker Heights School System, located outside of Cleveland, Ohio. His efforts there as Superintendent garnered international acclaim. Now, he’s looking to do the same for Alexandria.
On the job as Alexandria’s Superintendent for a year now, Hutchings is in the process of reviewing everything, calling this past school year an “Analysis Year.” Ticking off the list of items most needing attention, he cites deferred maintenance on facilities and instructional focus not up to par for the school system’s most vulnerable students.
“Only honors students can do a science project. I’m reading through all of the instructional guides and this is what I found for our middle schools. What nonsense!” That policy, he noted, “condones and perpetuates bias.” All students are capable of doing a science project, at some level, he exclaims. “We are about engaging all students in a high quality education.”
Equity. It’s not favoritism, one-sidedness, or prejudice. As defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, equity means “justice, according to natural law or right, specifically: freedom from bias or favoritism.” Equity, it states, is synonymous with evenhandedness, fair-mindedness and impartiality.
Meeting students where they are doesn’t favor one group over another, says Hutchings. With 119 languages spoken at home and students hailing from 114 different countries, this is a situation that provides the school system with an opportunity to reach excellence, notes Hutchings, one that requires collaboration, transparency, and high quality education.
But he needs help. Reaching across the community to stakeholders, such as the Chamber of Commerce, business and political leaders, the faith-based network, as well as non-profits, like CCNA, he says: “It’s all about good partnerships. We need the community to invest in our schools. When the schools do well, the city shines.
Recent Comments