After 5 Years at Shaker, Hutchings to Return to Virginia
Superintendent will become next leader of Alexandria City Public Schools, his hometown district and previous employer
Update: as of January 2018, the Shaker Heights City Schools District Board of Education has announced a plan for selecting the next superintendent. The BOE will appoint an interim superintendent near the end of the 2017-2018 school year. This person will lead the school district for about a year, and will not be considered for the full superintendency. In the meantime, the BOE will select a firm for the full superintendent search.
The Shakerite will update the interim and full superintendent search story as it progresses.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. will leave the Shaker Heights City Schools District for superintendency of the Alexandria City Public Schools at the end of the 2017-18 school year.
“I share this news with mixed emotions: I am sad to leave behind all the truly extraordinary work we have accomplished together here in the Shaker Schools over the past four and a half years, though my decision to accept this new position fulfills a lifelong dream,” he wrote in a 9:46 a.m. email to district faculty and staff notifying them of his decision to return to the Virginia district.
Hutchings served as director of pre K-12 programs at ACPS for three years before coming to Shaker in 2013. He is also a graduate of the Alexandria schools.
“For those of you who don’t know, I am a native of Alexandria and attended the public schools in grades K-12. I wasn’t the valedictorian or salutatorian — like so many young people, I had to find my way with the support and encouragement of some outstanding educators,” he wrote. “ACPS played such an instrumental role in shaping me into the person I am today that now, I want to return home to inspire the next generation of students there.”
Hutchings assured faculty that he will remain committed to the district until his departure, “Throughout this school year, I will continue to work collaboratively with all of you and with our broader school community to ensure that we remain focused on our strategic initiatives,” he stated.
According to the letter, it is undecided whether the board will name a new superintendent or an interim superintendent in their national search to begin next month.
Hutchings concluded his letter by commending Shaker. He wrote, “Leaving will not be easy. Still, I know that this is a strong community, committed to a tradition of excellence, who will continue to march steadfast toward the District’s aspirations of excellence, equity and exploration for every student.”
Executive Director of Communications Scott Stephens did not wish to comment further.
Hutchings was unavailable for comment. According to Stephens, he is currently out of the district in Memphis, TN, speaking to a group of black ministers.
