By Danyel Jones
AFRO Staff Writer
Baltimore County Schol superintendent Jor Hairston has served in the BCPS as superintendent since 2000. (Courtesy Photo)
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(October 22, 2009) - In his 10th year as Baltimore County Public Schools superintendant, Joe Hairston continues to make major moves, leading local African-American students to the forefront of educational success.
Hairston, who is described as a visionary and a progressive leader, has served in the BCPS as superintendent since 2000 and has yielded a growing list of achievements that include a rise in student SAT scores, new technology advancements within the district and most notably, the development of the “Blueprint for Success,” an academic commitment to students to improve their overall performance in and out of the classroom.
The Virginia native who grew up a military brat knew firsthand about achieving success in and out of school, becoming a celebrated high school football star early on, later earning his doctorial degree from Virginia Tech and in recent years, receiving the Superintendant of the Year award from the Fullwood Foundation in 2006.
Nationally recognized as one of the 25 largest school districts in the country, Maryland’s BCPS has taken a new approach toward academic excellence via the “Blueprint for Progress,” something Hairston is eager to talk about.
“What I like most about it is to see our children learn and grow,” said Hairston. “I like to see the trust and belief that the students have in us. And I like to see us as adults commit ourselves to helping youngsters see an opportunity that will make their lives a lot better than ours.”
The program, which began 10 years ago, survives on a mission to provide a quality education that develops the content knowledge, skills and attitudes that will allow students to reach their maximum potential as responsible, life-long learners and productive citizens. One of Blueprint’s initiatives involves the effort to eliminate the minority achievement gap.
Since its inception, the number of African American and other non-White students’ educational accountability standards have grown. In a report provided by Hairston, he explains that educational systems within the district have tightened, highlighting student functional test scores from the past 30 years, documenting minorities’ growing success rates.
Although responsible for establishing such a successful educational program, Hairston understands there will always be challenges to face as superintendant of a district.
“There’s only one superintendant so all eyes are on you,” says Hairston. “You are always under intense scrutiny, so I am under the microscope. And there will always be people who will use all of their energy to find something wrong with you and magnify it, those who get great delight in seeing you faultier. Being superintendant is a lonely, high-risk job, but a highly rewarding job,” he says.
The former educator says there are many responsibilities that come along with having such a high position within education. “You have to operate with a very strong belief that you are not there for you,” says Hairston. “Most superintendants are just there for survival, the most difficult part about it is surviving boards. Now this is my 10th year and I’ve been very fortunate to have a great relationship with my Board of Education members who have been here over the 10 years so I am grateful of their support,” says Hairston.