Superintendent of Schools, Hazelwood School District
By Chris King
Photograph by Dilip Vishwanat
The Hazelwood School District covers 78 square miles—an area larger than that of the city of St. Louis—and is growing rapidly. Chris Wright, Hazelwood’s superintendent, was honored with the University of Missouri–St. Louis’ 2006 Trailblazer Award, and she has indeed blazed many trails: She is the first female superintendent of the Hazelwood School District since its consolidation, and she was the first female superintendent in the Riverview Gardens School District, the first female chair of the Cooperating School Districts and the first female president of the Missouri Association of School Administrators. We spoke with Wright about diversity, education, the comforts of chocolate and the blues, and why a leader is like a turtle.
When I go to North County, it seems like the one place in St. Louis where the Civil War is over. Oh yes. That’s one reason I live here, as well as work here. My subdivision is roughly half-and-half, white and black. Most of the people choose to live here for that reason. It is one of the only places in this area where you find such appreciation of diversity.
Is it tough to be a boss of bosses? If I looked at my job that way, it would be. At times I have to be the boss, no question about it—but I hope most of the time to function as a facilitator, the person who leads a conversation and causes people to make decisions. Leadership is not something you do by yourself.
Did you start out as a teacher or an administrator? I was playing teacher when I was 4 years old. That’s what I am. But I worry about the profession: I see public education taking it on the chin, under so much scrutiny and taking so much criticism because we’ve become responsible for everything from immunization to sex education. I see fewer and fewer folks willing to take on that much responsibility, and it scares me, because I don’t know who is going to take my place.
You often say, “We are smarter than me.” Give us an example that proves it. Four years ago, we were looking at ways to address our growing population. After almost a year, with more than 1,000 people involved, the community came up with a recommendation to build four middle schools at once. Four. That thought never crossed my mind. It also never crossed my mind to ask for a 98-cent tax levy. I don’t know of another community that’s taken a stronger stand. The wisdom of this community is more powerful than anything I could have done as an individual.
Where did you grow up? In Manchester, before it was West County. When I was growing up, Manchester was a small town; you could walk across the street. My dad was a fireman; my mom worked at the grocery store.
You went away to indiana for your undergraduate studies but came back for graduate school—why? I was looking to have new experiences, and Indiana University was an exciting place to be—but St. Louis is my home. My family is here; my roots are here.
You have a family of your own now? I was divorced; then I remarried two years ago. I have two grown children. My son, Kevin Wright, lives in Affton—I’m expecting my first grandchild. My daughter, Katy Wright, lives with me now. She just got back from the Peace Corps, in South Africa. She is just starting her teaching career in the Ferguson-Florissant district.
Describe an experience you found moving. At the end of my first year at Hazelwood, a young man in a wheelchair said, “I’m graduating tonight, and I just want you to know that I’m really grateful, because this year, for the first time, I was able to ride a Hazelwood bus.” [Wright had pushed for specially-equipped buses so kids wouldn’t be singled out.]
What do you splurge on? St. John, but I don’t buy too much. It’s such a distinctive look, so put-together. But I’ve never thought of myself as a fashion expert.
What do you do to relax? We go to baseball games, the Rep, the Fox, the Pageant. We have a place at the lake—that’s the one place where I can just forget about things. I particularly love it in spring, when it’s not crazy with WaveRunners.
What’s a favorite quote? Dr. Effie Jones, an early pioneer in education leadership: “The turtle is the sign of leadership, because you can’t make progress if you’re not willing to stick your neck out and put your tail on the line.”
When have you stuck your neck out? In Riverview Gardens, some members of the Board of Education thought moving principals around would be a good idea. I thought it a very bad idea, particularly in buildings where they were just beginning to show some progress, and I took a very strong public position against it—which is always risky. You have to work collaboratively and minimize conflict, but there are occasions when you have to draw a line and say, “I believe this is bad for children.”
