LM January 2017

with respect and grace. They raised us to seek, understand, and carry out our calling in life—what God requires of us—as the only way that we could ever experience genuine, life-long satisfaction,” he said. “As a 19-year-old student at the University of Illinois, I knew without any doubt that teaching and

parents to help build relationships with both school children and parents in an extraordinary way. “Being a public school administrator or teacher is not merely a job that a person goes to each day. It’s about living a lifestyle—modeling an example— toward which both children and adults in our

learning in the public school system was my calling. Since that time, I’ve learned that Mom and Dad were right, that real satisfaction in life was possible if I carried out my life’s calling.” He attained his University of Illinois and his Master’s and Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University- Carbondale. Given the fact he had his long-term career mapped out at age 19 as well as his attention to detail and his obvious management skills, it might come as something of a surprise to learn that Henry met his wife of 15 years, Kerri, on a blind date. “We are both Type A personalities and lack spontaneity, so this is usually pretty undergraduate degree from the

community can aspire. We are tremendously humbled at the

thought of that level of responsibility, and we are very grateful for our colleagues and friends who share that same view of being educators.” For some, being recognized as a state Superintendent of the Year might symbolize a career-capping achievement—time to take a breath and look back on a successful career. For Henry, it serves more as motivation to continue to excel. In his acceptance remarks at the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago in late November, Henry told the audience: “Boys and girls, men and women, families, organizations, churches, and communities are counting on us to set

“Being a public school administrator or teacher is not merely a job that a person goes to each day. It’s about living a lifestyle—modeling an example—toward which both children and adults in our community can aspire.”

—Dr. Jason Henry, with wife Kerri and son Jack

surprising to our friends and colleagues,” he acknowledged. The couple welcomed their first child, Jack, who will be 1-year-old in March. Henry characterizes being a school superintendent a “family-based calling” in which Kerri and Jack are active partners. “Kerri is my best friend, my most-trusted advisor, and my reality check. Kerri has embraced her role as the wife of a school superintendent, and has worked alongside me the whole time, even when, at times, it would have been much easier and more comfortable to stay back behind-the-scenes. She’s already assimilating Jack to his role, as well, raising him as a ‘school kid’ and using our role as new

the pace and show them the way to true satisfaction and peace. Edmund Burke, an Irish statesman in the 1700s, once said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ In the Bible, James 4:17 addresses this truth more firmly: ‘If you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil.’ This room is filled today with men and women who know the right things to do in our schools and communities. My challenge for you today—Do it! “My commitment to you is simple—to do the best I can in any way I can to lead our school children with positivity, hopefulness, excellence, and with class.”

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