The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
New commission chair knows city
Lorain attorney ready to start new position as chair of the Academic Distress Commission
The chair of the new Lorain Academic Distress Commission rose from poverty, earned a doctorate and landed a job as program officer at Nord Family Foundation in Amherst.
A 34-year-old attorney, in Lorain they call Dr. Anthony Richardson, “Tony.”
Amid congratulations and reminiscenses, Richardson told the Lorain School Board he approaches the new position of leadership with integrity, transparency and willingness to listen.
“It’s not about me and what I’ve accomplished,” Richardson said. “It’s bigger than me.”
It’s about the law
The Ohio legislature passed House Bill 70 in an attempt to tweak the academic distress commission system set in place to force local school districts to improve education for underprivileged children.
Controlling academics of a school district with an academic distress commission did not work, some theorized.
So the old distress commission dissolved March 7 and a new commission was appointed April 6.
Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria
“I’m not an educator, and so my job is to really learn from the educators and professionals.”
— Dr. Anthony Richardson
announced May 26 that Richardson was chair of the commission.
The role of the new commission is to hire a chief executive officer to run the district with the powers of a superintendent and most of the powers of a school board.
If the district does not improve academic achievement quickly enough, the CEO could designate any or all of the Lorain City School buildings to be charter schools.
From the beginning of the academic distress process, the Lorain School Board chose to work with the Ohio Department of Education rather than against it, said Lorain School Board President Tim Williams.
But time is short by law
With appointment of the chair, the commission was tasked with hiring a CEO within 60 days.
“Most of you here know or have been introduced in some capacity to Tony Richardson,” Williams said. “We were very fortunate that one of the commissioners appointed by the state was a graduate of this district.
“He is employed by one of our staunch supporters, the Nord Family Foundation. He’s an all around great athlete, exceptional student, and just really the characteristics most educators and school districts would most like to see as evidence and by-product of their work.”
Richardson really exemplifies that, he said.
“And his new role is quite challenged because people who mentored him and taught him and contributed to him, they are now in a peer relationship, and in some regards, there is a subordinate relationship,” Williams said. “He has embraced this with great humility, but with an absolute sense of urgency and seriousness based on his own experience growing up in this district, facing significant barriers, but overcoming those barriers and is now leading a great family life, and also is a former Lorain City Councilman.”
Richardson said Williams introduced him so graciously he did not realize at first that Williams was talking about him.
As a student, Richardson said he had a great experience at school.
“But for Lorain City Schools, I wouldn’t be where I’m at, no way whatsoever,” he said. “Grew up in the city here, right down the street in the projects and on the East Side of the city, as well, in Filmore Circle, at the time one of the most tough parts of our community.
“Never met my father. My mom was rooted into drugs and the streets. Had a tough upbringing. Spent some time homeless, had to move from house to house. Lived with my aunts, lived with grand parents, anywhere I could essentially find food and have a roof over my head.”
School became a refuge
“This is where I lived to get away from those things,” Richardson said. “I had amazing teachers. They didn’t make it easy for me. They challenged me.”
At the former Hawthorne Elementary School, young Richardson said his life changed.
Fifth-grade teacher Mary Nowicki noticed his athleticism in kickball and basketball, commented on it, then created a bridge to academics.
“’Are you willing to be the best math student? Are you going to be the best science student?’” Richardson recalled her asking him. “That was the game changer. I’m 34 years old. I was 11 when this woman said, ‘Be great at everything.’
“And I really believe my teachers, my supporters, my coaches, my mentors really became my family and made a difference for me.”
“He was a great kid,” Nowicki said. “He was in the Hawthorne Academy Gifted Program. He took direction and instruction well. He helped other students. He thought outside the box.
“His grandmother, Martha Pye (a Lorain community activist), was a great influence in his life. He’s energetic and really thought provoking. I think he would take something and really think about it. I can honestly say I never saw him get angry with anybody. He was very well liked by students, and I knew he would go far in life.”
Richardson said that year was pivotal for him.
“It was in the fifthgrade I was challenged to hold myself accountable and to exceed the expectations of my living conditions,” he said. “No one told me (about those expectations), but I looked around my neighborhood. I don’t want to judge. But that is what challenged me.
“I’m not shy, but I don’t like attention. I was always told to keep my head down, keep quiet, work hard, and lead by example. And this is why when I was asked to step into this role, I didn’t think twice about it.
Richardson said he thought this was an opportunity for him to finally pay it forward for all the things that people around here had done for him.
“So, as I come to this place as a chair of this commission, again, I want to continue to build upon the work of the past commission,” he said.
The focus remains on the community
Richardson said integrity matters in the task before the commission and the school district.
“I want to be transparent and open; I’m a straight shooter,” Richardson said. “I’m an honest person. And I would never say anything in private that I wouldn’t say in public. I’m a big fan of integrity, and carrying on my professional responsibility.
“That said, I would want to continue to champion and lead in this kind of collaborative spirit. We want to listen. And in fact, I’m doing what I’ve been calling listening and learning tours.”
You can tell a person’s character by how they approach their work, he said.
“Do they come to listen and to learn and try to improve upon standards? What’s going on in the community?” Richardson asked. “Or are they coming with a hammer?”
So, he said his approach to the work is to learn, to listen and to lean on experts as needed.
“I’m not an educator, and so my job is to really learn from the educators and professionals,” Richardson said, adding he hopes to make decisions that move the community and support kids and families. “So, thanks again for the opportunity. Thanks again for the support.
“And I really would like to partner and have open lines of communication through this entire process.”
Richardson said serving on the commission is not about him.
“It’s about taking those experiences and leveraging them on behalf of the students in the district,” he said.