Meet Mr. Gilchrist—The New JA Academy Director

Story and photo by Kayla Adames.

Woodridge has a new JA Academy director in town. Say hello to Mr. Gilchrist, or Mr. G for short. Today I will be interviewing him to see how he feels about Woodridge. But first, let’s see how students feel about him!

What is your first impression of Mr. Gilchrist?
He is a good vice principal and he knows how to be strict and chill. - Christopher Southerland, 7th Grade 

He is a good vice principal, but sometimes he’s mean. - Ballie Melvin, 7th Grade

So far how has your experience with Mr. G been? And has it been good or bad?

In general I feel like Mr. G values his job and has the best intention for us students. But we got off on the wrong foot because clarity was not provided in a conversation we had. -  Serenity Bussey, 7th Grade

I think he seems pretty cool. - Marcellus Peters-Jackson, 7th Grade

He is actually quite funny because we laugh and talk about funny things like baby hair. -   Armani Green, 7th grade

He's cool, he's funny, but he be doing the most sometimes. - Jasalene Barnes, 8th grade

So now that we have listened to the perspective of the students and how they feel about Mr. G, let’s ask  him some questions to get to know him better.

How do you think JA students feel about you? 

Here’s what I’ll say. I think that at times these students think I “do too much”. I hope that they think that I’m funny because I try to keep it funny. I hope that the students feel as though there is a sense of mutual accountability that I expect and that we are in this together and that this is something I’ll do with them and not to them. I really hope that they think of me as someone who does not only believe that they can do great inside school but also take what they have learned and be great outside these doors.

So far, how has your experience with students been?

 I think the JA students really can achieve anything. They believe in themselves and are very confident in their abilities and I think this will be a group of students that will become well rounded citizens.

How do you feel about the students?

I think the JA students are full of personality and spirit. They are a mix of different high skill and careers in the making—like lawyers and engineers and scientists and historians and advocates. They advocate for themselves. They are always up for a challenge even when it means challenging me. I think the students are really in touch with character traits that I don’t always find in middle school aged students.

What is your vision for the JA side? What do you want school to be like?
My vision for the JA is to love and lead kids and for them to discover that they truly can be the greatest change makers that this world has ever seen. I really do believe that and I think it’s about loving and leading. I’m going to use both—I'll love you but I will lead you.

When it comes to Mr. G, students seem to like him and he feels that JA students are on the right path to success and that their futures are bright. So, the next time you see Mr. G in the hallways, know he’s not a stranger but a friend!

Kayla Adames is a 7th grade scholar at Friendship Woodridge International School.