By Kimberly Hall | December 5, 2019
One must have an open mind to new experiences.
World View would like to showcase the work superintendent William Wright, Jr., Ed. D is doing to increase global awareness in Hertford County Public Schools. Dr. Wright has held his position as superintendent since December 1, 2015. Hertford County Public Schools is considered a tier 1 district and is comprised of 7 schools which educate over 2,600 students, of which 90% are African American.
Dr. Wright participated in a World View Study Visit to the Republic of Moldova. World View’s partnership with the NC Secretary of State’s office facilitated opportunities to visit government facilities in addition to numerous schools in Moldova. Since the study visit Dr. Wright has included Moldovan artifacts in the décor in his office, sparking conversations that allow him the opportunity to educate people about his experiences in Moldova. Hertford County Public Schools’ theme for the year is Creating Educational Experiences for Everyone, inspired by Wright’s time abroad. “We also have two schools that are establishing partnerships with Moldovan schools. C.S. Brown STEM High School and Bear Primary School are in the process of opening lines of communication to begin collaborations with educators and students in the Republic of Moldova.” Additionally, the expectation that people are bilingual in Moldova has challenged Dr. Wright to insist that Hertford County’s students are provided the opportunity to become multilingual.
Moving forward, Dr. Wright plans to continue globalizing his district and support global education efforts across our state. “Now that I have experienced the world of global studies, I have a hunger to continue to do so, as well as propose that other educators do too!” Dr. Wright currently serves on World View’s Council of Advisors as another way of helping to bring global perspectives to our state. “In today’s global society, we have to be more receptive and open to folks who weren’t raised where we were. In order to do that, one must have an open mind to new experiences. While World View is certainly a great example of that, we should not wait for an opportunity of that magnitude to explore and implore global learning.”