This article won first place in the 2024 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
Update, December 13: on December 4, Dr. Hinds was unanimously appointed to serve as superintendent of the Northview School District by the Board of Education, removing the temporary title of interim superintendent.
If anyone sees a little red Miata Mazda driving around Grand Rapids, be sure to give its driver a wave and smile. There’s a good chance the vehicle’s driver is Northview’s interim superintendent, Dr. Christina Hinds, better known as the woman who decides whether or not there’s a snow day.
Hinds was the superintendent at Wayland schools for two years before our previous superintendent, Dr. Scott Korpak, reached out offering a chance to step into the role of deputy superintendent for Northview. Hinds accepted. After a year working closely with Korpak, and post his announcement of retirement, Hinds seized opportunity to become the interim superintendent for the 2023 to 2024 school year.
“Dr. Korpak spoke so highly of Northview, the sense of belonging in the community and how everybody’s welcome, and I couldn’t refuse,” Hinds said. “I mean, how often is it that you’re offered a job from somebody that you respect and was so great to work under his leadership?”
One of Hinds strengths as a facilitator is her ability to listen. English 12 and Advanced Placement Research teacher Shelli Tabor is also the head of the teacher’s union for the district. She correlates the wants and needs of staff to the administration on the regular, including Hinds.
“I don’t think I’ve ever gone to her and said, ‘there’s a problem,’ as the union president, and not had her do her best to figure out how to solve that problem in a timely manner,” Tabor said. “She’s very much a person who likes process and accountability.”
Principal Mark Thomas works for Hinds at the high school. He collaborates with her closely and appreciates her focus on maintaining interpersonal relationships between staff.
“We really were fortunate because she brings a ton of experience in a number of different areas, but most of all, she’s a very caring person. I think she fits Northview very well in the sense that she sees people first,” Thomas said. “She really values process and she will tell you that, but never process over people. She fits the mold that we have here at Northview.”
Her experience and prestigious education speaks for itself. With a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in special education and family life education, Hinds went on to achieve a master’s degree in education leadership from Grand Valley State University. In 2020, she earned her doctorate from Michigan State University.
After being adopted into the caring community of Northview, Hinds in turn tries her best to return the feeling.
“[Northview] couldn’t be more welcoming. I love that I can go to Meijer and people will say hi and smile and interact,” Hinds said. “I’m just thrilled because I feel so welcomed. I want other people to feel that welcoming community as well.”
As a superintendent, her main job is to uphold and assist the policies Northview’s Board of Education creates. Alongside, Hinds desires to support, encourage and protect her district-wide staff, not micro-manage.
“I believe the central office is so important in being there for administrators, [as] a resource for them rather than a hindrance,” Hinds said. “Transitions, [especially to a new superintendent,] are so hard. Anytime there’s a change, it’s a little uncomfortable. You don’t know what to expect, and that’s unnecessary energy.”
Thomas appreciates Hinds’ effectiveness within her job, especially her ability to organize hundreds of staff members and thousands of students.
“She’s like the conductor of a symphony. Everybody has these different sections, and we have to come together and make music,” Thomas said. “I think one of the most important things for a superintendent to do is understand what the board wants as far as goals, but then be able to build a strategic plan and implement those and make those happen on a day-to-day basis.”
Hinds has shown she is more than capable of that task. Her ongoing projects include seizing a unique opportunity the student body of Northview offers, focus on diversity.
“[We have] the ability to talk about belonging, equity, and access . . . we’re going to do work in this area to improve the tagline that we have, ‘our best, your best.’ I love how simple that is,” Hinds said. “It’s so important that all of us bring our best and if we do that together, everything’s going to be fine.”
A huge current issue for Hinds is the challenge for choice reading book removal proposed to the district over the summer by a community member. Hinds has ensured this request is heard, researched, and decided in a professional manner. This is a daunting high pressure test for an “interim superintendent” hoping to become “superintendent.”
She isn’t too worried about it.
“If we are doing what’s best for students, it’s going to be fine. We don’t always have to agree, but we’re respectful and kind and that’s Northview,” Hinds said. “It’s a special place.”
