Dr. Theodore Hutchinson honored for visionary leadership and service to Appalachian OHIO

Educational Studies Associate Professor Dr. Theodore Hutchinson (Critical Studies in Education) was one of three Athens County residents to receive the 2019 Jenco Award, which honors visionary leadership and service to Appalachian Ohio. Hutchinson, who worked with the Athens City School District (ACSD) this past year to improve transgender health education, received the award at Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville on Sept. 10.

Hutchinson, who is transgender, grew up in a family devoted to social justice and is committed to working with grassroots folks in and around education to build more supportive communities in Southeast Ohio and beyond. In addition to his work with the ASCD, Hutchinson has worked with numerous health care providers in the Athens area, Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine on issues related to transgender health care and social issues.

“When I was notified of the award and able to read my nominating letter, it was very humbling, because a lot of times we go through life just doing the small things we do, trying to live out our commitments with integrity, and most of the time those things aren’t acknowledged or seen,” said Hutchinson. “In society and in our institutions, we tend to only see things that make big splashes, but lasting social change comes from the small works of people, little projects that can be done and sustained—so it’s especially rewarding when that work is acknowledged.”

ACSD nurse Molly Wales invited Hutchinson to provide professional and personal expertise in support of their new Sexual Health Education curriculum as it relates to trans and gender non-conforming youth. The district had requested that their sexual health education curriculum be updated to be more extensive, evidence-based, and inclusive of different gender and sexual identities.

Along with advising on appropriate and inclusive language and concepts for their curriculum, Hutchinson accompanied Wales to each ACSD school to present this section of new curriculum to each building’s faculty and staff, as well as answer questions about this important and sometimes confusing topic.

“I am very proud of the steps the ACSD is taking to address the social and emotional needs of their students in today’s world,” said Hutchinson, noting that ACSD is also training staff to better understand and address racial and socio-economic inequities. “It takes a great deal of courage for school leaders and faculty to be willing to take on the challenging and difficult issues of the day—and so I applaud the district. One thing that I told every group of teachers with whom we met was that they may very well be the one person—or their school or classroom be the one place—where a trans or gender non-conforming student may find safety and support. Research indicates that when a child has either strong family support or school support, they are far less likely to attempt suicide. Who wouldn’t want to make that difference? Who wouldn’t want to save a life?”

The Jenco Awards honor Father Lawrence Martin Jenco, a Roman Catholic priest who committed his life to serving others. In the 1980s, Father Jenco served as director of Catholic Relief Services in Lebanon, where he was kidnapped and spent 19 months in captivity. During that time, he continued to serve others, including journalist and fellow detainee Terry Anderson, who created the Jenco Foundation in 2002 to honor Father Jenco, who passed away in 1996.

The Jenco Foundation Fund was established at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) to recognize citizens of Appalachian Ohio who demonstrate visionary leadership and service to others throughout the region.

Dottie Fromal of Nelsonville and Sam Jones of Glouster from Athens County were also honored this year. Awardees are nominated by community members each spring and selected through The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio’s committee review process.