Michael G. Richards, superintendent of Harrisonburg (Virginia) City Public Schools, has been named Journalism Education Association’s 2024 Administrator of the Year. JEA presents the award to administrators who have shown a dedication to journalism education.
“In my 37-year career, I’ve rarely experienced such a supportive superintendent when it comes to scholastic media,” Harrisonburg High School adviser Val Kibler, MJE, said. “In fact, he is one of the most student-centered leaders I’ve ever known.”
One way Richards has shown support is by giving more than $50,000 over the past two years to the journalism program at Harrisonburg High School to fund students attending national conventions as part of the World Is My Classroom initiative he developed that encourages students to travel and experience learning events.
Additionally, he has traveled with students to multiple conventions and acted as a lead chaperone, sightseeing with students while Kibler attended JEA board of directors meetings. He’s even partnered with her editors to present a session at each convention on how students can strengthen and grow media relationships with administrators.
“At the conventions, Richards didn’t just give a presentation, he gave so much more,” Kibler said. “He got involved with the kids and their classes. Richards comes away from each convention inspired by what we do at Harrisonburg High School and inspired to help other administrators get it.”
Richards started as superintendent in 2019. Kibler said in the short time he has been in the district, he has shown support to scholastic journalism in the entire state of Virginia.
“As we began our push for New Voices legislation in Virginia a few years ago, Richards was integral in contacting legislators and making a case for student press rights,” Kibler said. “Going against the lobbyists for the state superintendents’ association, Richards continues to champion his support of students and a free press.”
Harrisonburg City Public Schools Coordinator of Policy and Communication Kelly Lineweaver said Richards has supported HHS Media’s reporting on difficult stories, including one about the frequent fighting at the school.
“Some administrators would have shut down such a story, worried it would reflect poorly on the school and district,” Lineweaver said. “Dr. Richards was, of course, sensitive to that, but he supported the story because he believes in students’ First Amendment rights, and he trusted the students to report it responsibly.”
Kibler said administrator awards from journalism associations are often given to principals or superintendents who have helped a journalism program get through a trying moment, but Richards has done more than that.
“I feel it’s just as important to recognize an administrator who hits the ground running in support of scholastic media,” Kibler said. “When that strong foundational relationship is built, the work that we do in the journalism classroom can only flourish.”
Founded in 1924, JEA supports free and responsible scholastic journalism by providing resources and educational opportunities, promoting professionalism, encouraging and rewarding student excellence and teacher achievement, and an atmosphere which encompasses diversity yet builds unity. It is headquartered at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
By Louisa Avery, MJE, awards chair