Superintendent Connects with Kennesaw

Appearing relaxed and open, new Superintendent Michael Hinojosa spoke about his goals and answered dozens of questions at a town hall meeting presented by the Legacy Park Education Committee at the on Tuesday night.

Hinojosa, who became the district’s 20th superintendent in July, said early in his roughly 85-minute appearance before about 40 people that he usually gets along with school boards.

“I’ve been doing this 18 years, and I’ve worked with 75 board members, and only two or maybe five I didn’t get along with,” the 32-year educator said with a chuckle. “But none of your board members have ill will. We have to work with these guys because they’re in for the next two or four years.”

co-owner Lisa Soukup opened the question-and-answer session by saying the parents of many of the preschool’s former students tell her their children are bored, aren’t challenged and need a tougher curriculum from Cobb County schools.

Another woman, the mother of first- and fourth-graders, echoed Soukup’s comments.

“Boredom is the No. 1 reason why kids get tired of going to school,” Hinojosa said. “Millennials are different. These kids can multitask and need to power down to go to school.”

A man said he sees differences in his teenage children in how they use technology. He said his 16-year-old still uses paper, but his 13-year-old likes to do everything electronically.

“We teach these kids what’s good information and bad information,” Hinojosa said. “You take advantage of the technology, or you’ll be left behind…they’ll not only be competing with kids in Fulton and Gwinnett, but with kids all over the world.”

media paraprofessional Connie Woolsey said eight to 10 colleges have visited the school this month, and Hinojosa and Area 5 Superintendent James Carter informed the crowd that students need more than good grades to get into top universities.

Hinojosa and his wife, Kitty, have two sons attending Ivy League schools.

Carter said colleges consider the rigor of a student’s high school courses, community service and extracurricular activities and ultimately are “looking at the whole package.”

“They’re looking for well-rounded kids,” Carter said.

Another audience member asked whether Hinojosa knew of the challenges for North Cobb High School. The superintendent spent his entire education career in Texas until July.

“You have a lot of assets, especially the support of the mayor,” Hinojosa said of North Cobb. “If you have good schools, you have good property values.”

But he conceded not knowing enough about the school.

“I have to have the databases to know about this community, so I don’t know your data, but I will,” Hinojosa said. “I was surprised that Cobb didn’t have that, but it will.”

Legacy Park Education Committee Chairman Mike Sansone thanked Hinojosa for taking the time to talk to the community.