Imagine a leader whose every decision is guided by the desire to unlock the full potential of every student, someone who sees education as not just a job but a passion. That is exactly the kind of leader we are welcoming to Lower Moreland: Dr. Julie Henrich, our new Assistant Superintendent. With a heart and mind dedicated to student success and a vision for growth, Dr. Henrich is a leader committed to putting student success first.
To begin our interview, I asked Dr. Henrich what she studied in college. With nothing short of excitement, Dr. Henrich replied, “The first college I attended was Gwynedd Mercy University, and I was an elementary education major, then I transferred to Temple. I got my first degree in elementary education, then I did a Masters at Temple in Urban Education because I was teaching in the city. Next, I did a Masters in Education Administration at Cabrini, and then I got my Doctorate at Gwynedd Mercy.” Dr. Henrich continued, “It took me 10 years to get my undergraduate degree. I have four degrees, but I think it’s important for students to know that there is not just one four-year path. There are many pathways in order to reach success.”
Moving on, I asked Dr. Henrich if she always knew she wanted to work in the education field or if her path evolved. Without much hesitation, she replied, “I ALWAYS knew that I wanted to be a teacher, but I did not think I was ever going to be the Assistant Superintendent, haha! I always knew I loved working with kids and wanted that to be my career. I think I like kids more than adults, haha! They have so much potential, and it’s meaningful to me to know that I am pouring into them and giving them opportunities.”
Similarly, I asked Dr. Henrich what inspired her to pursue a career in education. With a smile, she instantly answered, “My mom was a teacher; I grew up in a family of teachers. My mom was always teaching us! If you ever came into our house when my sister and I were growing up, on the chair, it would say, ‘chair’; on the refrigerator, it would say, ‘refrigerator.’ I was raised by a teacher, so it was natural for me.”
Next, I asked Dr. Henrich if she had a mentor in life who influenced her career path, to which she readily replied, “Wow, that’s a big question. As I said before, my mom was definitely my first mentor when I started teaching. She really was the first person who taught me to be a teacher. I would also say my chemistry teacher in high school was the toughest teacher I ever had, but she challenged me in a way that I had never been challenged before, and I appreciated that. I also had a dean of students in high school, and she was tough but kind. So, I think when I would deal with students as a high school administrator, whenever I would interact with or discipline them, I would remember that she was tough but fair and remember to have empathy in my interactions and not make students feel worse. I think adults must realize that students are a work in progress, just like we are.”
Moving on, I asked Dr. Henrich what made her decide to join the Lower Moreland School District, to which she responded, “What an excellent question! I had been a high school administrator for a little over 12 years, and I was looking for a new challenge. And there is so much good in Lower Moreland that it felt like I would be lucky to be here. It feels like a place where people are so committed to students, learning, and growth.”
Next, I asked Dr. Henrich what the most rewarding aspect has been for her here at Lower Moreland so far, to which she answered, “The most rewarding aspect so far has been the opportunity to interact with the students. I am so impressed not just with the students I have interacted with on committees but also with students who talk with me in the hallways or even students I read to in their classes; everyone here is so positive. My goal here at Lower Moreland is to get to know others and for them to get to know me, then do the work to continue to help us grow and excel.”
Moving on, I asked Dr. Henrich if she could go back and give her younger self advice, what would that be? Without hesitation, she said, “I think if I could talk to my younger self, I would say that decisions that I thought were so critical weren’t. And that if there was something that I chose or tried and it didn’t work, I could choose and try again. Failure is a very common part of life, and we learn from it. We grow from it. And when we aren’t successful, just always try again.”
Next, segueing in a different direction, I asked Dr. Henrich what a typical day in the life of an Assistant Superintendent looks like. With a laugh, she replied, “Well, it consists of many meetings, but I try to go into at least one of the four schools a day—lots of meetings with administrators, faculty, students, and families. Every day is different since everything is still very new. A big part of my job is asking, ‘How can I help?’”
To conclude our conversation, I asked Dr. Henrich what fun fact she would be willing to share with the community, and with excitement, she replied, “I have one for you, and you are never going to believe it! When transferring from Gwynedd to Temple, I was a Philadelphia Park Ranger! I spent my summers at the zoo, giving tours and doing First Aid; it was such a fun experience!”
I want to personally thank Dr. Henrich for generously allowing me to sit down and interview her for this special article. Thank you for your genuine commitment to helping students thrive. I am so excited to welcome you to the Lower Moreland community! Your contributions to Lower Moreland will never go unnoticed, and your admirable career is only the beginning!
