Capital City is excited to welcome John Henry, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, at the United Negro College Fund to Capital City’s Board of Trustees
In his role on the finance committee, he will provide critical fiduciary oversight and guidance of our PK3-12th grade school that serves more than 1,000 students annually through a project-based learning approach.
Mr. Henry brings more than 20 years of experience in financial management and oversight to his voluntary role on the Board of Trustees. “John brings just what we need as we move towards our 30th year in 2030 – a strong background in financial strategic approaches and a commitment to education for our city’s children,” noted Head of School Laina Cox. “He has already hit the ground running, and we are excited to see what his leadership brings to our Board of Trustees,” she continued.
Below is a short excerpt of an interview with Mr. Henry about his background, interests, and hopes for Capital City as a Board Trustee.
Question: Every board member has a ‘why.’ What was it during your first visit to Capital City that made you want to commit your time here?
Answer: Seeing all of the dedication from the teachers and assistant teachers. I was drawn to the banners of the colleges that seniors were accepted to (in the High School) as it really opens up the realm of possibilities for young people. None of this (college) is outside of the realm of possibility. When they see these things, they see it’s possible.
Question: If you could go back in time and attend Capital City as a student, which part of our learning model would have excited you the most?
Answer: In each classroom, I noticed that kids at different levels were all in the same room. When I was growing up, when you did excel, you got put in a different room. I remember how it made people feel when kids were pulled from the class. But looking back, if we had been in the same room, maybe others would have seen that they could do it too and just needed more practice, and once they learned it, they’d be right there too with us.
Question: How did your own education lead you to become an advocate for schools?
Answer: I was the first in my family to graduate from college. I went to Virginia State University and Howard Business School. I got a lot of certifications. Where I am now is a direct result of my education. I saw that when the teachers take an interest in you, there’s a limitless possibility to what you can accomplish. The sad thing is that everyone doesn’t get that, but at Capital City, from the whole team, they put a lot of effort into teaching the young people as individuals and help them realize they can do a lot of wonderful things. I saw how a lot of thought and effort goes into teaching and even students re-calibrating their work, creating multiple drafts and looking at how they could have improved. This approach gives the mindset of continually trying to improve, which is an important skill to have.
Question: What excites you about being part of the Board of Trustees for Capital City?
Answer: I’m excited to lean into a mission that I really believe in and lean into an institution that is really doing some great work and see if I can continue to make a difference.
Question: You’ve had an impressive career at UNCF. How do you see yourself using what you’ve gained through your professional experience in helping Capital City grow in the coming years?
Answer: I’m excited to make different connections to the school, Laina, and the staff and bring different opportunities to the school and get institutions to be on the forefront of supporting our future thinkers and leaders. It takes investment and effort.