Interview with James Hightower III, Director of Community Engagement
James Hightower III joined Potomac in July 2022 and dove right in to meeting as many people as possible. When encountering someone new, James doesn't just say hello. He stops to ask a few questions to deepen the first encounter and make it more personal. His natural interest in human connections, affable nature, and keen insights align perfectly with his new role as director of community engagement. James has already had a big impact at Potomac, and we look forward to all that he will bring in the future.
Juna McDaid, assistant head of school for academics, recently sat down for a conversation with James, to get his thoughts on his new role at Potomac and the importance of an inclusive and engaged community.
Ms. McDaid: James, welcome to Potomac! We have enjoyed having you join our team, and you have a great sense of humor, but before we get to the more fun questions, let's start with a few questions about Potomac and your work. Can you begin by telling us what drew you to Potomac?
Mr. Hightower: Well, I had been to Potomac 5-6 years ago to interview for another position, and although I ultimately ended up at Germantown Friends School, I never felt as if the books were closed on my relationship with The Potomac School. Sometimes when you interview for a job and it doesn’t work out, you move on and forget about it, but I felt like this particular chapter of my life was still open and unexplored. After moving on to GFS, I still remembered the people that I met here, how the campus looked, the lovely Evermay neighborhood surrounding it, and so forth. Potomac made an impression on me, which I carried with me over the past few years. The school's mission and location both appealed to me, as well. When I left the admissions office at Johns Hopkins University in 2001, I always said that I wanted to come back to the DMV to settle, and now, here I am!
Ms. McDaid: Entering a new environment can be overwhelming, with so much to learn and so many people to meet. How has your transition been? Any surprises?
Mr. Hightower: My role here is a new one for the school. When I think about flying this director of community engagement plane while I’m building it, I remember that the foundation of my work is relationships. Since I started in July, faculty and staff, trustees, students, families, parent committee representatives, and alumni have all been welcoming and made themselves available to me. If there has been any surprise, it's that the people in this community have been so open and ready to talk and collaborate. I'm very grateful for that.
Ms. McDaid: It's great to hear that others have been available to you, because school life can often feel like a blur. It sounds like you've been able to ask questions and delve into what is important to Potomac. Can you reflect on how you see our mission and values being lived throughout the community?
Mr. Hightower: I think the mission and values of this community are evident in our robust service learning program and in the way the students tackle challenges and opportunities, both in academics and extracurriculars. I also saw it during my interview process, when a Middle School student politely opened a door for me and responded with “yes, sir’” and “thank you.” After three months here, it feels as if our core values really are the bastion of how we educate our students.
Ms. McDaid: Another aspect of your job is to work with a cohort of seniors in college counseling, which is what you did for many years before arriving at Potomac. How have those connections with families and students through the college process helped your transition to your new role?
Mr. Hightower: Working with my cohort of 10 seniors has provided me with a lens into the student experience, particularly in understanding what Potomac students do with their non-academic time – clubs, athletics, student leadership, summer study and work opportunities, and more. I am able to see how Potomac students have built their resumes and become well positioned for admission to the colleges of their choice.
Ms. McDaid: What have been some highlights of your work so far?
Mr. Hightower: I've enjoying sitting on the Administrative Team, chaperoning the Congressional Black Caucus field trip, and having direct access to and support from board members.
Ms. McDaid: Thank you for sharing these observations and experiences of your first few months at Potomac. Now we can get to some more fun questions to get to know you better. I'll start by asking about some things we might not know about you that are interesting.
Mr. Hightower: First of all, I am a huge foodie! I’m always looking for bold new food experiences. There aren’t too many things I wouldn’t try or taste when it comes to food. I have owned and operated my own BBQ business since 2005 (Smoker’s Bar-B-Que). We are a mobile catering/food truck-style business. The other fun fact is that my cousin, Wyomia Tyus, is the first U.S. Olympian to retain the gold medal in the 100m dash.
Ms. McDaid: And now for something that could be potentially controversial. Who are your favorite sports teams? This one might make some rivals more than friends, based on your answer.
Mr. Hightower: I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, so my loyalty remains to Pittsburgh sports (Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, University of Pittsburgh). Pittsburgh has always been a phenomenal sports city with an INTENSE loyalty, particularly to the Steelers. I mean, the entire city is a ghost town Sundays at 1:00 pm during the season. Everyone is either at the game, at home watching the game, or out watching the game. Even the clergy will cut their sermons a little short in order to be done by 1:00! In Pittsburgh in the fall and winter, your whole weekend is scheduled around the Steelers.
Ms. McDaid: I've also learned that you love music. Could you share what kind of music you listen to?
Mr. Hightower: I learned at a young age to appreciate every genre. My best friend since second grade is Syrian. Once we started driving to school, the rule was that whoever drove also controlled the music. So I was forced to listen to EVERYTHING, not just hip-hop and R&B, which is where I primarily lived at that time.
Ms. McDaid: And for one last question, if you would recommend a book, what book would it be?
Mr. Hightower: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. I'd be happy to chat with members of the Potomac community about this book or anything else. I'm looking forward to getting to know more and more people here, as we build a stronger community together. Thanks for the warm welcome.