Thomas Etheridge Retires with 47 Years of Dedication to Innovation

Thomas “Tommy” Etheridge has worked in Norfolk Public Schools immediately after graduating from Norfolk Catholic High School in the 1970’s. Currently, his role is Senior Coordinator of Student Information Systems. He has seen technology transform over the last four and a half decades. From data processing to Artificial Intelligence, his time in the Information Technology department has not only changed but seen an accelerated jolt of digital literacy and usage in Norfolk Public Schools.

Question: How did you end up working in education and specifically, Norfolk Public Schools?
Etheridge: I was attending Vo-Tech (Norfolk Technical Center) as a senior in high school taking Data Processing. In March, my instructor indicated that NPS had an opening for a computer operator, working 4:00 p.m. to midnight. He indicated that if I was interested, he would write me recommendation based on how well I had performed in my class. I applied, was selected, and started work in April 1978.

Question: Tell me about what you did in your role(s) and why you stayed at NPS for so long?
Etheridge: I worked the 4-midnight shift in the computer room, running nightly jobs and other ad-hoc jobs. This was at a time when NPS had one business computer. Jobs were run one at a time on an IBM mainframe computer with 64k of memory. I transitioned to the day shift after about four years. Soon after my transition, I left NPS for a position as a lead computer operator/programmer trainee at a private company.

Then, I returned to NPS 11 months later as a computer programmer. Along the way, I was promoted to Programmer/Analyst; Systems Analyst; Senior Systems Analyst Manager in Student Information Systems, and Senior Coordinator in Student Information Systems. I have written programs for and worked closely with Research, Testing, and Statistics (now ARA), Gifted and Talented (Department of Rigor), Department of Guidance, and Special Education. I have had primary responsibility for student testing, enrollment, attendance, gifted, and special education applications. Also, I was the person with programming and primarily responsibility for optical mark readers (scanners). When I started with NPS, our files were in cards, tapes, and disks. NPS is now on its third student information system database. I stayed here for so long because I enjoyed what I was doing, liked the people I was working with, and felt the work was important to the education of the children of Norfolk.

Question: Why do you think your role/department is critical to NPS?
Etheridge: Without Student Information Systems, there would be no electronic student records for students. Enrollment, attendance, scheduling, grades, student test results, discipline, special education information, ELL information, gifted information, report cards, and transcripts…it is all a part of the SIS. Additionally, SIS has been responsible for collecting and reporting data for NPS administrators, the state, and the federal government. From running jobs, to writing programs, to major area responsibility, to responsibility for the department, I’ve had my hands in collecting, storing, and reporting student data for NPS for 47+ years.

Question: What did you enjoy most about your role?
Etheridge: The most exciting and rewarding time for me was in the early 2000’s when I led a project that included our special education department, other districts from across the Commonwealth, and our software vendor. We designed and implemented a special education module that allowed us to collect much more special ed data than we had ever collected and included reporting. That data was used by NPS and other divisions to better serve this population of students and to help with compliance.

Question: What will you miss the most in your role?
Etheridge: Creating new programs and working with the people of NPS, especially my team in Student Information Systems (SIS) and the Information Technology team.

Question: What advice would you give to someone in your role and in general at NPS?
Etheridge: Hire good people and take care of your team as best you can. You can’t do it all yourself, so learn to trust your people. Protect your integrity. Remember, it’s about the kids…do what’s right for them.

As Etheridge closes this nearly 50-year chapter with Norfolk Public Schools, we would like to thank him for his commitment and transformative service. He has had the privilege to support, staff, students and teachers in his roles.

Norfolk Public Schools is grateful to Thomas “Tommy” Etheridge for all he has done in the division and wish him an amazing retirement.