Christopher Sutton, a 1995 graduate of George Washington High School, recently shared how his experiences in Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) influenced his life and career. After high school, Sutton attended Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis before transferring to Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. He earned an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and later completed a master’s degree in sociology while working as an administrator at Lincoln University for over ten years.
Currently, Sutton works for Spaulding for Children in Jefferson City, Missouri. In this role, he develops training products for child welfare professionals under a federal grant.
Reflecting on his time at IPS, Sutton said: “It opened the pathway to where I am now personally and professionally. As a former foster kid, I didn’t have someone to teach me the basics that a child should learn from their parents. I had Coach Elliott, who taught me the fundamentals of basketball, which opened doors for me to attend college on a scholarship. My career paths have always sought to teach others what Coach Elliott taught me. I can do more than I think I can if I work at it consistently.”
Sutton recalled several teachers and administrators who played important roles during his high school years: “Coach J. Pearson, Coach Elliott, Mr. Fox, and a lot of the administration at George Washington (GW) filled some major voids in my high school experience. On senior night, I recall Mr. Fox offering to walk out as they called my name as my foster parent wasn’t able to attend and my brother was running late. The reassurance he provided that I would be reminded that I was alone in front of the entire school meant a lot.”
He also described how IPS shaped his personal growth: “My experiences at GW helped mold my identity and allowed me to begin finding my confidence. Who knew that learning how to do a layup would lead to me being a first generation college graduate who has worked in higher education for over a decade, teaching others the lessons many of the staff at GW taught me.”
Discussing skills gained from IPS that remain valuable today, Sutton said: “The knowledge gained that fuels who I am and why I do what I do is simple. Each of us has something to teach and/or pour into each other if we take the time out to identify what they are in need of. This has inspired me to launch an LLC offering training and consulting services to child welfare agencies from someone with lived expertise.”
Though he lost contact with George Washington High School after leaving for college, Sutton stays updated online about current student achievements: “I lost contact with GW when I left for college, but I follow them and the current student success online. I would advise students to enjoy learning how to learn because that is the foundation you’ll build your future on. Develop your character because that will open doors your talents cannot. Embrace what scares you the most because the you desire to be is found there.”
Addressing challenges faced during his time at IPS as a foster child struggling with belongingness, Sutton added: “Being a foster kid and not feeling like I belonged or fit in. Finding a basketball coaching staff and team that welcomed me and allowed me to be just me. Not a foster kid. Not a poor kid. Just a kid, which is a lot of you understand what being in foster care means.”
