A wise person once said that there are two types of people — those who bring positive energy into a room and those who drain it. It is up to each of us to decide which type of person we will be.
Larry Hutchison is known for bringing positive energy into his classroom, into the school hallways and into the lives of those who were blessed to have him as a teacher, to work beside him as a fellow educator or to call him a friend.
On the somber note of the pandemic, he brought a lively, successful 45-year career in the field of education to a close. Although all teachers were saddened by having to complete the school year in the virtual realm, it was particularly sad for Hutchison who was not yet ready to say goodbye to his final class of students that he would fondly call his last hurrah.
He began his teaching career in Frankton where he taught for 13 years. During that time, he completed his license as an administrator as he felt drawn to expand what he could offer to education and to provide positive leadership to others. His career as an elementary school principal began at Northeast Sullivan where he spent three years. It was at the end of his third-year tenure as principal there that he accepted a position with the Crawfordsville Community School Corporation.
His first nine years at CCSC he served as an administrator at Nicholson, Hoover and John Beard schools. For the past 20 years, he has served back in the classroom which Hutchison believes was his true calling all along. Known for his superb style of classroom management, his sense of humor, genuine warmth with the students and his ability to brighten the day, he was frequently sought out by parents with a request to have their child in his classroom. Many students have identified Hutchison through the years as their favorite teacher, one who made learning fun and gave them confidence in their abilities.
Throughout the first half of his career in education, Hutchison also was an avid coach. He coached elementary and middle school youth in most all sports including football, basketball, Little League baseball, wrestling, track, cross country and summer fitness. His dedication to the younger students, who were just beginning their experience with athletics, was evident in the hours he spent connecting with these young athletes providing them the solid physical and mental foundation that would serve them well for years to come. Hutchison impacted the lives of so many of our youth both in the classroom and in the arena of athletics.
Hutchison is married to his wife of 43 years, Sandy, a recently retired nurse practitioner. They have two sons, Dustin (Brandy) of Zionsville and Adam (Amy) of Crawfordsville. They delight in the company of their nine grandchildren. Larry and Sandy are making plans to travel and to enjoy their newly found time together and with their family. They are wished good health and happiness as they begin this new path on their life’s journey.
