Her Story
About Magnolia
Magnolia Hutchins is the Director of Special Services, Preschool Director, and Assistant Principal in Franklin Twp, NJ. She entered the education field after working as a corporate editor and as a one-to-one paraprofessional with a child with autism, which inspired her path. Hutchins earned her bachelor's degree at Rutgers, followed by a master's degree in special education, and taught special education in public schools for 20 years. She later obtained a second master's degree in educational leadership from Montclair University during the COVID period and transitioned into leadership roles. Currently completing her doctorate with a dissertation on general education teacher preparation for the special education inclusion model, she received the Outstanding Professional Achievement in Administration and Supervision award from Montclair University in 2025. Hutchins belongs to NJAEL and NJPSA. She emphasizes being hands-on and visible, building relationships, and fostering a supportive culture. Hutchins attributes her success to early resilience and the support of others who believed in her, and she values authenticity, self-compassion, mindfulness, peace, acceptance, and inclusion.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Magnolia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think resilience. I learned resilience at a very early age, and independence. And I think that the support of people around me, and people that have believed in me, and given me the message that I can succeed when I thought I couldn't. So, a mix of learning resilience early, and the people that have elevated me in my life.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You have to fail, and get comfortable with failing, because only after you're comfortable with failing, you're able to grow and work beyond that failure. So, if you're failing, and you're uncomfortable, that means you're doing it right.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't not say what you're afraid of saying. Say it, because what you have and your experience is valuable, and in order for people to see that value, they've got to hear it from you. So when you're sitting in that meeting, or you're in a situation where there's something you want to say, say it. And the results might not be what you hoped for, but you have to say it and be okay with just putting it out there, because putting it out there is the first step to that confidence.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In education, the biggest challenge I firmly believe in will always be measuring people by test scores. I believe that children and people are way more than the numbers of test scores, and unfortunately, that's what our value is placed on, as educators, as students. And really, I think there's a better metric, to measure people by, and I think that's, personal success and employability after school. Opportunities are better teacher preparation, and better management of teachers. So teachers work best when they have autonomy. And I think there is a tide of educational leaders that are starting to come in that are more like me, and more compassionate, and relational, that are helping teachers kind of find their own strengths.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say that not worrying really so much what other people think, because what other people think is a judgment on them and not on you, so I would say kind of authenticity, and searching for who you are, finding compassion in yourself, you know, so I would say, like, my values are self-compassion, mindfulness and peace. And acceptance and inclusion.
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