Evon Gutierrez believes passing out hugs is part of principal's job: Mrs. G grew up poor and always fought for underdog schools.

Byline: David Perlmutt

Mar. 29--It's easy to understand why just-retired educator Evon Gutierrez has such a big heart for the underdog.

She grew up one herself.

That was in remote Caldwell County, between Whitnel and Hudson south of Lenoir. Her father died when she was 5. Her mother worked in the office at Hudson Cotton Mill, six days a week with one week off a year, and saved what she could to send her two daughters to college.

Grandparents, aunts and uncles, helped rear Evon and her younger sister Martha.

"We grew up poor, but didn't know it," Gutierrez said recently. "Mother taught us to always aim for the high steps. Her favorite saying was: 'Stand up against the wall and get yourself together and go help someone else."

Good thing for Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. For nearly 40 years, Gutierrez was a CMS teacher and administrator, principal at J.H. Gunn Elementary School since 1996 -- as good a fit for the principal as it was for the…