President’s Perspective Brian Kirkendoll, AAEA Board President
A Healthy and Vibrant AAEA
On July 11th, I was fortunate to attend a national conference in Louisville, KY. I, along with three other AASSP board members, represented Arkansas at the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Education Summit. Over two and a half days we shared experiences and insights, collaborated with other school leaders to generate solutions to the most pressing issues affecting our schools, and created actionable strategies to transform education for students. In addition, as we were finishing our time in Louisville, the National Association of Elementary Administrators convened with a similar group of educators from around the country. I am grateful to AAEA for allowing administrators to be present and part of national conversations through conventions and summits. I have never attended an advocacy or leadership conference where something beneficial wasn’t gained. One area always seems crystal clear: our state association is one of the most organized, well-led, and well-rounded organizations in the United States. AAEA is a flourishing association which is held in high regard. Our summer conference is better attended than that of California, New York, and many other states. Furthermore, our problems appear minor and our educational forecast is much brighter than a large majority of the rest of the nation. 5
