Executive Viewpoint - Dr. Mike Hernandez

Change is always something that gets a mixed reaction. Some reluctantly accept change while others are excited about new opportunities. The transition of leadership that has occurred at the AAEA this past six months has been a wonderful experience for me. Dr. Abernathy has modeled great leadership and has served as a strong support to me during this time. In fact, it has been less like “change” and more like “evolution.” Our organization has had to evolve to meet the needs of our members during this time and the evolution has moved us in a positive direction. There is much energy and excitement about where AAEA is currently and where we can be in the future. I look forward to being a part of it. The conversations about our organization have been supportive in helping to move us forward. My current focus is on building relationships, getting to know our current members and non-members, and learning ways to increase the support we provide. My goal is to make sure that I connect with administrators in such a way that I know what they want and need. From my standpoint, this time has been purely about listening and hearing from members and non-members on their view of the world and AAEA, and so far the conversations have been impressive because they maintained a focus on students while dealing with the pandemic.

When I look at strategic planning within AAEA, it’s really a question of listening to what the members want, listening to the different parts of the association, and working with the board and the leadership of the organization. AAEA is on solid footing and has a great group of constituent organizations that really make all the support possible. We are truly a shining example in the country of what administrator collaboration should look like. I have always seen myself as an “idea guy.” It is my hope to bring new ideas that best support the administrators in our state to really make changes that result in positive student outcomes and strengthen our voice on policy decisions. As an executive director, I will focus on helping to make sure that the AAEA staff and board know what is possible in terms of administrator support and service. I want to study other associations in Arkansas and at the national level to see what they are doing that leads to success. This will help guide our organization in delivering outstanding benefits to members. We also need to look at the analytics that are available to us through our membership systems and other data sources to inform our decisions for member support. We need to make sure that our changes complement the traditional operations of AAEA.

Since I am new to this role, I want to provide a little information about my personal and professional background. My family moved to Arkansas from Texas when I was in the sixth grade and I attended school in the Paris School District. From there we moved to Fountain Lake where I graduated. I received a B.S. in Biology and a M.A. in Mathematics Education from the University of Central Arkansas and completed my Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Harding University. I have been a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent in various districts in Arkansas and Louisiana and have also served in ADE leadership and as the Arkansas State Superintendent. I am married to the love of my life, Susan, who is a cardiology nurse practitioner with the Arkansas Heart Hospital. We have three beautiful daughters named Sophie, Olivia and Josie that attend the Hot Springs School District.

I will close by telling you how excited I am about this opportunity to lead your administrator’s association. We have an excellent team assembled to help serve you and we will continuously be looking for ways to improve. We have some rough waters ahead as we continue to deal with the pandemic, but I have never been prouder of all of the boards, administrators, teachers and staff members that have answered the call to serve students. Your hard work does not go unnoticed and I give you a very heartfelt “Thank You!” Let me know how I can help.