The Administrator Newsletter - March 2020

EXECUTIVE

Viewpoint A Big Change For the “Best Job in Education” The AAEA Board has been very busy this year and it is only March!

As a school administrator, you know the importance of having a board who supports your districts, kids and staff. When a board member gets elected who has a personal agenda it makes for very interesting and frustrating times. I have been blessed over the past ten years at AAEA to have a board who wants what is best for our kids, districts and administrators. This year the board had the extra duty to hire the future leader of AAEA, and I think they did an excellent job.

Dr. Richard Abernathy

AAEA Executive Director

The AAEA Board hired Dr. Mike Hernandez as the Executive DirectorElect and he will be the Executive Director starting January 1, 2021.

Dr. Hernandez is excited to accept this great job. I have always said that this is the best job in education and I still believe it! Dr. Hernandez will bring a variety of experience with him including coach, teacher, principal, athletic director, superintendent, Deputy Commissioner of ADE, and current State Superintendent of DESE.

I can talk about his experience, but when it comes down to it, it’s about what he brings to the table. I will tell you what I see in Dr. Hernandez. I see someone who has a passion for giving kids a better educational opportunity to systemically move Arkansas forward. I see someone who listens very carefully and brings people together. I see someone who is not afraid to try new things and programs but also knows that it is the people who will make or break a school. I see someone who has a vision for leadership training and policy development. Ultimately, I see someone who will be able to move AAEA to the next level. There are opportunities here to make some significant changes to better serve our administrators.

I am really proud to be able to work with Dr. Hernandez for a few months, but I am really looking forward to see what he is able to do over the next several years. I am proud of where we are now as an association, but like everything else, you have to keep moving forward and getting better.

I know you will congratulate Dr. Hernandez and give him the same support you have shown me over the past decade. But, keep your hat on because we have a lot of work to do before then.

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1 Administrator March 2020