Executive
Viewpoint
It is hard to believe that we are in November. People often say that time flies when you are having fun. I bet some of you say that time flies when you are working in a chaotic time too! Regardless, I am thankful for all of you and grateful for the opportunity to lead this organization that supports administrators across our state. Thanksgiving, which is right around the corner, is a time to reflect on things for which we are thankful. Some of the items in no particular order that come to mind are below. •
Dr. Mike Hernandez AAEA Executive Director
The reason we are all in this business is for the students. These boys and girls have taken on the issues that have faced them and their school community. “Resilient” is a term that describes students as they have been able to change course midstream in dealing with masks, quarantines, and virtual learning. We all know that students are dealing with difficult situations at school and home that were exacerbated during the pandemic. Even so, students have kept a positive attitude and enjoy being in the educational environment. We must remain vigilant to protect our students from the factors we can control and keep that spark for learning alive.
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The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on teachers, instructional and classified staff. We should all be thankful for their can-do attitudes and patience as we navigate the new educational landscape. Arkansas teachers have proven to be fully committed to keeping student education as a top priority for our state. This commitment has been shown by setting up makeshift hybrid classrooms, working with parents, and learning new ways to serve kids. I have appreciated my kids' teachers as they have found creative ways to keep them focused on the right things, whether through plexiglass, a computer screen, or keeping me updated on the Remind App. Teachers may be sacrificing their time to cover classrooms, monitor lunch lines, or get behind the wheels of school buses. Teachers have shown classroom leadership with a positive attitude while overcoming their own fears and health concerns to support our students. Technology, finance, custodial, cafeteria, and transportation staff have all gone to great lengths to creatively rethink how they do business. Everything required to make schools run effectively has continued even with the added duties and stress of our team members. Remember to check on your staff regularly and continue to find ways to support them as they do their work.
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We should all be thankful to the parents that have entrusted us to serve their children. They have been fantastic in their support and, in some cases, on the frontline of remote learning implementation. There has been a tidal wave of changes that are constantly coming at parents. I know I have had a hard time keeping up with all the health guidelines, learning tools, and changes that have been part of the response to Covid-19. I am thankful for those parents that have maintained a sense of teamwork, humor, and commitment to ensuring that their kids stay on track in school. Parental support is critical to the success of our mission in helping students learn and be successful in life.
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Education-related vendors have stepped up to help schools in significant ways. AAEA is very fortunate to have great partnerships with many companies that work with schools in Arkansas. We could not do what we do without them. Many of these companies have answered the call to provide Continued…
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