President’s Perspective - Debbie Atkinson

Perspective President’s

It takes a village to raise a child is an African proverb that means that an entire community of people must interact with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment. In education, our village includes all of our stakeholders at the building, school, and district level. I am truly thankful for my amazing village at Bergman School District. But, there is another part of my village that is critical to my personal and professional success and that is my state-wide network through AAEA.

The Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators is a united alliance of diverse school leaders and an effective force for the highest quality public education for all children. Our mission is to insure high standards of leadership by providing quality professional development, influencing education legislation and policy, stimulating and fostering support and building successful coalitions. The member benefits are listed as communication, professional development, legislative influence, coordination with other school-related organizations, placement assistance, professional staff recruitment assistance, and legal services.

Educators are a gregarious lot and the most amazing benefit of membership in AAEA is the access to networking. You can deepen your existing professional relationships and forge new contacts regularly. You make lasting ties with other educators. I encourage you to get involved with AAEA. Education is always evolving. It takes a village to stay current and creatively problem-solve, especially during these times of exponential change and struggle. Many of the relationships I have developed through the association are with people I can reach Debbie Atkinson AAEA Board President Elementary Principal Bergman School District

out to at any time and ask for advice or guidance on any of the many issues we face daily. On t o p o f t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l relationships I have formed friendships that go beyond school and will last long after I leave this profession. If I had not stepped out of my comfort zone to serve on the AAESP and the AAEA boards I would be missing out on these relationships that I treasure and cannot i m a g i n e d o i n g without.

Just a reminder that AAEA is an umbrella a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t w e l v e c o n s t i t u e n t educational administrator organizations. All school administrators who are members of AAEA are also members of at least one of the constituent organizations. If you value this component of your village as much as I do, then I also encourage you to invite your entire leadership team to become members of their respective umbrella organization. Some of your leaders do not have large departments or teams within your district as part of their village. They are especially needy of a larger village provided through their constituent group in AAEA.

Professional organizations are not a new idea and are certainly not limited to education; but hands down, AAEA has proven to be one of the best assets to my professional career. Surround yourself with professional support this year, lean on your AAEA village, and may you have your best year ever.