Executive Viewpoint - Dr. Richard Abernathy

Viewpoint

We are on the second week of the COVID school year, and we have already overcome many significant c h a l l e n g e s . Administrators are dealing with many issues that were Dr. Richard Abernathy never taught in any

AAEA Executive Director graduate course or p r e p a r a t i o n program, and yet we are still surviving. How can we be surviving when we have never faced these issues before? It is called leadership.

When I was an administrator, I loved it when people would ask me about what my leadership theory was when I entered into a district. My answer was always the same….it depends. Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard developed the Situational Leadership Model in the late 60s and early 70s, and it still applies today. To put the model in simple terms, situational leadership implies that no one leadership model is the best, but a variety of models may be used depending on the situation. Effective leaders vary their practices depending on the group of people they are influencing as well as the task or job that needs to be accomplished. I am certainly a subscriber to the Situational Leadership Model.

In the last few months, you have probably shifted your leadership practices at various times. I am sure this has created some anxiety within yourself, but it has been necessary to move your planning forward for your staff, students, and community. But it is also hard to lead when you don’t know the rules, or the rules continue to change and evolve. This is exactly the environment we are living in now, and it will continue to be that way for a while.

Leading doesn’t mean you are controlling the events or even the outcome of a situation. But it does mean that you are steering your district in the best course of action and making adjustments as new data is being thrown at you. You have contingency plans based on the data, and those plans are flexible enough to give your kids and staff a chance to be successful in these unknown times. That is the best people can ask for at this time.

During the first two weeks of school, you’ve had to deal with quarantined students and staff. You had to change schedules, shift instruction for some or all of your students, cover classes, food service, maintenance, drive buses, etc., during this time so teachers could continue to be responsible for teaching kids and students could continue to participate. You had to monitor adults at extracurricular events who were not being socially responsible. You had to keep your boards and communities informed of the guidelines and the district’s response to COVID numbers. And, you had to answer media pressure on a daily basis.

You are making all of these changes, adjustments, and decisions with no playbook to refer to. Yet, you are surviving, and kids and staff are doing better because of your leadership. You probably do not get many pats on the back with people telling you that you are doing a good job as you continue to remind adults to social distance. But what is not being said is very important….you are making a difference.

I have said many times, but now it is more important than ever. Take care of yourself! Your body and your mind need you to take care of them so you can take care of others. No one will tell you that you shouldn’t worry about the buses over the weekend, having enough staff to cover classes on Monday, etc. But I will tell you, it is ok to spend some time taking care of yourself. Relax, regroup, exercise, go fishing, etc., but take care of yourself…. your family and your community are counting on you.

As we continue heading in uncharted waters, remember that we are here to support you any way we can. We may not have all of the answers, but we are certainly here to help you find those answers. Keep working for the kids and everything else will work out.