Changing Mindsets Before It’s Too Late

EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE

What does the Blockbuster brand bring to mind? Friday nights, fighting with your sibling over “E.T.” versus “Grease,” pretending not to look at the covers in the mysterious R-rated section. Nostalgia.

It’s now a cherished brand from the past because it could not, or did not, anticipate or adapt to the rapidly changing technology trends and consumer behavior. It continued to operate under a defunct mindset and framework for how its customers interacted with its products and its business model.

How many of us in leadership positions still operate in a way that does not recognize — or plan for — how the world is shifting around us?

Superintendents stand at the intersection of leadership, innovation and education, witnessing firsthand the remarkable changes shaping the future of our schools and, ultimately, our society. Our front-row seat to progress comes with an obligation to not just embrace change but to embody a growth mindset. Often the political or societal landscape we are working in changes, sometimes subtly, without our immediate realization, and these changes demand a reevaluation of roles, positions and strategies within our educational organizations.

Reconsider Your Model

This evolution of roles and positions within our organizations reflects the broader dynamics at play in the world. As education leaders, we must exemplify continuous learning. We must welcome change with curiosity and enthusiasm. We must be willing to question the status quo and be eager to explore new, and at times unimaginable, possibilities. We also must be committed to building a culture of continuous improvement, where feedback is welcomed, failures are viewed as learning opportunities and success is shared.

As superintendent, I encouraged my team to “fail forward.” So we employed a flat organizational structure where each principal and associate superintendent operated at the same level. This enabled a shared leadership decision-making structure built on collaboration and consensus.

The end of the school year offers an excellent opportunity to spend time reflecting on your current leadership model and school district this summer to see what areas may have shifted and require a recalibrated perspective as you enter the next school year. I encourage everyone to use this time to reflect, reimagine and perhaps remake your leadership and learning agenda.

Advocacy Conference

I look forward to seeing many of you at AASA’s annual Legislative Advocacy Conference next month in Washington, D.C. AASA members and friends will hear from education policy experts and U.S. Department of Education staff, as well as meet with their senators and representatives on Capitol Hill.

If you haven’t had a chance to register yet, there’s still time! Register now so our collective voices can be a powerful chorus for change on the critical issues facing our country.

Leaving a Legacy

Mort Sherman’s retirement this month marks the end of a significant chapter in the national educational leadership landscape. As the senior associate executive director for AASA’s Leadership Network, he has been pivotal in expanding the network’s reach and impact, transforming it from offering fewer than five programs to more than 50 under his guidance.

His vision and leadership significantly enhanced the professional development opportunities available to superintendents and school leaders nationwide and strengthened the largest professional development program for superintendents in the country.

Mort is tirelessly dedicated to advancing educational leadership and innovation. His efforts have left a lasting legacy on the AASA and the broader educational community, contributing to a culture of continuous learning, collaboration and excellence among educational leaders. He will be greatly missed, but we wish him the absolute best as he embarks on his next chapter.

Finally, we are pleased to welcome Kristine Gilmore and John Malloy as the newest additions to our team. Kristine is our new associate executive director of the Leadership Network and brings more than two decades of educational leadership experience.

As assistant executive director on the Leadership Network team, John brings his extensive experience leading one of North America’s largest districts, known for its commitment to social, emotional and cognitive growth.

Their appointments signal a continued commitment to excellence and leadership development, promising to build upon AASA’s legacy of support and vision for superintendents across the United States. Their roles will focus on enhancing superintendent success and fostering educational innovation, drawing on their rich backgrounds and deep commitment to AASA’s mission.

I hope you all have an awesome summer. Be well, my friends.

David Schuler is AASA executive director. Twitter: @AASA_ED