BASA AdminiScope, May 2020

Spring 2020

Now More Than Ever - Leadership Matters By Dr. R. Kirk Hamilton

Wow! Never in your wildest dreams could you have imagined that the spring of 2020 would provide you with the unprecedented and unique challenges you have faced. These challenges are such that you had to confront them on a personal level, a professional level, and a systemic level. To close our state and nation down for months is unprecedented. The challenges and changes that came to bear have touched every aspect of our personal lives, our work lives, and life in our communities. Through all these challenges, superintendents have stepped up and provided the strong leadership required to chart a path through uncharted waters. I am in my 40th year in education. I thought I had seen it all, but obviously, I had not. Please humor me for a couple of paragraphs as I share some reflections on these past few months and some personal feelings I feel compelled to share as well. When school buildings were closed, you responded. Before being approved to continue to feed students, you continued to feed students. Your leadership and your commitment to your students' well-being was at the fore- front. How it would be paid for came later. You led, your staff responded, and as a result food security concerns for vulnerable students were addressed. For your efforts you received some press coverage, but the coverage was not reflective of the yeoman’s work you and your staff did to make it happen and keep it happening. Then there was the issue of continued remote learning opportunities. You jumped right in. At first, it may have felt like a couple of additional snow days. Days turned to weeks and weeks to months. Again, you stepped up to lead the charge. You assessed resources, partnered with your staff in planning meaningful student learning activities, and you turned to your fellow superintendents to compare notes, best practices, and successes. Even resources were shared between districts. Whether you had the luxury of digital resources or were preparing paper packets to send to students’ home, Ohio’s students were well provided for through your remote learning efforts. You also mastered the Zoom meeting. You quickly adapted to a new environment to learn and collaborate. Through your leadership, educators across the state were able to share and learn. Students were the benefi - ciary. You have dealt with the great challenge of graduation, year end activities, cancellation of sports, and you have been masterful. Leadership matters. Leadership, specifically your leadership, has made the difference as we have dealt with this pandemic. Your leadership has allowed elected officials to worry about other things knowing that education was being addressed and addressed effectively. Through these last two months you have heard many com - plaints about this, that, and the other. You have heard folks challenging the business closings and the health department guidelines. One thing that Ohioans have not complained about is education. While I never think you get enough credit, the fact that there has been great support for your efforts and appreciation for continuing the learning process for students speaks volumes for the quality of your efforts. Leadership matters and you have