“It’s what I like to call ‘simplexity,’” continued Fullan. “The simple part is that there are a small number of things you have to get right, and the complex part is that you have to get them right in connection with people.”
Fullan also gave advice on what can be most detrimental to effective leadership.
“Don’t look too far in the future, especially with no strategy (that can withstand scrutiny) in place,” he explained.
This, said Dan Domenech, executive director of AASA, is one of President Obama’s mistakes when dealing with pressing matters in education.
“We heard, and were led to believe, that very quickly after being elected Obama was going to completely revamp, if not nullify, No Child Left Behind (NCLB). But here we are, years later, and now not only are we still in talks about this, but we might be reducing some of the restrictions set.”
Domenech said AASA is frustrated with what he refers to as the four ‘N’s’:
1. NCLB;
2. No reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) imminent;
3. No remuneration; and
4. No money.
“There are ways to make sure this doesn’t happen,” said Fullan. “First, know your current stage of performance before you make goals for the future; then, compare this performance year to year, not in chunks, such as 2005 compared to 2011, but 2005 compared to 2006 to 2007 to 2008, etc.; and finally, have a concrete strategy, not just ideas, to get there.”
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