Award: Special Education Administrator of the Year Name: Alana Hughes-Hunter Title: Executive Director, Ontario-Montclair School District SELPA Region: 12 ACSA Highlights: Member since 2013; President of Association of West End School Administrators Charter, 2017-present. After years as a teacher and special education specialist, Alana Hughes-Hunter reached a turning point where she realized she could have a greater impact on students with special needs by becoming an administrator. So she did, and through her leadership, the Ontario-Montclair School District has instituted a number of programs that have helped teachers and staff better serve the needs of all students. Hughes-Hunter developed the district’s first professional development catalog for special education teachers, created an autism program to support teachers, and has ensured that all staff who work with special education students are trained by the Crisis Prevention Institute, which has better equipped them to de-escalate difficult situations. She has also built relationships with families, creating parent workshops that have elevated parents’ understanding of IEPs and special education law.  Described as a person of conviction who consistently does what is best for students, Hughes-Hunter’s reputation is well known in the special education community and beyond. “Her work ethic, positive attitude, and perseverance highlight a remarkable level of professionalism and commitment to students, families and colleagues,” said Superintendent James Hammond of the Ontario-Montclair School District. What’s your favorite book on leadership? My favorite book on leadership is Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers.”  What’s your favorite quote about leadership? “The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them.” — John Maxwell What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?  The best advice I have ever been given came from my current superintendent. I would not have been able to be as successful as I have been or survive my current position if not for his comment, “play a better game of chess than them.” That is, instead of reacting to a person or allowing her to dictate my reaction or response, I needed to reflect and anticipate her “move” or thinking to help guide me in my reaction and/or decision. What are the top five life hacks that you would recommend for a new administrator? 1. Balance between spiritual, health, family, and work lives help us be more productive and effective. 2. Tolerance in working with a variety of personalities and styles of working and getting tasks accomplished. 3. Identifying unspoken rules (culture) in any organization will ensure that you avoid any political or professional landmines. 4. Relationship-building and partnerships is critical in accomplishing any vision or goal. 5. Be flexible because there are many things we can and cannot control, and the ability to know the difference will help keep us focused on what matters. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome to get where you are? The biggest challenge that I had to overcome is learning not to be an authoritarian. My mother and father raised me to be a strong black woman, which I naturally applied to my leadership style. Once I learned the value of a collaborative approach and being vulnerable, it challenged my core values and approach to working with colleagues. Today, I proudly embrace a transformational leadership style, whereas I strive to increase subordinate empowerment and team effectiveness.   What are you most proud of accomplishing? I am most proud of developing specialized programs in my district to return students to district programs, which provided opportunities for students to be instructed alongside their non-disabled peers. In addition, the programs also saved the district millions of dollars.  Who is someone who inspires you?  My response depends on the setting. In my career path, I would credit my superintendent as the person who inspires me. However, in my personal life, my mother and children have always served as my inspiration.  How has ACSA supported you in your career/current position? ACSA has played an integral role in shaping my growth mindset and the importance of networking. As a result of my connections and interactions with fellow ACSA members, I have developed into a transformational leader, work diligently to build partnerships in the community, and have the opportunity to access resources and support throughout the county.  What bucket list item do you hope to accomplish this year?  Professionally, for this upcoming year, I hope to make strides in fostering inclusionary practices and mainstreaming opportunities.   The theme of the 2019 Leadership Summit is “Lead Well: Equity and Excellence.” What projects are you working on which have equity as their focus? Currently, I’m working on a five-year inclusion implementation plan for my district, with a primary focus of examining how the district currently provides specialized academic instruction, analyzing data, and ultimately implementing more inclusive models providing UDL.