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October 16, 2006
Thanks for the Momentum
By Carolyn Witt Jones
Have you ever tried to define leadership? It is remarkably difficult to do. It's difficult because each of us tends to have a different idea of what a leader looks, acts, and sounds like. For some, physical size is key; for others, it's brain power; and still for others, it's a charismatic personality or a long list of accomplishments that makes a leader. Whatever the definition, those in positions of leadership can tell you it's almost impossible to please everyone they are charged to lead. Perhaps then, leaders are defined as much by the positions they leave as those they fill.
At the end of this month, Kentucky will lose a leader when Gene Wilhoit, Kentucky Commissioner of Education for the past seven years, leaves this post to accept a position as executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers in Washington . State education and business leaders, legislators, employees, and those of us who know him personally expressed a deep, collective sigh of regret at the news of his departure. That in itself is a rarity. Although no one in a high-ranking position is immune from question or criticism, Wilhoit's tenure as our state's education commissioner leaves a legacy of progressive, insightful accomplishments that, if left in place, will benefit all of us for years to come, especially Kentucky's most valuable resource-our children.
The generosity with which he traveled across the state to talk and interact with the students he served is a quality that set the tone for his style of leadership. You could often find the commissioner sitting on the floor, talking and connecting with even the youngest of students in a classroom. His focus on learning and teaching never wavered. His willingness to listen intently, debate effectively, and sift tirelessly through countless proposals and ideas on education improvement set him apart, as did his well-grounded solutions and ability to compromise.
We could spend a great deal of time touting a long list of successes under Commissioner Wilhoit's watch including many that have gone unreported and unnoticed by the general public. Yet it was his approach that may have been his greatest gift to us.
Taking on the role of commissioner in the wake of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) was not an easy task. Wilhoit's keen understanding of what it takes to educate every child, his ability to navigate tumultuous political waters, answer naysayers, and still stay focused on the big picture, ensured that Kentucky would stay the course through what many outsiders consider among the most extraordinary and sweeping changes any state education system could make.
Now, it's our turn. As we say goodbye and wish Gene Wilhoit well in his new position, we must make certain that we continue the momentum of his legacy for positive, enlightened school reform. We must uphold his steadfast commitment to provide all the children of Kentucky with a quality, competitive education, regardless of background, point of view, or ability. The first step on this journey is to recruit a commissioner who echoes that vision and whose first priority is the students who will serve as our future.
Carolyn Witt Jones is executive director of The Partnership for Successful Schools.
