An interview with the Executive Director of the Association of Latino Superintendents & Administrators (ALAS), Dr. Maria Armstrong, about the challenges she has faced leading ALAS during a pandemic, and the vast background she has in education.
An interview with the Executive Director of the Association of Latino Superintendents & Administrators (ALAS), Dr. Maria Armstrong, about the challenges she has faced leading ALAS during a pandemic, and the vast background she has in education.
Samantha Wilcox 0:02
Hello, everyone and welcome to emerging trends in higher ed. My name is Samantha Wilcox. I am your host for today's podcast. Joining us today is Heather Millward, our senior manager of academic partnerships at North Central University. Heather will be speaking with one of our partner organizations, and one of their incredible directors. Heather, would you like to tell us a little bit about Dr. Armstrong today?
Heather Millward 0:26
Yes, Samantha, thanks for that introduction. Today we're going to join Dr. Maria Armstrong, the executive director of all US, the Association of Latino administrators and superintendents, North Central University and all US joined together in October 2020, to offer their membership based opportunities to continue their education at NC U. Dr. Armstrong, thanks for joining us today, as the executive director, I'd like to hear your take on the association and what all of us hopes to accomplish under your leadership per your website by the year 2026, Latino children will make up 30% of the school age population, how does this impact and influence the decisions you make and have made regarding the direction of the association?
Dr. Maria Armstrong 1:07
Well, first of all, Heather, Thank you and see you for having me be a part of this podcast. And on behalf of the Board of Directors for for Alaska, I'll tell you we're super excited to have joined in this partnership. And so as the executive director, you know, I my board is comprised of sitting superintendents, I with the exception of two, one is in higher ed. And the other one is in private equity with the exception of 301 just retire.
So, you know, they're all sitting suits, and having been a superintendent myself, quote, retired superintendent, but this position as executive director for the national organization has really come at a time where as everyone has been impacted by the the past year, you know, we have been very strategic about the partnerships that we're engaging with, because as you mentioned, you know, we are looking towards the future.
And the future is not only just around the corner, for us, it has been something that we've been very aware of for quite some time, which is why that 2026 indicator is quoted on our website, you see, for quite some time, actually, we have been looking at how to better serve, not just by increasing the capacity and the number of Latinos, superintendents and administrators across the nation. But moreover, to really work side by side with anyone who are in positions of leadership that can best support our Latino students. And so as a, you know, majority minority now, all the more while we are really fixed on making sure that our partners and and any programs that we offer, are those that are building the capacity, and the knowledge base of those who are serving Latino students, that's really our focus is about how do we serve better serve our Latino students primarily in the areas of addressing some very, very long standing issues?
Heather Millwardr 3:27
That's great. So I wanted to ask you, before we dive in more on questions about the association, I was reading an article from the Pew Research Center that came out in August of last year, and it was mentioning the gender neutral pan ethnic label Latinx. It's an emerged as an alternative used by various news outlets, governments universities to describe the nation's Hispanic population. And I think having a conversation on what the word means and how those that aren't as familiar with it, use it correctly would be helpful. So I wanted to ask, you know, what does the word mean to you? How do you use it? And if there's any difference in you know, there's there's Latin slash Oh, Latin slash, a, and then Latin x. And I didn't know if it was more generational or less, a little bit of a lesson on that?
Dr. Maria Armstrong 4:18
Well, first of all, you know, I'm not going to claim to be an expert, but I can share with you that,
you know, I also host co hosts a vodcast. And so this has been something that we have inquired about just internally as well as externally. And I say that in the in the sense that, you know, it's a great thing that we're in education because if you don't love learning, then you're you're just not going to love the game.
And for me, learning is the game. So the more that we can learn about the differences and the purposes of labels to begin with. You know, it's very interesting to me how You know, how you mentioned? Is it? Are we using it correctly? Well, internally, that conversation has been taking place, even amongst our own, folks, because we are such a very diverse group within, you know, within the Latino culture population, we we vary from region to region, because we encompass so many regions, not just here in the US, but but abroad as well. And in other countries. So, you know, for us having this, this dialogue has been one that has been so, so curious and enriching to me, and so I can't share with you that we have brought in, you know, various professors and experts on the subject.
And, and we still find ourselves where you mentioned, something about isn't generational? Well, you know, um, without having to share my exact age, not that I'm, you know, I will pause about sharing it, but I can tell you, when I was growing up, you know, being a chief gunner, was, is associated with a certain generation. And, you know, we didn't want to be called Latinos, we didn't want to be called Hispanics, we wanted to be called Chicanos. And there was because there was a political climate that was happening at that particular time, where we wanted to be distinguished as such. So my mindset immediately went to, Oh, is this a generational thing? Is that why Latin x is, is now you know, being rooted in that sense. And to be quite frank with you, it's like having these various discussions, it's a little bit of everything, which is just, you know, again, a testament to the richness of our culture. And so there are folks who are will share with you within our organization to say, you know, you can, you can be trendy about it and call it Latinx, you can, but we're not giving up our Hispanic, we fought very long and hard to be labeled as Hispanic in a certain part of the region, we're not given that up. And then you talk to other folks in other states and regions, and you know, they'll, they'll say, just quite the opposite. It's like, we've never been called Hispanics, I never want to be called Hispanic, I am a Latino, Latina. And so there therein lies the dialogue.
And, and I also share with you that, you know, when you talk about the gender neutrality of the label, and it's so it's kind of encompassing word, some people use it in that sense, other people use it in the, in their political frame. So so then it becomes very, you know, how it's used by certain folks within various ages as well as regions. And so I think that the, the bottom line that I've come up with is this, you know, we're so quick to want to label things for identity and to identify. And so and I respect that, you know, for me, and having all these conversations with so many different folks, the biggest takeaway that I've gained from that is that there's so much that we can appreciate that. Why get caught up on the label, and instead, appreciate the fact that if you want to be called Latinx, because it represents this for you, great if you want to be called Hispanic, because it represents this for you.
Awesome, if you want to stick to the Chicano, Chicano mode, excellent. The identification, I think, is probably what's rooted in the richness of our culture is that there can be so many because we are very diverse in our cultures, that that I see that there's plenty of room for all of it, the respect, I think, is the foundation of it all. And it's not to pass over. But it's also to be to be inclusive up. So the mean, having a conversation with someone who's, you know, up and coming in their 20s. And they're having this political influence now. You know, I support them in the directions and their political affiliations, and thinking and all of that if they want to use the term Latinx, because that's what they associated with great. I'm just excited that they're excited about that.
So and I'm also very respectful of those who are they don't want any part of it, they want to stick to the Hispanic because it meant something to them and coming up when they were coming of that age, and they fought long and hard for those. So I guess the bottom line is, have a conversation with those who are using the term and us them. There is no harm and asking, so talk to me about how you relate to alat Next, talk to me about how you relate to Chicanos talk to me about how you relate to Spanish. I think that's the richness of the story. You'll start to learn a little bit more about the culture.
Heather Millwardr 9:51
I really appreciate that and clarify times it could be a preference or, you know, being a different vehicle. a different term, as you mentioned, when you were growing up is something that could be part of just your history and culture. So that's a good conversation to have. And I'm glad we could have it because I wonder that and I can read about it. But it's also nice to have a conversation with you directly about it. So thank you.
Dr. Maria Armstrong 10:16
Absolutely, yeah, the more we can talk about it, the better the better it is for everyone, because we can learn a lot from each other, if we just ask.
Heather Millward 10:25
And I think that's the bottom line is asking and having some of these conversations I wanted to talk about. I know a lot of us are tired of hearing about social distancing and the pandemic. But I also know that when it as it applies to you, you became the Executive Director for all of us on March 1 2020, which was a very unique time in history at the beginning of the pandemic. And I remember speaking with you, you were moving to DC from California. Obviously, there were so many changes for everyone, but how has the timing impacted your leadership in terms of driving the initiatives and goals of the association? Because I'm sure, like many others, you've had to change gears multiple times.
Dr. Maria Armstrong 11:13
Yeah, you know, I love that question. And here's, you know, here's the deal. I mean, I guess when you go into a position, one of the things that, you know, you you go, when you walk in with eyes wide open, you hear the history of an organization and how they function and the kinds of opportunities and programs and services that are provided. And then just when you think you're comfortable enough to be able to have some semblance of an understanding of a new organization, you position, then, you know, life happens. And then curveballs come at, yeah.
And if there's one thing, you know, having having been in my skin for some time now, is you adapt or die. And so in that sense, for me, it was okay, well, you know, this is coming through, we don't know how long, you have a tendency, at least in my upbringing, you got to learn not, you know, you've got to be nimble and be able to pivot on a dime. And so having that framework, I think, has provided to where, what do you mean, we can't have our April conference? And what do you mean, we, you know, this this is our bread and butter as like, we've got an October annual how we're not going to do this? And, you know, I all I know is that I have a lot of colleagues and friends that are still in the field, that are superintendents, and administrators and principals, and, and so forth.
And then I've also got, you know, I still have, I've got grandkids in the public school system. So I saw the the gamut, right. And one of the areas that hit me, I think very early on was this notion about, like you said, you know, everything kind of came to a standstill. And we saw tremendous leadership. When I talked about pivoting on a dime, we saw literally, where our superintendents and their and their staffs that were, they were dealing with laptops and lunches, they were so into the weeds with their seat sleeves rolled up, just trying to address the needs of kids to make sure that, you know, schools still function to some sense. And in seeing that, and have you been in that position, it was okay, that's okay for a while. But we need to pull them out of the weeds and back up to that 30,000 foot level, because they are the leaders responsible for their communities, and their communities and going to start asking them what's down the street and around the corner? Because we can do that for a little while, but we're not going to stay there and live there. At least we didn't think we were we were for that very long.
They were going to start wanting some answers. And so I last put on his first webinar, and all I did to be quite frank with you, as I called five of my closest, you know, superintendents, I knew that I could, I mean, they're just amazing people. And in the, in the thick of all this, I said, Look, let's get you back out of the weeds and really put a space between you so you can start to address your communities. And we did, let's have the first webinar and that was first week of April, 2 week of April. And so people were like I said still, you know, in the in the in the throes of it all but they came out and they started talking about what they were thinking about and you know, how they were going to address certain things and, and that was the first of many webinars that we that we continue to have.
We opted to go ahead with the summit, but we wound up doing it, everything was virtual, and we've been able to provide that kind of, of support and service for for our members. And for those who aren't our members that were in the same positions, and we just wanted to network and make sure that you know, we're providing a tether of sorts to to offer for for folks in education.
Heather Millward 15:19
And you've done a great job with adapting to a different conference structure, because I know we've talked about that I remember even the video that ncu did for the first one was, I never expected to be sitting and talking to you from my living room and doing this without it being in person. So it's been amazing. And you've done a fantastic job, which I think speaks very highly to your ability to pivot, you know, and as I look at your career, and I know you've worn many hats, just to name some of your roles, I know you've been a high school teacher, a counselor, a migrant program liaison, Assistant, Principal, Principal, assistant superintendent, now you're the executive director. I'm just curious to know about skills or skills that you've learned that served you well, throughout all of these positions. And it's been unilateral in your success.
Dr. Maria Armstrong 16:16
Yeah, you know, well, first of all, I think the greatest skill set is that to have is to know that you are not doing any of this alone. Everything that I've been able to do in this position, as superintendent as assistant soup, or even a high school teacher has always been through a team effort, it is support, I couldn't, I couldn't be able to sit here and have this conversation with you about all the amazing things that we've been able to do as an organization without sharing with you that that comes from teamwork.
First of all, you know, the Board of Directors, whether as a superintendent, or as the executive director, that board of directors, provides the direction, when they give you autonomy, when they give you support, great things happen, because then you can lead others to be able to do the same kind of things, you're, you're just passing on that same autonomy, that same support. So that has that trickle effect to all those in in any organization. So I think, you know, that is that is number one is just being able to, to know when to follow and when to lead. And that's part of being a part of a team, you know, sometimes you're up at bat. And sometimes you're you're you're in left field. So either way, you're, you're still a part of that team. And that's a greatest skill set. And being able to do that. I think the other that has served me well, is that, you know, before I became an educator, and by all intents and purposes, addition, from a traditional sense, I was a late bloomer.
By my own calendar, I am not I was right where I needed to be. And I worked in private industry, private for a good 11 years before becoming an educator. And I think that's a skill set that has served me very well. I came into an organization that, you know, we were in private industry, it's the bottom line, you know, how are we going to do this, and we have to adapt or die. As a company, you have to have that flexibility of being able to think further down the road, while you're still working on something and always improving. That's how you stay, you know, you stay attuned to the needs, that are out there, even before people realize that their needs. And so I think that that has served me well going into education. It sure did as a high school teacher, I'll tell you that, you know, we all have this idea of what what school looks like what we think it looks like to be a teacher, but until you walk in those hills, you will never know.
And so, you know, having that skill set of having previous private industry experience and education certainly well. I think the third one is also you know, being bilingual and in some in some instances you know, I struggle with with my own bilingualism because there is and I say struggle in the sense that there are times that I'm you know, I don't I think so quickly in my either because Spanish is a second language for me it's not my first language English is my first language. But it's no different than if you were to flip flop that if you're thinking in a certain language and you you're thinking so quickly, then sometimes when I speak I speak Spanglish I'll tell you that because I'll some words will come out in English and some words will come out in Spanish and so you know sometimes folks, whether they're Spanish speakers are in the speakers, they'll say can you just pick one, and you know, and I and I get that but I'll tell you it has served me well having a second language because it afforded me an opportunity to connect with not just my students, first and foremost, but also with my communities, you know, the communities that I've had the great honor and privilege of serving have been primed to remind primarily in and high Latino populations.
And so engaging in my, with my community, the parents, community members, that has been one where I can utilize my Spanish language, to make sure that I'm just not talking at them, but I'm listening to them. And so those skill sets of you know, knowing when when to lead a windfall or being a team player is far most one of the first ones. And then of course, having that extra experience of a skill set of being able to adapt, to be able to ensure that you're, you're thinking of needs before you even realize there needs is a second one. And then of course being you know, having a second language. I mean, if I had my druthers i i i'm a big cheerleader for multilingual is, the more that we can connect with different folks, the richer Our lives are. And the more that we can become servant leaders, for the for the kids that we serve,
Heather Millward 21:17
I think all excellent advice. And you're right, being adaptable, being a team player. Those are transferable skills in any career. I, I know you've had with your plethora of different positions, you've also been a leader. And I read an article that was published in tech and learning in April of 2020, titled leadership that grows over time. And I wanted to read a quote, because you had a great quote, which I would like to share. The article mentioned, you don't think of yourself as a leader, but as a person doing the job required of the position. And you said, the difference between being a decision maker and a leader is that a decision maker is paid to make decisions. But a leader really needs to make some good decisions.
Over time, I started to learn the impact of leaders words, the choice of words, and the choice of action and inaction. And I thought that was a fantastic quote. And as a proud Latina and woman leader, what advice do you have for others that are interested in leadership role roles and growing in their careers? You know,
Dr. Maria Armstrong 22:23
I'm one of the things I love most about this current position is that I am in contact with some of the most amazing Latinas leaders across the nation. And in you know, in Hawaii, and in the territory of Puerto Rico, and even Sheila, I've been able to have conversations with so many, just amazing women. And, and there are times where, you know, I said, Hey, call me if you ever need anything, and one of the things that I find, when you say, what would you you know, what would you share is, at the end of the day, people are sometimes afraid to make a decision that they don't and, and here's the thing that, that if I and I and I tell them, I said if there's anything you can take away is this, you've got to sleep with yourself at night, you know, and one of the things I cherish outside of food is sleep.
And in order to get an order to do that, well to get that rest that you need, you've got to make sure that that you know you stay true to who you are, always listen to make the best decision you can or they're always going to be right, No, they're not. But you're going to be able to listen to folks and share with them that even though I'm listening to you doesn't mean I'm going to do what you say. And what you're sharing with me is just that you're sharing because I'm gathering just as much information from you as I am to these other folks. So that I can make the best decision. And and, and not be afraid to make that decision. And don't be afraid to make a mistake.
Everybody makes mistakes, I've made more mistakes that I can keep a record of and so that's why having that adaptability to to not be afraid that you're going to lose your job because you made a mistake I would see you're more of making a decision that I couldn't sleep with that night that's that's the difference and so as long as you you know continuously check with folks and and don't be afraid to ask questions and don't be afraid to listen, you know to the good, the bad and the ugly, then you know you're just you're just gonna continue to grow and that's how you grow is through those mistakes so don't be afraid to make them
Heather Millwardr 24:47
one I think sometimes you know inaction can be is a self right if you if you choose not to act on something, it can be just as detrimental than if you did make a decision.
Dr. Maria Armstrong 24:58
That's exactly Right.
Heather Millward 25:01
And I wanted to ask you, I know you had to manage having a career, a family, you are very admirable, and the way that you were able to, to balance and I'm sure sometimes it wasn't hard, the ability to have a career, go back to school, have a family, what words of encouragement would you give, for those that are trying to find that balance between careers and families, and potentially going back to school?
Dr. Maria Armstrong 25:33
Yeah, you know, um, gosh, you know, when, when I decided, because I don't know if you know, this Heather, but I am a high school dropout. And so going back to school, it took me a long time, and, and having kids in the home at the time, I was showing them that even if it's one course, a semester, or quarter, or whatever, I was taking just one, that's all I could chew at the time, you know, going to work and being able to take, I just didn't want to give up on on education, because I needed to show education was going to be the way out, not just for me, but for my kids and their kids in the trajectory for generations to come. Well, I didn't think about that all I thought about was immediate, my family, my kids. So it took me a long time to get through school, but I never stopped.
And I think one of the biggest takeaways and what I see and I have conversations with, particularly with females, because it's different for females and males, to some degree, not always, but to some degree. And that is, you know, just bite off what you can chew, when my kids were all because I have them such, you know, I hadn't stair stepped back to back years, I had all three of my kids in high school at the same time. And then of course, you know, they're not just they're ones in the household, they've got to bring their friends. So when you are teaching high school, and then you come home, and it's high school, that's probably the most impacted and unbalanced I was in my entire career, but it was so short lived, you know, those four years went by so quick, that if that was the biggest price I pay, then it was, you know, it was the that was probably the most stressful in the sense of trying to make sure that you're taking kids here, you're you know, you're working here, you're you're doing this with your own kids, but you're also doing this for kids, that you are, you know, in charge of as a teacher.
So all of that helped, because I have them, you know, I was doing that while I was still a teacher. But I'll tell you what, I made a conscious effort not to go past teaching and to other, you know, more responsible roles that come with more of a needs until my kids graduated. At that point, then I started to look at, okay, now it's time to expand my classroom, I think I want to become a counselor, because I just wasn't ready to let go of kids. So I think it's what you can, you know, literally, you know, the bite that you take out of life is the one that you're going to have to balance. And everybody's bite is different, if you will. And so whatever balance you find that that's the uniqueness of who we are, and my story is my story. But there are many out there who can juggle so many balls in the air that I find that quite admirable. I just know that if I could just you know, throw one ball in the air and catch it. I was doing great.
Heather Millward 28:39
And I think it also, you know, you've been both a student and an educator, you've got you know, you've seen both sides of the coin.
Dr. Maria Armstrong 28:46
Yeah, exactly. You know, so so I'm not just being you know, from a high school student moving into becoming an adult student, and then becoming a high school teacher. I mean, you talk full circle. It was that, that that was the path that was set out for me, you know, so I think that, again, I think it's just everybody's got a story. And how we write out our story is the beauty of life.
Heather Millward 29:23
And they all have such different trajectories, you know, I know was part of ncu and all us to be able to provide opportunities for members to continue on and whatever studies that might be, whether it's graduate, doctoral all but dissertation, what would you say, when we started those conversations? What would you say the value was with both organizations partnering together when we started discussing a partnership,
Dr. Maria Armstrong 29:51
you know, I'll tell you, I'm completely selfish. And here's what I mean by that. Oftentimes, our only point of references are experience, right? So my experience of wanting to pursue, like I said, once I started going to school, I just never stopped, I might have started out as slow as a snail. But nonetheless, I never stopped. And so working through the process of gaining my doctorate, you know, I know the value, I mean, I really know the value, I know the hard work, I know the discipline that goes into making that decision, and seeing through. And so if there's ever an opportunity to be able to have that lessened a bit for someone else, sign me up.
Because for me, the end goal is, the more that you prepare, the better you can serve. You know, there's some that are that that they just, you know, for all intents and purposes, some folks believe that leaders are born and others believe that leaders are made. And, and whichever camp you're on, great. But if I'm on this school of thought that I can help open up the door, so that through a partnership like NC you and I lost will generate and expose our members to be able to see beyond what they can see for themselves, then that, to me is visionary. That's where when we see something that can happen for others, we're going to do everything within our to organizational powers to make that happen for the most that that that it can be for.
Heather Millward 31;33
I think that's great. And I always want to, to end the podcast with asking, What would you really like to see our two organizations and see you and all us accomplish together as we move forward in the next year or so, any any goals that you have for us together?
Dr. Maria Armstrong 31:55
Yeah, you know, I have this. I just have this passion about how we've got to be able to figure out this teacher pipeline issue, especially for our Latinos, Latinas, and here's why, you know, college was never spoken about my home. Just getting through and getting your high school diploma was enough. And I didn't even do that, you know, at that time. So and that's because of a whole host of things. But nonetheless, I think about how can we reach down to our kids, and start getting them at a younger age, on this pathway, to being able to serve, and do things differently, and be the role models instead of waiting for someone to get tapped on the shoulder encouraged later on in life, to go into teaching.
Versus, hey, this is what can really happen. Once you get through from high school and into a university to get you down down down that path. I think that there's so much that can be done that if we would market the way that others others have other cultures, others, you know, folks have been marketed to that we could see some phenomenal, phenomenal things happen within our organizations, we've got to be able to crack that teacher pipeline net, it's about time.
Heather Millward 33:38
I think those are great suggestions. And obviously, there's a shortage and we and we need more teachers. And I want to thank you for your service and also for taking the time today to sit down and have a podcast and and talk to me. I've really enjoyed working with you and I and I look forward to our continued partnership.
Dr. Maria Armstrong 33:57
Likewise, Heather, it's been a pleasure and anytime thanks so much for having us on your podcast.
Samantha Wilcox 34:05
Thank you, Heather. And thank you again Dr. Armstrong. We really appreciate your time today and all the knowledge and background that you shared. Thanks again for being here. To hear more from MCU. Visit emerging trends in higher ed the podcast found on your preferred media platform and stay tuned for new episodes in the coming weeks. Until next time, goodbye.