8 minute read
MICHAEL J. HYNES
from The Sail
POWERHOUSE GLOBAL MAGAZINE (PGMAG)
INTERVIEW WITH: MICHAEL J. HYNES (MH) REVOLUTIONIZING THE ANTIQUATED SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
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Interview was conducted by:
JULES LAVALLEE
(PGMAG global partner and international journalist) PGMAG: Your mission is to spread the message of the importance of a holistic approach to educating children. What led you to this approach?
MH: I believe I’ve always had an unconventional view of the true purpose of school. I never thought the purpose was to receive high grades and regurgitate information. I didn’t like school as a child and believe many children are stuck in “purgatory” and endure thirteen years just and can’t wait to finally “get out”! Schools are notorious for standardization...creating a “sameness” of children as well as the ranking and sorting them. I never did that as a teacher and certainly push-back against that as a school superintendent. Over the years I learned that children flourish by creating the conditions for them to maximize their potential and discover their talents. A healthy mix of self-directed play, arts, physical education, academic subjects, and more creative endeavors will allow children to delve into a much needed “inner” and “outer” journey where in the end, they can self-actualize.
PGMAG: Share your background in education.
MH: My background begins with my experiences as an elementary school teacher. I’ve been fortunate to teach at multiple grade levels. From there I was an elementary and middle school principal. Once I moved up to the District Office, I served students and staff members as an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. I’m now a Superintendent of Schools in my third school district. I also teach at Stony Brook University and Long Island University.
PGMAG: As the Public School Superintendent of schools for the Port Washington School District, share your perspective on the COVID era of education.
MH: We are in unprecedented times. All schools around the world had to pivot very quickly to remote instruction which is a very hard thing to do. There are so many things in and outside of education this pandemic has turned upside down. I’d like to think in the education space we have an opportunity to reimagine and rethink how we can serve students. The safety of our students and staff is our first order of business. Not far behind is the importance of mental health for students and staff. We can really begin to address the whole child if we put our minds to it.
PGMAG: You have focused on transforming schools by tapping into Potential Based Education, which focuses on the significance of social, emotional, physical and cognitive development for students as well as developing strategic plans for school buildings and school districts. Tell us about your initiatives.
MH: In our schools, free play and recess has declined, and school and structured activities
have taken over most child and family lifestyles. It's hard to conceive that the 2017 Center for Disease Control report on "Strategies on Recess in Schools" identified only eight states that have policies requiring daily recess in schools. In fact, the "United Nations Standards of Human Rights" endorses that federal prisoners have at least an hour of outdoor exercise every day. If a prisoner in jail has this endorsement, why wouldn't we allow the same right to our children in our schools? I recommend one hour or more of recess and self-directed play every day. My previous school
district offered our children 40 minutes of recess and another 40 minutes for lunch. We also introduced yoga and mindfulness in grades K-8 and high school elective courses in both yoga and mindfulness. With the guidance of Peter Gray and Lenore Skenazy from the “Let Grow Project,” our school district has successfully instituted a "before school play club" at all seven of our elementary schools. Each Friday morning, students have the gift of mixed-age level and self-directed play opportunities for one full hour. Our school district has close to seven hundred elementary students beginning their day "playing" outside. The adults are instructed to intervene only in an emergency. Teachers and principals have found the students who participate in our "Before School Play Club" to be less anxious and more on task when school begins.
PGMAG: Your holistic approach to education is transforming education. Have you always thought “Out of the Box?”
MH: I believe my experiences have led me to view the purpose of education in a different way. Now is the time for our school leaders to generate a new compelling philosophy of education and an innovative architecture for a
I believe my experiences have led me to view the purpose of education in a different way. Now is the time for our school leaders to generate a new compelling philosophy of education and an innovative architecture for a just and humane school system.
just and humane school system. We must refocus our energy on a foundation built on a sense of purpose, forging relationships, and maximizing the potential and talents of all children. To the best of my ability, I try to see the school system and the school day through the eyes of our children. We are here to serve them and if that is outside the box...we have a lot of work to do.
PGMAG: Why is your leadership needed more than ever?
MH: Now is the time for our school leaders to generate a new compelling philosophy of education and an innovative architecture for a just and humane school system. We must refocus our energy on a foundation built on a sense of purpose, forging relationships, and maximizing the potential and talents of all children. Let’s take advantage of the possibility that our nation’s attention can shift 180 degrees, from obsessing over test scores and accountability to an entirely different paradigm of physical, mental, and emotional well-being for students and staff. It is our collective responsibility to foster engaging and meaningful environments when educating our children in the new era of a post-pandemic education. As the great philosopher John Dewey stated over one hundred years ago, “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” The first sentence in the 2018 World Bank Group’s Flagship ReportLearning: To Realize Education’s Promise states, “Schooling is not the same as learning.” I couldn’t agree more. The report continues to speak about that as a society, we must learn to realize education’s promise. Now is this the time to revolutionize this antiquated system built on old structures and ideologies.
PGMAG: Your trip to Finland changed your soul. Share your perspective.
MH: As I traveled through Finland with my dear friend William Doyle (a NYT BestSelling Author), we met with top government officials, education professors, classroom teachers, and elementary-school students. We were stunned by what we observed: A society that selects and respects teachers like elite professionals; a worldclass network of vocational and technical schools; a school system that reveres and protects childhood
and encourages children to experience joy in learning… and where teachers shower children with warmth and attention; where children are given numerous free-play breaks; where special-education students are supported; and where children thrive. This is a philosophy of education I whole-heartedly believe in.
PGMAG: Tell us about your new book, “Staying Grounded” 12 Principles for Transforming School Leader Effectiveness.
MH: In my book, Staying Grounded, I frame out the importance of articulating one’s own philosophy of education, understanding your purpose, and understanding the importance of child and adolescent development. Our children and adults within our schools need you to be at your absolute best. An educator who is constantly working toward “Staying Grounded” will
be someone who is a strategic leader who leads within and amongst the levels of self, others, and the organization they serve. Leadership of self includes the responsibility of being self-aware and proactive in developing personal strengths. This is what the 12 Principles provides.
I’ve heard that leadership is never about wielding one’s authority, it’s about empowering people. This book is meant to take that concept many steps further. For years my wife Erin has asked me when I would write a book about my views about the future of our education system and school leadership. The two are inextricably linked together.
PGMAG: What is your philosophy in life?
MH: Very simple. To serve others and leave the world a little bit better before you entered it.
PGMAG: As an Educator, what has surprised you the most?
MH: What has surprised me the most is our love affair with the ranking and sorting of students. We still love to test kids to death and overemphasize content areas and not enough on creativity and divergent thinking opportunities. In too many ways, our education system hasn’t changed much since the 1950s.
PGMAG: You are a much sought after TEDx and keynote speaker. What are your topics for the near future?
MH: I have a real passion for our special needs children in our system. My daughter Sadie has Down Syndrome and I feel like we need better experiences and structures in place that allow all children to flourish. The same for our children who just arrive from another country and have to learn English in a new environment. A school is only as good as how they serve their most vulnerable populations. I have some virtual conferences planned this fall.
PGMAG: What would people be surprised to know about you?
MH: That I graduated in the bottom 10% in my high school class. My guidance counselor said I wasn’t college material. And here I am thirty years later. I almost believe him. PGMAG: Where do we go from here?
MH: I believe we have a lot to learn from COVID-19. We were forced to slow things down, become reacquainted with our families, and behave in a much different way. In many ways slowing down can be scary but it can really provide a lot of clarity. I believe in the next few years we will have many educators retire because of the massive changes taking place in very real-time. I believe when this is all said and done if we don’t take this opportunity to make real systemic changes to our education system...I’m not sure we ever will. Look for more self-directed learning opportunities for students and more of a focus on what all children deserve...well-being.
Twitter: @MikeHynes5
Instagram: @michael_hynes7
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