Mike Hoyt, director of Adult Education at Literacy, Kaskaskia College
"I want my staff to make an emotional connection with the students or they won’t buy what we’re selling ... be a person first and a teacher second." That’s the primary advice offered by Mike Hoyt, director of Adult Education and Literacy at Kaskaskia College in Centralia, IL.
Mike came to his current position about five years ago following a long and successful career as a middle school teacher and an adult education instructor. He found the move from instruction to supervision and management was eased by the helpfulness of his predecessor and one of his mentors, Marilyn Schmidt. He found Marilyn’s method of assistance especially useful because she fostered independence while still offering guidance. He also found that the ICCB staff and the SIPDC were very helpful as he moved along his new learning curve.
He’s a firm believer in leading by following. Mike pays close attention to the questions, problems, and comments he gets from his staff so that he can anticipate and solve issues before they become major. As Mike states, "I give the employees the tools they need and then get out of their way." One of the traits he learned as a teacher that he feels stands him in good stead as an administrator is to keep moving. In this way Mike gets to know his instructional and administrative staff well and can be continually aware of the currents running through the program.
Have a passion, if you don’t care about what you’re doing, neither will your students, is a philosophy Mike tries to help his staff understand, accept, and personify. This belief in inclusive, connected education is supported by his college’s president who believes that education is a community endeavor, not just an effort for those directly related to educational systems. College staff is encouraged to join local boards and civic groups.
And finally, when giving advice to new administrators, Mike suggests finding a mentor within the adult education administrator group, keep asking your questions until they are answered in a way that is useful to you, don’t be shy, and don’t overlook long time staff and instructors as a useful resource.
