An Interview with Dr. Aaron Thompson

Anthony Mackay is joined by Dr. Aaron Thompson, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) and member of NCEE’s Board of Trustees. A first-generation college student, Dr. Thompson works to ensure all Kentuckians have an equal opportunity to improve their lives through postsecondary education. During the interview, Dr. Thompson shares insights from his recently released co-authored book, Implementing Innovative Leadership in an Inclusive Learning Environment, that provides educational leaders with ­effective, research-based strategies for delivering culturally competent, responsive, and inclusive school leadership. Dr. Thompson also highlights a four-step process to be used to implement and assess culturally competent leadership: awareness, acknowledgement, acceptance and action, which he refers to as “A4th.”