Program offers girls in grades 2-5 physical fitness and self confidence
Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators Volume 48 | Number 11 | October 30 , 2017
Candidates announced for ACSA VP
Four candidates have embarked on campaigns for the office of ACSA vice president , a position that leads directly to the ACSA presidency .
The ACSA Nominating Committee announced its acceptance of the candidates in a report to the Leadership Assembly . Running for 2018-19 vice president are :
• Ron Williams , superintendent of Victor Valley Union High School District . Williams currently serves as the Region 12
representative on the state ACSA Board of Directors . He is a respected presenter on leadership and district culture and has served as an examiner for the California Awards for Performance Excellence , as a trustee for the California League of High Schools , and on the advisory board of the Equity Assistance Center for WestEd , among many other achievements . He was a finalist for the 2017 National Association of School Superintendents ’ Superintendent of
Making a big ABC impact
It is true that school leaders positively impact many students . And the leaders with the largest impact are superintendents .
One of the best of these leaders is Superintendent Mary Sieu with ABC Unified School District . She came up through the leadership ranks within the district , finally attaining the superintendency in 2012 . Since becoming superintendent , ABC has seen its graduation rate rise from 88.4 to 94.4 percent , with a corresponding decline in the dropout rate from 5.2 to 1.7 percent .
And , they ’ ve done this with a diverse student population . ABC has more than 93 percent of their students representing different ethnic groups with more than 45 languages . Around 51 percent come from low-income families .
The district has had 10 California Distinguished Schools , 13 California Gold
Ribbon Schools , and three National Blue Ribbon Schools , among other honors . In CAASPP assessments for 2015-16 , 64 percent of students met or exceeded standards set for ELA , with 53 percent doing the same in mathematics .
Sieu , ACSA ’ s 2017 Superintendent of the Year , said even though she started out in K-12 education , she actually thought she was going to end up in higher education as a career , after working with an engineering college in China . While completing her Ph . D . at UCLA , a guest speaker suggested she consider returning to K-12 after earning her doctorate .
“ As I was doing the administrative internship program in ABC USD , I realized that my passion was still in the K-12 setting , where I had spent the first part of the Year Award .
• Craig Wheaton , deputy superintendent , Tulare County Office of Education . Wheaton is Region 11 ’ s vice president for legislative action and has served in a host of region and state roles , including Region 11 representative on the state Board of Directors . He has been a technology leader , including service as an ACSA PARC intern and as a consultant for the Technology
See ACSA VP , page 2
Mary Sieu has earned the respect of everyone in ABC USD .
my career ,” Sieu said . “ I deeply enjoyed the dynamic relationships involved , the creative nature of this work , as well as the ability to resolve the challenges that are a part of being an administrator .”
Like so many ACSA members , Sieu said she draws inspiration from her students .
See SIEU , page 5
Equity Institutes . Three ACSA Equity Institutes are starting in December . The Ventura Unified School District location starts Dec . 1-2 ; the Anaheim Elementary School District location begins Dec . 8-9 ; and the Riverside County Office of Education location begins Dec . 16 . Each eight-day institute is spread out over the next several months . More information and registration is available at www . acsa . org / trainings .
Free workshops . Set in the unique immersive , experiential learning environment of the Museum of Tolerance , Tools for Tolerance for Educators ’ programs are designed to advance anti-bias education and promote the creation of inclusive and equitable schools . Find out more at https :// goo . gl / Nu25fD .
Pet contest . Pre-kindergarten through ninth grade teachers with classroom pets are invited to enter the Pets in the Classroom Habitat Contest , through Dec . 10 . Photo entries of pet habitats for the grant program are featured online , and people vote for their favorite . Winners will receive a $ 100 Visa Gift Card . Visit www . petsintheclassroom . org .
Despite her rare condition , Jacqueline Rodriguez participates in regular education and the tennis team .
Nothing will hold her back
Too often , high school students obsess about how they look . Body image can become all-consuming . And yet , somehow , Del Mar High junior Jacqueline Rodriguez does not care what you think .
“ When we go out in the community now , she holds her head up so high ,” Jacqueline ’ s mother Evelyn Belen said . “ She ’ s just so good about feeling just like anybody else . And not worried too much about her image .”
Jacqueline has known the stares and whispers her entire life . She was born with lymphatic malformations , a rare condition that formed large masses in her cheeks , tongue and chest . She underwent multiple surgeries to remove the diseased lymph nodes , but to no avail .
“ The doctors told me that with her condition , she might not live to see her first birthday ,” Belen said . “ My whole attention or concentration was just to keep her alive and keep her safe . When she was born , I just wanted to treat her like a little porcelain doll and not worry her . Not hurt her . I just wanted to protect her .”
Jacqueline defied the doctors ’ expectations . She is enrolled in regular education classes . And despite the fact that Jacqueline is non-verbal , she found ways to communicate through her iPad .
“ I learned really early on that she didn ’ t really want to be treated different ,” Del Mar High teacher Anna Lucas said . “ She didn ’ t
See JACQUELINE , page 8
Health education . The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development has launched CalREACH to make applying for and receiving healthcare scholarships , loan repayments , and grants easier and more efficient . Through CalREACH , you will now be able to apply for any scholarship , loan repayment , or grant being offered by Health Professionals Education Foundation or the Healthcare Workforce Development Division . Visit www . oshpd . ca . gov / HPEF / Forms . html to find out more .
Ed Week leaders . Education Week ' s flagship annual event , Leaders to Learn From , is set for April 11-12 in Washington , D . C . Celebrated , bold school-system leaders will share how they brought about extraordinary change to their districts . Register at https :// leaders . edweek . org /
Periodicals Dated Material
Program offers girls in grades 2-5 physical fitness and self confidence
The Bay Area Women ’ s Sports Initiative ( BAWSI ) is a 501c3 organization in San Jose that provides free after-school fitness and confidence-building opportunities to young girls in communities where obesity and diabetes are prevalent , who are not being exposed to organized sports or physical education classes .
The BAWSI Girls program focuses on second through fifth grade girls at Title 1 eligible schools , where approximately 70 percent of students receive free and reduced-price lunch . The BAWSI Rollers program provides adaptive physical activities for girls and boys with physical , cognitive and hearing disabilities .
BAWSI was founded in 2005 by U . S . women ’ s soccer team stars Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy . The two joined with Marlene Bjornsrud , former general manager of the Women ’ s United Soccer Association ’ s champion San Jose Cyber Rays , as well as with a group of community and sports leaders , to create BAWSI ( pronounced “ bossy ”). The organization is dedicated to using
See BAWSI , page 8