Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators Volume 48 | Number 12 | November 13 , 2017
Institutes help equity projects take root
Public education gaps in achievement , opportunity and learning persist , even though the state ’ s Local Control Funding Formula and Local Control and Accountability Plans demand they be closed .
To that end , ACSA offers Equity Institutes that aim to build cultural proficiency as a foundation for closing gaps and learning to lead with equity . The program for district teams and individual leaders from all educational levels takes place over multiple sessions , empowering participants
ACSA President Lisa Gonzales , right , had her daughters Kennedy , left , and Landry , make the award presentation to Terri Rufert .
A passion for leadership
ACSA ’ s Marcus Foster Memorial Award for Administrator Excellence is bestowed on a school leader who exhibits many of the same qualities that made Marcus Foster a great leader . The award exemplifies those who are skilled managers of change ; who involve all community and professional sectors ; who are willing to take risks to improve education for students ; who are creative ; who speak out on issues that impact students and who respect the rights of all people . to be proactive and responsive to the diverse needs of the communities they serve .
While the work in the institute provides a deeper focus on race and ethnicity through a culturally proficient lens , the foundational skills that are explored and developed can be applied to effectively serve all marginalized groups , including LGBTQ , gender , disabilities , religion and language .
“ Educational leaders must have a deep belief system and understanding of diversity that empowers them to be proactive and
responsive to the needs of students who are the focus of their LCAPs ,” said ACSA Diversity and Equal Access Executive Nicole Anderson . “ ACSA ’ s Equity Institutes are designed to give our leaders in-depth professional development that addresses the core of their belief systems , awareness of the inequitable conditions in schools , and the skills to implement actions that disrupt these patterns of inequities .”
See EQUITY , page 3
More photos from Leadership Summit on pages 6-7 .
Pamela Jo Wilson , left , receives the Valuing Diversity Award from ACSA Vice President Linda Kaminski . Infusing equity into K-12
Pamela Jo Wilson , assistant superintendent of educational services in Murrieta Valley USD , is the recipient of ACSA ’ s 2017 Valuing Diversity Award .
Wilson is inspired by the students , teachers and families in her schools . The teachers take risks every day to grow as effective instructors to improve student learning . Young people respond easily to the district ’ s intentional efforts to provide them with
See RUFERT , page 3 See WILSON , page 5
PERS election . David Miller won one of the two member-at-large seats up for election to the Board of Administration of the California Public Employees Retirement System . In the vote for another at-large seat , incumbent Michael Bilbrey and challenger Margaret Brown are facing a runoff . Ballots for the election will be mailed on Nov . 10 , with voting concluding Dec . 11 . Miller and the winner of the runoff will each serve four-year terms beginning Jan . 16 .
GR webinar . ACSA ’ s Governmental Relations has made available a recording of a recorded webinar regarding aligning ACS WASC , SPSA and the LCAP . It features a panel of experts , including Marilyn George , vice president , ACS WASC ; Nancy Brownell , director , ACS WASC ; Thomas Adams , deputy superintendent , CDE ; and Edgar Zazueta , ACSA senior director . The webinar includes promising practices to increase understanding of how the Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges process supports school and district alignment of the Single Plan for Student Achievement and Local Control and Accountability Plan plans and evaluation of implementation progress . You can access this at www . acsa . org / GRwebinars .
A career committed to K-12 education
The 2017 Ferd . Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award was formally handed out Nov . 3 to Sherry Skelly Griffith , whose 32-year career reflects her love for public policy and commitment to quality public education . She gave 13 of those years to ACSA , beginning in 2002 , and has been executive director for the 750,000-member California State PTA since 2015 .
Griffith said she appreciates the opportunity to serve and to work with amazing educators and child and family advocates who believe as deeply as she does in the power of education as the gateway to so many opportunities in life . “ I am inspired by being in the company of so many amazing education leaders who care deeply about kids ,” she said .
Prior to ACSA , Griffith was an administrator at the California Department of Education , working for then-SPI Delaine
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Eastin . She served as executive director of the California Curriculum Commission , guiding the development of frameworks for the state ’ s first K-12 standards-based instructional materials .
As a legislative advocate and , subsequently , director of Governmental Relations for ACSA , she was instrumental in shaping national and statewide education policy , including recommendations for ESEA reauthorization that were
California PTA Executive Director Sherry Skelly Griffith , left , receives incorporated in the federal the Ferd . Kiesel Award from ACSA President Lisa Gonzales .
Every Student Succeeds Act .
sistently focus on ensuring all students have
Griffith ’ s substantial contributions con-
See GRIFFITH , page 3
ACSA Commission on Teacher Credentialing Liaison Doug Gephart reported on the following key issues undertaken at the commission ’ s October meeting .
In 2015 , the National Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council released the report “ Transforming the Workforce Birth through Eight ” ( twb8- ca . net ). The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing approved a plan to appoint a panel of Early Childhood Education experts , just prior to the release
Upcoming workshops . Be looking for two great ACSA workshops coming in 2018 . Opening Doors for Women in Leadership will be offered in January and Making Schools Better for LGBT Students will take place in February . Keep checking www . acsa . org / trainings for locations and dates to be announced .
Spirit awards . Video entries for the 2018 Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards will be accepted beginning Jan . 16 . Celebrate the very best of America ’ s high schools with $ 100,000 in awards , including a $ 25,000 grand prize for America ’ s Most Spirited High School . Entrants must be nominated by a student , colleague or community member . Learn more at www . varsitybrands . com .
Child Development Permit action postponed by CTC to gather info
of the national study , to review and recommend changes to the structure of the Child Development Permit .
The Child Development Advisory Panel articulated a bold vision for the preparation of the early learning workforce , with the goal of improving the quality of early care and development . Some of the panel recommendations generated strong reaction and concern from the field . Employers in particular expressed concern that some of the panel ’ s proposed changes to the
See CTC , page 2