2 EDCAL April 16 , 2018
Longtime EdCal editor retiring after 21 years
For more than two decades , London Roberts has penned a lasting legacy for education leaders serving as the editor of EdCal . She is retiring from the organization after playing a role in documenting the hard work of our members and elevating the image of California school administrators .
“ I really enjoyed listening to our members and being part of what they do , whether it ’ s during Leadership Assembly , board meetings or at their worksite ,” she said . “ I always wanted to make sure we got the story right , and I ’ m proud of the product we ’ ve put together for so many years .”
Roberts came to ACSA in 1996 after 10 years serving as a newspaper reporter and editor in Sacramento . Her decade of newspaper work included entertainment reporting and the crime beat . She used to work seven days a week , constantly listening to emergency radio scanners and the news .
But the long hours and grind of newspaper life led to burnout and a choice to get out of the newsroom .
“ My son used to play and sleep under my desk ,” she said . “ When he got older he told me , ‘ You are never here .’ That is when I realized it was time to move on to something that was important but required fewer hours .”
Education proved to be Roberts ’ calling . When she arrived in 1996 , ACSA communications products centered on studies , brochures , and EdCal in the form of a newsletter . Roberts felt ACSA could do better and helped guide the evolution of EdCal .
It began by leveraging her decade in the newspaper business and spearheading a department transformation that included hiring EdCal writers instead of relying on freelancers who didn ’ t understand education and ACSA ’ s positions on legislative matters . She also manipulated the look and feel of EdCal , moving to a framework that was more beneficial to members .
“ You never saw education news on any front page of any publication , and our executive director at the time wanted EdCal to become a publication where news wasn ’ t relegated to the back pages ,” Roberts said . “ When I arrived , the tangible news and information was on page 3 and we changed that and made the ACSA work more important .”
Alice Petrossian served as ACSA President from 2011-2012 .
“ London has been a gift to our organization ,” she said . “ It ’ s important to recognize her longevity , but more important has been her commitment to members and education – she has made an incredible impact on all of us .”
Roberts is planning to stay close to journalism , with a desire to work in the Native American community on education issues . She also plans to take a vacation , acknowl-
London Roberts is ending her career after 20 years as EdCal editor and two as editor of Leadership magazine .
edging that the one vacation she scheduled in her 21-year tenure at ACSA was to New Orleans in 2005 . Hurricane Katrina wiped out that vacation .
Reflecting on her 21 years , Roberts says she is proud of how the association has grown .
“ ACSA has grown in ways that go beyond membership growth because we ’ ve become more influential ,” she said . “ I will miss the association , but I know I am leaving it in good hands . ACSA members should know their Communications Department includes an amazing group of individuals dedicated to ensuring you are represented in the true light of what you do for students every day .”
New GAO report shows students of color suffer harsher discipline for lesser offenses
Congressmen Bobby Scott , ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce , and Jerrold Nadler , ranking member of the House Committee on the Judiciary , have released the Government Accountability Office report “ Discipline Disparities for Black Students , Boys , and Students with Disabilities .”
Both Congressmen requested that the GAO investigate disparities in discipline policies and practices applied to students of color , boys and students with disabilities .
“ The Government Accountability Office has conducted first-of-its-kind analysis of national data which dispels claims that racially disproportionate rates of discipline are based solely on income . The analysis shows that students of color suffer harsher discipline for lesser offenses than their white peers and that racial bias is a driver of discipline disparities ,” Scott said . “ This report underscores the need to combat these gross disparities by strengthening , not rescinding , the 2014 Discipline Guidance Package , which recommends specific strategies to reduce the disparities without jeopardizing school safety .”
Black students , boys and students with disabilities are disproportionately disciplined in K-12 public schools . This pattern of disproportionate discipline persists
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regardless of the type of disciplinary action , level of school poverty , or type of public school students attend .
“ After an extensive analysis by the Government Accountability Office , there can be no ignoring the facts of racial biases – facts that the Trump administration must face head-on and cannot refute ,” Nadler said . “ The GAO report shows that race plays a significant role in discipline disparities , with students of color suffering harsher punishment in school compared with their peers .
“ To suggest otherwise would require ignoring the major factor in these disparities , and ignorance of the facts can be no excuse for failing these students . Ignoring the impact of race on school discipline would be unconscionable and fail to address a critical issue impacting school performance by students of color .”
Nadler said Congressman Scott should be thanked for his dedication to this issue .
“ I hope the administration will finally come to grips with the realities faced by students of color ,” he said . “ Secretary DeVos and the U . S . Department of Education must ensure that the necessary resources and guidelines are in place to address these disturbing racial disparities in our schools , and I hope this report will provide the necessary urgency for quick action on this matter .”
In 2014 , the USDOE and the Department of Justice issued a School Discipline Guidance Package , to remind schools of their legal obligations to administer school discipline without discriminating on the basis of race , color or national origin . Based on the empirical evidence provided in this GAO report , it is critically important the guidance be strengthened , and not rescinded , as some have suggested .
The GAO report can be accessed at https :// www . gao . gov / products / GAO-18- 258 .
Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators
EdCal ® ( USPS 684-390 , ISSN 0740-0357 ) is published Weekly , except for the following dates in 2017-18 : 7 / 10 , 7 / 31 , 8 / 14 , 8 / 28 , 9 / 11 , 10 / 2 , 10 / 16 , 11 / 6 , 11 / 27 , 12 / 11 , 12 / 18 , 12 / 25 , 1 / 1 , 1 / 29 , 2 / 19 , 4 / 9 , 5 / 14 and 6 / 4 , by the Association of California School Administrators , 1575 Bayshore Highway , Burlingame , CA 94010 . Periodical postage paid at Bur lingame , CA 94010 and additional offices . Subscription price : $ 90 value to members ; offered to nonmembers on a qualifying basis . For further information , contact the membership department at ( 650 ) 692-4300 . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to EdCal , c / o ACSA , 1575 Bayshore Highway , Burlingame , CA 94010 .
EdCal keeps ACSA members informed of association activities , efforts on their behalf and issues pertinent to education and education administration . Ad vertising or the mention of products , services or programs in EdCal does not imply endorsement by ACSA .
ACSA is affiliated with the National Association of School Superintendents , Nation al Association of Secondary School Principals , National Association of Elem entary School Principals , American Associa tion of School Person nel Admin istrators , California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators , Ca lifornia Associa tion of Education Office Pro fes sionals and the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education .
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This series introduces ACSA staff to members . These are the people working tirelessly for you each and every day .
Who : Tracy Olmedo
Job : CareerConnect Coordinator
Tracy manages EdCal ’ s CareerConnect , shopACSA and ACSA emails .
First job ever :
Tracy ’ s first job ever was as the receptionist at a cosmetic laser and dermatology clinic . She says the free microdermabrasion for staff was awesome !
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