Singing
Finding redemption in prison
Register for national advocacy event
Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators Volume 48 | Number 4 | August 7 , 2017
Asian , Pacific Islander network moving on challenges
ACSA ’ s Asian American and Pacific Islander Leaders Network continues to share valuable insight on ways to support Asian American leaders and students .
The network ’ s collaborative sessions have included discussions on how to empower the voices of Asian American educators , as well as how to support their career aspirations ; reflections on stereotypes and ways to avoid perpetuating them ; and serving as role models for the students of California . Agendas for each event are unique and specific to the needs and desires of the group .
At the latest event , networkers hosted a superintendent panel that included Mary Sieu of ABC USD , Mike Matsuda of Anaheim Union HSD , and Cyndi Paik of Westminster SD .
Panelists talked about their career paths to the superintendency , what supports – such as mentors , networks , areas of expertise and special trainings – they had to help with advancement , how they balance their professional and personal lives , and what
they would have done differently , given the wisdom of hindsight .
ACSA reiterated its commitment to fostering deeper engagement of Asian American leaders , which includes focusing on efforts to provide relevant professional development and resources . Reflection by the network on harsh realities and challenges facing Asian American communities continues to generate action steps for ACSA . Challenges that are being addressed
ACSA ’ s Every Student Succeeding Awards program includes our 19-part series leading up to the ESS luncheon at the 2017 Leadership Summit . Watch the videos on these remarkable recipients at Facebook , YouTube and www . acsa . org .
See NETWORK , page 7
Classroom spending . NEA Research released data that ranks states on a number of factors , including teacher salaries and found that California is No . 2 in the nation in issuing the highest paychecks . The average CA teacher salary went up to $ 77,179 in 2015-16 , a 4.2 percent increase from 2014-15 , the largest in the nation . The average national increase was 1.3 percent . California did not even crack the top five states in other measures , including enrollment , number of teachers and expenditures per student . Find the report at www . nea . org / home / 70716 . htm .
Singing
through the surgeries
This school leader is paying it forward
Periodicals
Dated Material
Adult school student Rodney Lacanienta is rebuilding his life after a stint in prison .
Finding redemption in prison
His fall from grace is difficult to comprehend . Rodney Lacanienta had a self-described “ good and normal upbringing .” He grew up in a two parent household with a loving family . Rodney Lacanienta was not lacking for anything or anyone . But somewhere along the way , something changed that sent Rodney on a downward spiral .
“ It started when I was around 13 or 14 ,” Rodney said . “ I got jumped in a gang . Started smoking weed . Started drinking a lot of
Commitment to making a positive impact . Decades of experience building expertise . A passion for investing in future generations of leaders .
ACSA ’ s 2017 Professor of Education of the Year , Trudy Tuttle Arriaga , embodies these outstanding qualities of educational leadership , bringing her own unique perspective to the field and challenging norms for students and staff alike .
Arriaga ’ s impressive career has included the roles of bilingual paraeducator , director of administrative support services , professor and principal , as well as being the first woman to serve 14 years as a superintendent in a large school district in California . She continues to be inspired by the people who encouraged her to dream bigger .
“ I became a school administrator in the 80s ... when there were very few female leaders ,” Arriaga said . “ A female assistant principal tapped me on the shoulder and told me that she thought I would be a great assistant principal ... that ’ s all it took for me , to have someone see something in me that I hadn ’ t seen in myself .”
As superintendent of Ventura USD , Arriaga was committed to the qualities of kindness and principle-based leadership to achieve student success . In recognition of her accomplishments , she was awarded ACSA ’ s Marcus Foster Memorial Award for Administrator Excellence in 2013 .
Jessica Nord uses singing to keep her spirits high despite struggles .
Jessica Nord ’ s favorite time of day is choir class at Six Rivers Charter High School in Arcata , where she can show off her love of singing .
“ I just have always really loved singing ,” Jessica said . “ It ’ s really fun . I always like being around everybody because they have the same interests as I do .”
Singing serves as Jessica ’ s escape , her sense of normalcy . In
See RODNEY , page 6 See JESSICA , page 6
See ARRIAGA , page 6
Trudy Arriaga , second from right , serves graduates of California Lutheran University .
Student advocacy , equity and face-toface meetings with federal lawmakers will be the focus of the National Association of School Superintendents ’ 2017 Leadership Conference , scheduled for Oct . 1-3 in Alexandria , Va .
“ NASS is an organization focusing on advocacy and equity for students ,” said Tom Armelino , NASS executive director . “ We need to activate the voices of educators in Washington , D . C ., and this event delivers a unique opportunity to bring localized issues to our federal lawmakers .”
The advocacy event , trainings , and trip to Capitol Hill are open to educators at all levels .
Voting time . As the state ’ s chief elections officer , California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced a new online tool for 16- and 17-yearolds to pre-register to vote at www . sos . ca . gov / elections / pre-register- 16-vote-18 . Padilla pointed out that , to help students prepare for their role as voters at 18 , two weeks in September and April are designated as Voter Education Weeks in our public high schools .
Tuck ahead . The campaign of Marshall Tuck for Superintendent of Public Instruction announced that he has raised more than twice as much campaign funding as the next leading candidate in the race . The campaign announced that Tuck has raised $ 1.2 million , with 83 percent of the donations from contributions of $ 500 or less .
No travel ban . Lozano Smith Attorneys at Law produced a brief clarifying that local education agencies are not subject to the state travel ban in Assembly Bill 1887 , barring state agencies from funding travel , and from requiring employees to travel , to states that permit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation , gender identity or gender expression . There are exceptions , including grant money that may be covered by the ban . States under the ban include Alabama , Kansas , Kentucky , Mississippi , North Carolina , South Dakota , Tennessee and Texas . Visit www . lozanosmith . com .
Register for national advocacy event
“ This is going to be a groundbreaking event ,” Armelino said . “ It ’ s one thing to push a single , national agenda regarding education for students . But no organization has the power to connect members with their federal lawmakers in the way we ’ re planning to do it .”
NASS believes educators and federal leaders can make a difference for economically struggling communities , but that collaboration must include an unparalleled commitment to equipping all students with the knowledge and skills required for academic , career and life success .
To follow through on that commitment ,
See NASS , page 7