6 EDCAL May 20, 2019
SUMMER
FYI
Continued from page 1
Saunders, a team leader with the Institute.
“Most principals say they love that oppor-
tunity … because how often do you have a
chance to really delve into something with-
out being distracted?”
Saunders was part of a group of ACSA
members who created the Principals’
Summer Institute back in 1992. Modeled
on a similar institute at Harvard, the pro-
gram evolved to deal with issues specific
to California administrators. Around 1994,
the Institute branched off to create a sepa-
rate institute specifically for new and aspir-
ing administrators, which dealt with more
of the day-to-day aspects of the job.
A vice-principal at the time, Soriano
said the Institute for New & Aspiring
Principals grouped him with other
vice-principals and a team leader to exam-
ine topics crucial to school leaders.
“With information I received via the
awesome and inspirational guest speak-
ers, my [team leader], my colleagues who
attended the conference with me, as well as
my assigned group of vice-principals, I was
able to absorb vital insights to prepare me
for my next role as a school leader,” he said.
Soriano said those insights included
developing a positive mindset, aligning
vision, mission and core values to his
school, and developing tools for deepening
collaboration and communication.
Programs are led by team leaders who
hold daily small group sessions and help
participants digest the information, com-
pare it to current practices and structure a
plan for incorporating it into schools.
Saunders, who has served as a team
leader almost every year since the
Institute’s inception, said one of the unique
aspects of the program is the ability to
study and reflect on the profession in a safe
Principals’ Summer Institute
What: Residential program for principals
with 3+ years of experience
When: June 23-29, 2019
Where: UCLA
Cost: $2,795 (ACSA members), $3,395
(non-members); includes housing/meal
fees
Info: www.acsa.org/summerprograms
Jer Soriano, pictured third from left, poses with the UCLA Bruin statue during last year’s Institute for New &
Aspiring Principals at UCLA. Soriano is completing his first year as principal at John E. Steinbeck Elementary.
space of job-alike colleagues.
“When we go in, we identify and
acknowledge that we are all in the same
job. We all have the same problems, so
there’s no need trying to hide behind any-
thing,” he said. “No need trying to put on
a tuxedo and say things are going great —
everybody has put on a T-shirt and they’re
saying I need to get down and dirty and
talk about how to move forward.”
Participants spend the entire five
days on the UCLA campus with room
accommodations at the Sunset Village
Conference Center, a 600-room facility
with single and double-occupancy rooms.
Participants also eat at the residential
restaurant, which offers fresh entrées, pizza,
a salad bar and more in a cafeteria setting.
The “live in” aspects as well as the long
days — starting at 8:30 a.m. and some-
times going to 9 p.m. — have led some to
describe the program as a “principal’s boot
camp.” Although, there are plenty of crea-
ture comforts, like air-conditioning, cable
TV, wi-fi, daily maid service and access to
the campus pool, weight rooms and tennis
courts.
Relationships formed at the Institute
continue beyond the summer, Saunders
said.
“It’s kind of lonely [being a school
administrator.] You get yourself stuck in a
corner and you don’t know who to turn to,”
he said. “Principals are encouraged to pick
up the phone and call somebody and say,
‘Hey listen, here’s what’s happening with
me.’”
Amy Chavez, a principal at Dover
Academy for International Studies, also
participated in last summer’s program and
Paid Advertisement
Institute for New & Aspiring
Principals
What: Residential program camp for
first/second-year and aspiring principals
When: June 24-28, 2019
Where: UCLA
Cost: $1,550 (ACSA members), $1,950
(non-members eligible for membership);
includes housing/meal fees
Info: www.acsa.org/summerprograms
said the time spent at the Institute allowed
her to be a better leader this year.
“The Institute gave me an opportu-
nity to reflect on my own practices as an
instructional leader, and gave me time to
create a strategic plan for how to work
with the adults on campus,” she said.
Chavez, who considers herself fortunate
to get to attend this program with sev-
eral colleagues from her Fairfield-Suisun
Unified School District, recommends the
Institute to others.
“The leaders within the Institute mod-
eled several team building activities, and a
high level of positive energy, that I could
instantly implement when school began,”
Chavez said. “This time at UCLA allowed
me to establish some lifelong relationships,
and helped me grow my professional learn-
ing community. I am forever grateful.”