2 EDCAL June 10, 2019
10 CA students
selected as
presidential
scholars
Ten California high school stu-
dents have been selected as 2019 U.S.
Presidential Scholars. The 10 students are
among 161 national student scholars cho-
sen for their outstanding education accom-
plishments.
“I am proud of the students who have
received this prestigious honor,” said State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony
Thurmond, who congratulated the stu-
dents in a press release. “They are not only
wonderful scholastic representatives for our
state, but they are also shining examples of
the focus, drive, and determination in the
next generation of leaders that California
has produced. This award is a testament to
the talent and promise these young people
possess and the future contributions they
can make to our state and society.”
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
was established in 1964 to recognize and
honor some of our nation’s top-performing
graduating seniors. From the nearly 3.6
million students expected to graduate from
high school this year, over 5,200 students
were identified as candidates for this pro-
gram and 621 semi-finalists were selected.
The White House Commission on
Presidential Scholars selects scholars based
on criteria including academic success,
artistic and technical achievement, essays,
school evaluations, community service, and
leadership. An awards ceremony will be
June 23 in Washington, D.C.
2019 U.S. Presidential Scholars from
California:
• Michael Chen, San Diego — Canyon
Crest Academy
• Alaman Diadhiou, Los Angeles —
Brentwood School
• Annette Doeun Lee, Pasadena —
Polytechnic School
• Luke Herzog, Pacific Grove —
Pacific Grove High School
• Charles Kogen, Los Angeles —
Harvard-Westlake School
• Lauren Kong, Rancho Palos Verdes
— Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
• Won Bin Lee, San Ramon —
Dougherty Valley High School
• Anne Liu, San Diego — Canyon
Crest Academy
• Yunhee Park, Valley Village —
Oakwood School
• Cynthia Zhou, San Jose — Leland
High School
Region News
Region 13: Classified educational
leaders honored at event
A Classified Educational Leaders
(CEL) Appreciation event was held on
May 23, at the Lazy Dog Restaurant in
Oxnard by the South Ventura Charter
of ACSA Region 13. Each administrator
introduced their CEL personnel and each
person received a red rose, appetizers and
a chance to win one of 50 drawing prizes.
Over 120 people were in attendance at
this end-of-the-year event.
Region 6: Region Executive Giannini
to retire after 15 years
Region 6 will celebrate its longtime
Region Executive Bob Giannini, who
recently retired after serving in that
role for more than 15 years. Giannini
will be celebrated during Region 6’s
Administrators of the Year Awards dinner
on June 20.
Giannini became an ACSA member
in 1973 when he started his administra-
tive career. Over 45 years, he held many
leadership roles at the charter, region and
state level in ACSA before becoming the
Region 6 Executive Director.
He supported and mentored many
leaders in the region and leaves a tremen-
dous legacy as a leader of leaders.
Giannini will receive the Nels Nelson
Award for his distinguished education-
al career. This award is named after
Giannini’s predecessor, who was the first
Region 6 Executive.
The awards dinner takes place during
Region 6 Leadership Summit, “Thriving
on the Vine: Cultivating Creative, Bold,
and Courageous Leadership,” which will
be held June 19-20, at Casa Real at Ruby
Hill Winery in Pleasanton.
Region 8: Award recipients receive
honors in San Jose
The Region 8 Award recipients (listed
below) were recognized May 10, at the
Corinthian Event Center in San Jose.
Superintendent: Mariann Engle
Secondary Principal: Sonia Flores
Middle Grades Principal: Tracy
Leathers
Elementary Principal: Magdalena
Moore
Central Office Administrator: Rhonda
Beasley
Secondary Co-Administrator: Anna
Nguyen
Elementary Co-Administrator:
Jennifer Jasper
Classified Leader: Denise Mendez
ACSA’s South Ventura Charter in Region 13 recently honored its classified educational leaders with a CEL
Appreciation event. Pictured are Region 13 Consultant Rich Malfatti, Past Charter President Zenda Abbott
and Treasurer Andres Duran.
Confidential Leader: Priscila Caballero
Personnel/HR Administrator: Paula
Boling
Special Education Administrator:
Heath Rocha
Business Services Administrator:
Alvaro Meza
Student Services Administrator: Joseph
McCreary
Curriculum & Instruction: Sandra
Yellenberg
Retired Administrator: Ann Jones
Every Student Succeeding: Leo
Chavez
Partners in Educational Excellence:
MAPin (Alexandra Duran)
Robert E. Kelly: Sheila McGann-Tiedt
Region 16: Administrators of the
year honored; new board installed
ACSA Region 16 recently honored
their administrators of the year:
Joseph Nacorda (Superintendent),
Deb Smith (High School Principal),
Joe Nardulli (Middle Grades
Principal),
Gabriel Duran (Span School
Principal),
Mary Mendoza (Elementary
Principal),
Ileana Davalos (Central Office
Administrator),
Michael Santiago (Secondary
Administrator),
Karen Marroquin-Kim (Elementary
Co-Administrator),
Gene Hernandez (Classified Leader),
Leanne Hannah (Personnel/HR
Administrator),
Jack Foote (Adult Education
Administrator),
USC Office of Civic Engagement
(Partners in Excellence Award),
Esther Soliman (Career Technical
Education Administrator),
Victor Saldana (Special Education
Administrator),
Isaias Martinez (Confidential
Employee),
Kathy Norris (Business Services
Administrator),
Elsy Rosado (Pupil Services
Administrator),
Darnise Williams (Curriculum &
Instruction Administrator),
Leigh Ann Orr (Continuation/
Educational Options Administrator),
Ranae Amezquita (Early Education
Administrator),
Pamela Donelsley (Retired
Administrator),
Teri Marcos (Professor of Education),
Martha Contreras (Operations
Administrator), and
Robert Whitman (Valuing Diversity
Award).
At the end of the evening, Executive
Board officers for 2019-2020 were
sworn in by Historian Robert Kladifko:
Leonard Choi (President), Angel
Barrett (VP Programming), Rafael
Escobar (VP Legislative Action), Juan
Flecha and Derrick Chau (State Board
Members), Antonio Amparan, Rafael
Gaeta, Eric Maxey, Tina Gandera, Gina
Barnett, Cynthia Braley, and Brian Sida
(Directors), Susana Cuevas (Secretary),
Lupe Arias (Treasurer) and Frances Baez
(Past-President).
Do you have Region News and photos to
share? Send them to EdCal Editor Michelle
Carl at [email protected] for possible inclusion
in an upcoming issue of EdCal.
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