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CARTER
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a model for adult education in the unique
community that he serves. His work
extends to city partnerships to address
community needs such as homelessness,
soft-skill development and building career
opportunities, including a partnership with
Crafton Hills College that smooths the
transition to higher education for his stu-
dents who are transferring. He is currently
launching CTE classes to target specific
sectors of identified need and has taken the
lead on creating safe and inclusive learning
environments for all students.
“Dana is a leader in the state and region,
sharing his ideas and experiences with not
only our local consortium but at the state
and national level as well,” said Yucaipa-
Calimesa Superintendent Cali Binks. “Not
only does he support the goal of raising the
level of education in our communities, he
supports teacher growth through providing
professional development. … Each day
Dana brings his passion to see students
succeed, provides individual support for his
team and students, and brings commitment
to helping our community grow through
education.”
What’s your favorite quote about leader-
ship?
“Watch your thoughts, they become
your words. Watch your words, they
become your actions. Watch your actions,
they become your habits. Watch your
habits, they become your character. Watch
your character, it becomes your destiny.”
– Author unknown
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Find a job that you enjoy, and work will
not be burdensome. – My dad (and many
others)
What are the top five life hacks you would
recommend for a new administrator?
1. View all tasks through the lens of
“How is this good for students?” (This is
not always as easy as it sounds)
2. Put people before paper every time.
3. You can’t and won’t make everyone
happy so always remember #1
4. If you are having a bad day, go visit a
kindergarten classroom.
5. Don’t look at your work e-mails when
you are at home.
What made you want to become a school
administrator?
I love helping others and making a
tangible positive impact on their lives. …
Through this role, I am able to support
and enable my staff to help more people
achieve their academic and life goals. It
brings me joy to be part of changing lives.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Professionally, I am very proud of cre-
ating new programs and systems that last
beyond my time at a school. I was part of
a team that opened a new middle school.
Now that my son attends that school, I
enjoy going back and seeing programs
and processes that I developed still being
used for the benefit of the students. I am
thoroughly enjoying creating classes and
programs that are helping adults get a job
and/or go to college. My hope is that years
from now, when I have moved on, that
what I have started will continue to help
those in our community.
Personally, I am most proud when I
receive compliments regarding my children.
The investment I have in them is greater
than any professional task or goal that I
have. The fact that they are growing into
responsible young adults and that others
recognize this is one of the highest honors
I can receive.
Yucaipa Adult School Principal Dana Carter, seen here with one of the school’s students, says it brings him joy
to be part of changing lives.
What was the best ACSA event you’ve
attended?
I have had the good fortune to partic-
ipate in many ACSA events through the
years, but the ongoing event experience
that I enjoy the most is Legislative Action
Day. This event has helped me to build
relationships with both legislators and col-
leagues from throughout the state.
How has ACSA supported you in your
career/current position?
ACSA has provided me with oppor-
tunities to stretch and grow. As a new
assistant principal, I was able to attend the
Institute for New & Aspiring Principals at
UCLA. Through attending the Curriculum
and Instruction Academy, I built a stron-
ger foundation to use when supporting
changes at my school site. When I was
moved to a community day school, I used
what I learned from attending the Pupil
ISHIBASHI
accomplished is supporting students, par-
ents, staff and the Lowell community in
achieving three California Distinguished,
one Gold Ribbon School, and now a possi-
ble second National Blue Ribbon Award!
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ing programs supporting social justice and
equity for students, staff and the greater
community.
From small adjustments to class sched-
uling with “late start Mondays” to systemic
changes in student achievement and sup-
port, Ishibashi shows his commitment to
creating a diverse, successful, inclusive and
compassionate culture at the schools he has
led. At Lowell, he implemented an African
American Common Core Education and
Support Program, designed to recruit,
monitor and support all African American
students academically, socially and emo-
tionally, as well as support programs for
LGBTQ, Latinx, Filipino and Pacific
Islander and low-performing students.
His efforts to promote success in oth-
ers don’t end on campus. As president of
Region 5, Ishibashi developed “Movin on
Up,” an ongoing program to assist future
and current administrators to advance in
their careers.
“Based on personal conviction and his
own life experiences, Andy is an advocate
of equity and social justice for ALL stu-
dents,” ACSA Region 5 Consultant Larry
Teshara said. “He is an approachable prin-
cipal, known to his large student body, who
students recognize as a dedicated leader.
His sincerity is obvious to all who know
him well.”
What’s your favorite book on leadership?
While I have read many books on lead-
ership, the one that I remember the most
is Peter Block’s “Stewardship.” It was one
of the first books I read and I truly related
to being a servant leader. My favorite quote
Services Academy to ensure students were
getting the supports and services that
were needed and available. In addition to
these state-level professional development
offerings, I became active in my local
Charter and Region, which continued my
growth as an administrator and introduced
me to mentors like Bill Olinger and Rod
Federwich, who have provided guidance
and inspiration through the years.
The theme of the 2019 Leadership
Summit is “Lead Well: Equity and
Excellence.” What projects are you work-
ing on which have equity as their focus?
I have just begun our first CTE course,
“Construction Facilities and Maintenance.”
This course is open to all adults but is
targeting the identified need for women in
this field. Our eight-week intensive course
prepares students to be ready to enter one
of two local apprenticeship programs.
Who is someone who inspires you?
Well, first it would be my mom, who
was born on the island of Kauai in a sugar
cane plantation home and never attended
high school. Other than my mom, I have
had many people inspire me through the
years, but no one inspired me more than
[President Barack] Obama!
What’s your pre-game ritual to get ready
for a big meeting or presentation?
My pre-game for getting ready for a big
meeting is greeting people as they walk in,
making people laugh or just thanking them
for what they do! They teach!
At Lowell High School, Principal Andrew Ishibashi created programs for multiple student groups to support
them academically, socially and emotionally.
comes from that book: “Choosing service
over self-interest!” Another one is, “Seek to
understand before being understood.”
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I’ve been given is, just
be you!
What are some of your favorite apps?
Yelp, ACSA, Bitmoji, NBA, MLB, Find
my car.
What made you want to become a school
administrator?
Making a long story short is that I
preach to my students that at the end
of your life, don’t say, “What if, I should
have.” Say: “I did or gave it my best shot.”
The lecture had to do with why are they
going to college? Anyway, I used to say
things like “if I was principal ...” So my
students called me out and said I should do
it! So I did!
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve over-
come to get where you are?
The biggest challenge has been the
equity and social justice work I have been
doing for years. It is a big challenge when
some people do not understand the why
and what it feels like to be a minority.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
The thing I’m most proud of having
What was the best ACSA event you’ve
attended?
The best ACSA event other than the
Academies and Institutes, it would be the
many Leadership Summits I have attended.
They are refreshing and they motivate me
to be the best I can be! ACSA has assisted
me with the Principals and HR academies.
Also the Personnel Institute and the meet-
ings at the Leadership Assemblies. They
all add up to the greatest support you can
have as an administrator!
What bucket list item do you hope to
accomplish this year?
Because I am retiring this year, my
bucket list is taking care of my mom, who
has dementia. Once I get that schedule
in place, I will be traveling, going to jazz,
R&B, and funk concerts, as well as festi-
vals. I’ve been doing this for years!