August 27, 2018
HENNINGS
Continued from page 1
For her excellence in leadership and
her philosophy that all children receive
the care, support and investment from a
tolerant and inclusive educational commu-
nity, Charity Plaxton-Hennings, director of
Mental Health and Psychological Services,
Secondary Special Education, Riverside
USD, has been named ACSA’s 2018 Special
Education Administrator of the Year.
In her three years as director of Mental
Health and Psychological Services,
Secondary Special Education at the district,
Plaxton-Hennings has been instrumental in
reforming the special education department
and other areas under her management,
including creating a Suicide Prevention
Manual and Threat Assessment Protocol.
Unlike many administrators who begin
their career as teachers, Plaxton-Hennings
began her training in psychology, working
for many years as an associate and adjunct
professor of Child and School Psychology
and running a part-time private practice as
a psychologist. During this time, she also
worked as a school psychologist and mental
health coordinating psychologist.
In 2014, she made the leap into school
administration, working as the coordina-
tor of student services for Inland Leaders
Charter Schools, before beginning her work
FORUM
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and impact leader. Shahid co-founded the
Malala Fund with Nobel Prize winner
Malala Yousafzai, and led the organization
as founding CEO. She focused on creating
access to high quality education for all chil-
dren around the world.
She invests in mission-driven technology
startups, that are solving the world’s most
pressing challenges through technology and
innovation.
One of the features of the forum is an
opportunity to participate in mock inter-
views. As a “value added” event, ACSA
mock interviews are proving to be a big
success for conference attendees.
“The feedback was incredible, including
validating that I was on the right track,” said
Donna Lewis, superintendent of Goleta
Union School District. “In all, it was a con-
fidence booster, which played well in the
real arena.”
Lewis participated in an ACSA Mock
Interview at the 2016 Women in School
at Riverside USD as the coordinator of
SELPA/Pupil Services.
“I was really motivated to be a servant
leader and empower others to develop their
skills and gifts to maximize their service to
children,” she said.
Plaxton-Hennings places a high value on
consistent professional training and devel-
opment.
“I am most inspired by seeing how the
mentoring and training that I provide to
the staff and colleagues, with whom I lead
and serve, result in better outcomes for
students,” she said. “In turn these improved
outcomes inspire staff to take the next
step in their own personal and professional
development, which ultimately force multi-
plies our global efforts to influence greater
levels of success.”
She is also very proud of the “strong
mental health programs that our team has
developed to support Special Education
services. With the establishment of the new
Mental Health Services Building, we have
created a hub for professional development
and collaboration, parent training and inno-
vation in mental health services.
“As a pediatric neuropsychologist, I am
constantly reminded how much of the brain
develops prior to a student entering kinder-
garten,” she said.
Her membership with ACSA has pro-
vided Plaxton-Hennings with the learn-
ing and growth opportunities she feels are
critical.
“ACSA’s unparalleled provision of strong
professional development opportunities is
focused not only on gaining knowledge, but
on continuously building leadership skills,”
she said. “The opportunity to serve on
state councils and network with other lead-
ers both locally and statewide has proved
EDCAL 5
extremely beneficial in building a network
of colleagues with whom I can laugh, con-
sult and learn through our shared experi-
ences.
“These ACSA supported professional
networks improve the bottom line of my
servant leadership and that of our profes-
sion as a whole.”
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Leadership Forum, as she was preparing to
take a next step to become a superintendent.
“I found the mock interview to be very
helpful,” she said. “It was held before a
panel of supportive women colleagues, all
with experience in human resources or the
superintendency. The questions were rel-
evant and did come up in some of my actual
interviews.”
And now she’s a superintendent.
But a mock interview isn’t just for the
superintendency; it can be done for any
administrative job. This is what ACSA does
best: Prepare education leaders for their very
best futures.
“The key is to have that safe place to
practice interviewing skills with supportive
colleagues who will give honest feedback,”
Lewis said. “This is an experience everyone
should try, even if they are not anticipating
interviewing in the near future. It is very
humbling to sit in that hot seat.”
The event also features many informa-
tive sessions and workshops, all designed to
help you grow your career. Don’t miss out.
Go to www.acsa.org to register.
professional
development calendar
SEPTEMBER 26-28, 2018 | ISLAND HOTEL | NEWPORT BEACH, CA
REGISTER TODAY!
ACSA 2018 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
NOVEMBER 8-10, 2018 | SAN DIEGO
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ACSA’S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS, CALL 800.608.2272.
ACSA’S PD CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.ACSA.ORG/CALENDAR
ACSA’s 2018 Leadership Summit will have something for everyone. Whether you’re new to the profession or a
seasoned veteran of education, this event will sharpen your focus to our changing world.
Register at acsa.org/leadershipsummit