ACSA Executive Director Wesley Smith Director of Communications Naj Alikhan Editor London Roberts Design / Layout Stephen D . Long Production Coordinator Emily Agpoon
Board of Directors
President Lisa Gonzales President-Elect Holly Edds Vice President Linda Kaminski Vice President for Legislative Action Terri Rufert Past President Ralph Gómez Porras Directors Angel Barrett , Mike Berg , Ana Boyenga , Blanca Cavazos , Juan Cruz , Craig Helmstedter , Charles Hoffman , Linda Hutcherson , Sue Kaiser , Lisa Ketchum , Jon LeDoux , Michael McCormick , Rafael Placencia , Barbara Martinez , Robert Martinez , Denny Rush , Karen Sakata , Kiela Snider , Jay Spaulding , Victor Thompson , Roxanna Villaseñor , Denise Wickham , Ron Williams
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Leadership magazine ( ISSN 1531-3174 ) is published bi-monthly in September / October , November / December , January / February , March / April and May / June by the Asso ciation of California School Admin istrators , 1575 Bayshore Hwy ., Burlingame , CA 94010 . ( USPS 282-740 ) Annual subscription : $ 60 ; single copies $ 12 ( includes state tax ). Subscriptions outside the U . S . add $ 20 ($ 80 total ). Periodical postage paid at Burlingame , California and additional post offices . Articles and advertisements are the expressions of the author ( s ) and advertisers and are not statements of policy or endorsements of ACSA . Postmaster : Send address changes to : Leadership magazine , ACSA , 1575 Bayshore Hwy ., Burlingame , CA 94010 .
To Our Readers
Fulfilling the promise of equity for our students means learning all we can about challenges
If true educational equity existed , what might it look like ?
I recently asked this at a pretty large regional training meeting and , as expected , the definition of “ equity ” spanned the gamut . The National Equity Project uses the following definition for equity : “ Educational equity means that each child receives what he or she needs to develop to his or her full academic and social potential .” Those of us in the leadership roles here in ACSA agree . Equity is about giving every student what they need to succeed , not giving to every student equally .
Our schools , district offices , county offices and the California Department of Education are full of committed , hard-working leaders who give their all every day . But every day , new challenges arise . The articles in this issue of Leadership aim to focus our thinking and expand our knowledge with experts in the field whose backgrounds and experiences provide those unique opportunities .
It is also important to acknowledge that our schools and administrative offices are full of committed and hard-working teachers and classified staffs , giving it everything they ’ ve got . We need them to continue , and we need to support them .
Grading and assessment consultant Joe Feldman ( page 8 ) tells us that grading practices are outdated and particularly hurt the very student subgroups we are working to support . “ Even if we develop a loving , supportive school culture , it won ’ t mean a thing if the way we grade dispirits students or ever tells them that they can ’ t be good at school ,” Feldman writes . Oakland USD instructional network partner James Hilton Harrell ( page 12 ) writes that LGBTQ students need to know they are seen and heard . “ It takes courageous conversations and immense leadership to ensure that our students feel safe every day ,” he writes .
Beginning on page 16 , leadership coach Tovi Scruggs-Hussein gives us access to voices from a key stakeholder group in our schools : African American parents . Listening to these parents talk about their children is eye-opening on a number of fronts . A middle-class father of two , who has been involved with parent leadership for more than a year , expresses his frustration : “ One day I may move my children away if I learn of better schools ,” he says . “ But , meanwhile , I won ’ t sit back and accept the way things are without a fight .”
In this issue , we also look at using soft data to unearth inequities ; forming school partnerships that build resources for better delivery of equity initiatives ; creating culturally responsive strategies to positively frame male students of color ; and using the cultural characteristics and experiences of students as conduits for teaching more effectively .
ACSA has many professional development programs with strands in topics like equity , student needs and diversity . The Superintendents ’ Symposium is coming up this January , with the very popular Every Child Counts Symposium shortly thereafter , followed by the Classified Educational Leaders Institute . Each of these events help challenge our thinking and provide the supports we need to return to our districts with examples of programs to meet the needs of our students and colleagues . In April , the Lead 3.0 Symposium , with its focus on technology for adults and students , offers workshops and training sessions to engage and accelerate learning . Hope to see you out there at one of our many professional development events . Cheers !
Lisa Marie Gonzales ACSA President
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