Helping adults to learn
Rediscovering her learning through photography
Leading care for students
Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators Volume 49 | Number 4 | August 27 , 2018
ACSA Board adopts new Strategic Plan
ACSA has completed a framework that will guide the work of a new strategic plan for the next three years . The work of ACSA will focus around the association ’ s new mission statement :
The Association of California School Administrators is the driving force for an equitable , world-class education system , and the development and support of inspired educational leaders who meet the diverse needs of all California students .
ACSA last developed a strategic plan
five years ago . With the completion of that plan , it was time to develop and adopt a new plan to lead the association forward .
“ As an organization , ACSA must strive to stay relevant as times change ,” said ACSA President Holly Edds . “ So we must continue to work to meet the diverse and ever changing needs of our members , supporting them so they can do the critical work of providing an education to California ’ s 6.2 million students .”
The planning process was one year long ,
Rocky Bettar has helped turn Rowland USD adult education into an award-winning program .
Helping adults to learn
Since high school , Rocky Bettar hoped to teach and coach football . “ My role models in high school were my automotive teacher Jim Slater and my varsity football coach , John Hangartner .” His other mentors include Tom Lindley , Bill Weirich , Bob Bassard and Robbie Robinson . “ These individuals helped shape me . Tony Santorufo , our assistant superintendent of Secondary Education , had faith in me .”
See BETTAR , page 6
Rediscovering her learning through photography
When she transferred to Anderson New Technology High School , a school of 200 , Jasmine Phillips had trouble finding the motivation to study and set goals , or the confidence to believe in herself . She never knew her father , and after skipping school and running away from home , she was placed in foster care .
Amy Killingbeck , admin istrative assistant at New Tech , said that Jasmine ’ s situation at the time was very negative , that she didn ’ t love very many things around her or herself .
“ Growing up , I [ sometimes ] see the relationships between my friends and their parents and it ’ s like , ‘ man , I wish I had that ,’” Jasmine said .
Jasmine , now a junior , “ didn ’ t have structure in her life . She could pretty much do whatever she wanted , so if she didn ’ t like doing something , she just didn ’ t do it ,” said Principal Carol Germano .
Jasmine would come to school late . She began to fail classes . As she entered her sophomore year , her GPA was below 2.0 .
“ I think she was discouraged . Didn ’ t see the value in education . Didn ’ t understand why she needed to do it ,” Germano said . But with the help of the educators and administrators at New Tech , Jasmine discovered a support system that helped her build confidence and discipline .
All 2018 ACSA Administrators of the Year , including 21 job-alike categories and five special statewide awards will be honored at the ACSA Awards Banquet and Presidents Dinner on Friday , Nov . 9 during the ACSA Leadership Summit in San Diego . Find out more at www . acsa . org / leadership-summit .
Charity Plaxton-Hennings has always valued helping other educators find the right skills to help students .
and featured intense collaboration with a Core Planning Group of member leaders , as well as the input of hundreds of ACSA members .
“ We are grateful to the many ACSA leaders who were trained to facilitate the strategic plan work and are confident their extensive ACSA training will positively impact their schools and districts statewide ,” said ACSA Past President Lisa Gonzales , whose leadership was instrumental in the
See STRATEGIC , page 3
Leading care for students
Outstanding educational leadership requires a commitment to and focus on the success of all students . Whether managing the staff on a school site , leading a district , coordinating curriculum and instruction or acting as a director in a district SELPA , the work of school administrators has a direct impact on student achievement and well-being .
See HENNINGS , page 5
Jasmine Phillips discovered a passion for photography and schooling to earn recognition as Region 1 ’ s Every Student Succeeding honoree .
She also found herself drawn to the healing power of art . She picked up a camera and used photography to rediscover her love of learning .
Jasmine has a natural talent for photography .
See JASMINE , page 2
Alignment webinar . Working toward Coherence : Aligning ACS WASC , SPSA , and LCAP , is coming Sept . 25 at 4:15 PM . The one-hour webinar ’ s purpose is to provide California school leaders with examples on how to integrate the LCFF , SPSA , and WASC requirements to support an effective and efficient school improvement process . This webinar is put on by WASC , CDE and ACSA . To register for the event , go to http :// bit . ly / alignwebinar .
ACSA VP nominations .
Nominations are due in the ACSA Sacramento office on or before Sept . 7 for association vice president and vice president for legislative action for 2019- 20 . Both offices help set the direction of the association . VPLA is a two-year post , with the potential for a second term . Service on the ACSA Board of Directors or Leadership Assembly as region president or state chairperson is preferable . Find nomination forms at www . acsa . org / About-Us , or contact Suzanne Caffrey at scaffrey @ acsa . org .
Retirement savings . When it comes to saving for retirement , educators have big decisions to make , and the U . S . Securities and Exchange Commission wants to help . The San Francisco office of the SEC is providing California educators with information and workshops on how to invest wisely and avoid fraud when investing in 403 ( b ) and 457 ( b ) plans . The SEC aims to help educators make informed decisions when choosing investment products and professionals . For details , visit www . investor . gov or www . sec . gov / teachers or contact the San Francisco office at sanfrancisco @ sec . gov to schedule a workshop .
Grant opportunities . CTC will be awarding grants for two programs funded in the state budget this fall . A webpage has been developed that will provide all the information for these grant programs at http :// bit . ly / CTCgrants . One is funding for teacher residency programs , and the other provides funding for local solutions to the shortage of special education teachers . Check out the link for more information about applying .
Periodicals Dated Material
Women ’ s conference helps in building careers
Women are underrepresented in all areas of school leadership . ACSA , the National Association of School Superintendents and the American Association of School Administrators have partnered to put on the successful Women in School Leadership Forum , now in its fifth year . It will take place Sept . 26-28 in Newport Beach .
The event is the premier networking and educational experience designed to engage , enlighten , empower and connect women education leaders from across the country .
The Women in School Leadership forum features keynote speaker Trish Rubin . Her passion lies in cultivating success in others and empowering individuals and organizations to build strong professional relationships . She has advanced this passion using her own exceptional communications skills and an international network of clients and contacts .
Rubin ’ s understanding of the power of communication began , first , as a classroom teacher and later as a thought leader in American education . Her ability to create nationally recognized training programs led to careers with the U . S . Department of Education and USA TodayED as National Writing Consultant .
Another keynoter will be Shiza Shahid , an entrepreneur , technologist , investor
See FORUM , page 5