4 EDCAL February 13 , 2017
Transitions
Sacramento City USD Superintendent Jose Banda has announced he will not renew his contract when it expires at the
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end of this year . In 2014 , Banda signed a three-year contract . With more than 35 years service to education , Banda was previously the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools , Anaheim City SD and Planada SD . n n n
With Judy White recently selected as the next superintendent of Riverside COE , Moreno Valley USD ’ s Chief Academic Officer Martinrex Kedziora was appointed to replace her . n n n
Carmel USD announced that Barbara Dill-Varga , a school leader in Park Ridge , Illinois , has been named as the next superintendent . Dill-Varga is now assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in Maine Township High School District 207 in Park Ridge . n n n
Goleta Union School District Superintendent William Banning has announced he is retiring , effective June 30 . Banning has been with the district since 2012 , coming over from Solana Beach School District , where he served as an assistant superintendent .
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Alhambra USD will be losing a wealth of experience at the end of the school year , as Superintendent Laura Tellez-Gagliano and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Marsha Gilbert have both announced they will retire . Tellez-Gagliano has been with the district for 13 years – the last five as superintendent – and Gilbert has given 42 years ’ service to Alhambra USD , working her way up the career ladder until she reached her current position in 2015 .
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Kern COE has named a new superintendent , Mary Barlow . She will complete the remainder of the retiring Christine Frazier ’ s term . Barlow has spent the majority of her career in education , serving as a teacher , director of Children and Family Services , and a district superintendent . During her time leading the Kernville Union School
District , the district was named a California Distinguished School , Title 1 Academic Excellence District . n n n
Travis SD has appointed Pamela Conklin as interim superintendent . Conklin has served as the school district ’ s interim Human Resources administrator since Sept . 6 , will take up her new duties Feb . 1 . Conklin succeeds Interim Superintendent Kate Wren Gavlak , who had already announced her plans to retire .
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With Antwan Wilson having announced plans to leave for another superintendency out of state , Oakland USD has named Chief Academic Officer Devin Dillon as interim superintendent .
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Santa Barbara USD has named Shawn Carey as the new assistant superintendent of secondary education . Carey moves up from her position as principal of Dos Pueblos High School to replace Ben Drati , who was recently named superintendent of Santa Monica-Malibu USD .
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Tammy Murphy is leaving her position as superintendent of Montecito Union SD to accept a position as superintendent / head of school of the Dubai American Academy in the United Arab Emirates for the 2017-2018 school year . Murphy has led Montecito Union School District for the last seven years and was superintendent of the Ross School District for five years prior .
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Send ACSA-member news for Transitions to EdCal Assistant Editor Cary Rodda at crodda @ acsa . org .
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“ ACSA ’ s mission is to advocate for the rights of all students , protect public education , and provide universal accessibility to learning . We oppose any efforts to privatize public education , any effort to weaken protections for students with disabilities , any attempt to devalue diversity or silence our voices on equity and social justice .
“ ACSA remains committed to California ’ s 6.2 million students . We hope the secretary reaches out and leans on the expertise of educators who have been on the front lines of public education .” Please visit www . acsa . org .
Work-life balance important to all school leaders
Understanding and internalizing life / work balance is something ACSA Executive Director Wesley Smith prioritized in 2016 . Now he wants to help others foster appropriate alignment and commit to mind-body wellness .
“ Traveling statewide almost every week meeting with ACSA members in schools , districts , and counties – sometimes multiple times each week – I had gotten used to a life of airplanes , hotel rooms , and meals served through driveup windows ," Smith said .
Last March , Smith was getting ready to board an early morning flight to Southern California when he fell ill . He was soon in a hospital bed having major heart surgery . In July , as he was recovering from the quadruple bypass , he suffered a setback and was forced once again to reflect on the work and his wellness .
“ Our members have very challenging , stressful jobs . It was extremely difficult to be away from the day-to-day work at ACSA because supporting them is so important ,” he said . “ But the two incidents helped me realize that if I don ' t take care of myself then I can ' t serve others .
" I have since made life changes that have benefited my wellness , my family , and ACSA members ."
Smith will share his story and personal lessons learned at ACSA ’ s annual Classified Educational Leaders Institute scheduled for Feb . 23-24 in Sacramento .
This annual professional development event focuses on leaders working in schools , districts , and counties in capacities ranging from business / fiscal services , human resources / personnel , maintenance / operations , custodial , technology , facilities , student services / instructional , including confidential and administrative assistants .
The institute is an opportunity to get together , share information , and learn about issues that affect education . Presenters from various fields of expertise will share strategies and useful techniques to assist in providing students in California with a first class education .
The conference offers three general sessions , 14 concurrent sessions , as well as two evening networking receptions . In addition to Smith , Jim White , who took a cross-country team in one of the poorest U . S . communities to nine state championships and how that inspired a community will deliver a keynote speech .
Also speaking will be motivational speaker Mister Brown , focusing on working in teams for student success , keeping in mind that what you are a part of is greater than you . He ’ ll explore the importance of perspective , tools for unity , and the importance of buy-in .
CEL Institute Planning Committee Chair Claudia Vicino is an administrator with Empire Union School District in Modesto . She says this is one of the few professional development opportunities for classified staff and evolves each year to become a stronger event .
“ We try to make it meet everyone ’ s needs and year after year , I think it does ,” she said .
Vicino said she ’ s been to almost every CEL Institute and says every year it gets bigger and bigger .
“ Every year I bring back something new , whether it ’ s new technology or something to share with my office that makes it more efficient .”
This year , Smith ’ s work and life balance speech might be the key to what she shares back at her office .
Nearly a year after his first health scare , Smith tells anyone who will listen that he feels blessed to be alive . He spends more time with his family and sees more of his friends .
He ’ s back traveling statewide to meet current and future ACSA members and advocating for California public school students . But he is embracing balance in his life , which is a lesson some don ’ t ever learn .
“ Sometimes it takes a life-threatening experience to make you understand what is most important in life ,” Smith said . “ I wouldn ’ t wish health issues on anyone , but these experiences helped me strike the appropriate life / work balance that is good for me , my family , and for our members .”
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For more information about the CEL Institute at Hilton Sacramento Arden West on Feb . 23-24 , visit the Professional Learning page at www . acsa . org or contact Lori Allred at lallred @ acsa . org . Online registration is available at https :// www . regonline . com / 17celinstitute .