From our President
I hope you have had a great start to your school year. Our theme for this year is "You are Enough!" As we continue to focus on self-care and a sense of belonging, we want you to know that we, the Executive Board, know that you are more than enough for the positions you hold and plan to hold in the future. You are the right person chosen at this moment to stand in the gap to advocate for all students, regardless of their socio-economic status, race, gender, disability or any other that has been created to identify sub-groups. We believe that every child can succeed when they have the right adults in their corner guiding and supporting them. We also believe that "You are Enough" to lead your districts, departments, schools and communities to the next level of excellence.
I want to wish you a powerful and productive year as you continue to serve your communities. Please note that we, Region 8, are here for you and for each other. We ask that you remember to reflect this year whenever your back is against the wall, when you are being challenged or even questioning your own abilities that "You are Enough".
Have a great year on purpose.
Respectfully,
Daric Jackson
ACSA: Region 8 - President
The Luggage Tag Challenge: On A Mission
Happy New School Year to everyone. I trust you were able to re-energize your commitment to our students in a way that creates personal curiosity, with exceptional focus, resulting in epic student engagement and achievement. The sight of students walking your campuses excited about being back at school should be enough to motivate each of us to do our best towards educating our students. Now let’s get to work!
How many of you remember the Luggage Tag Challenge? For those of you who do not remember, here’s a reminder:
“This Fall, I will ask each of you to actually or symbolically write your student support destination on a luggage tag revealing your plans to continue your success next year. The luggage tag contains all of the strategies, goals, and practices you will need on your trip to achieve student success. Once you have written your destination on the luggage tag I will ask you periodically to review your tag to determine the GPS of your final destination. At the end of the year I will have you reveal the “original” destination. I will ask if you arrived safely? What practices did you identify that helped reach your journey’s end? If you reached your journey? Did your luggage get to its final destination or get lost along the way? If lost, were you able to recover your lost luggage and still enjoy the trip??”
Did you create your Luggage Tag? Is it in a prominent place as a reminder of your commitment to our kids? If you did not create a Luggage Tag; get on board the Student Success Trip and create your Tag immediately.
Our students are waiting and depending on us to give them 180 days of our best work. I am looking forward to seeing each of you this year and I will ask you about your Luggage Tag! I am on a mission of ensuring every student gets our best in order for them to give their best!
Be Efficacious,
Eric Andrew
Executive Director; Region 8
23-24 Award Nominations are OPEN!
The ACSA Award Nomination due date is Thursday, January 18, 11:59 pm.
We have many students and administrators that are deserving of recognition.
Submit applications on the ACSA platform which is found in the links below.
Please remember that nominees/potential recipients must be an ACSA member to receive the award.**
Here are several links to help you.
If you have any questions email Joell jhanson@metroed.net or Maurissa at mkoide@musd.org. We are eager to help everyone!
Equity Committee update - Trudy Goss
The Equity Committee held our first meeting of the school year on Monday, September 11, 2023. We renewed the focus of our mission: Equity is the moral imperative to provide access and support for all marginalized persons to realize their personal best; liberating all through the eradication of- Ideological, Institutionalized, Interpersonal, and Internalized forms of oppression. The Equity Action Tool is available to assist teams to work through challenges they encounter in their work. We received a presentation from ACSA Partner with Purpose FranklinCovey: focus on how to use the 7 Habits to support student executive functioning through “Supporting Students Academic Growth and Development”.
· Teaching Equity through the 7 Habits.
Next meeting is Wednesday, November 1 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Sacramento prior to the start of the Leadership Summit. The ACSA Equity Institute will be in LA April 3-5, 2024.
Imagine the Possibilities
Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools, invites education leaders throughout our county to participate in an in-person networking event sponsored by ACSA Region 8, the County Office of Education Administrators Association Charter, and the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE). Join us for Imagine the Possibilities, the Fall Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) Event on Thursday, October 12, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at The Hub on the MetroED campus! Attendees are encouraged to arrive as early as 4:15 p.m. to grab a complimentary beverage and to mingle prior to the event start.
Guests will enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a primarily cash bar while reconnecting with colleagues, to music by the talented Dream Achiever Band. This WLN event will showcase Allison Hueman, a multidisciplinary artist based in Oakland, CA, as she “talks story” about the intersectionality of art and community, culture, and language. Hueman will speak to empowerment, empathy, humility, acceptance, inclusion, and how we can be a force for the positive. A mini tour of MetroED will be offered at the conclusion of the event, for interested attendees.
Click here to see our Fall 2023 Event Promotional Trailer.
To register, go to na.eventscloud.com/WLN101223. Register by Friday, September 15 to receive
an event gift. Registration will close on Monday, September 25.
Members of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) may attend for free and are encouraged to bring a colleague as our guest. For additional guests and non-ACSA members, a $15 fee is associated with the event.
A Word from the West Valley Charter
The West Valley Charter kicked off the new year with the first in-person charter event in years, to connect to new members and to provide information on the benefits of ACSA membership as the new school year kicked off for our districts! 30 members were in attendance, representing Los Gatos Saratoga Union School District, Campbell Union High School District, Moreland School District as well as ACSA member guests from neighboring charters. We are looking forward to another event, targeted specifically on the same goal: providing membership support and connection and bringing back in person activities!
Pictured, left to right: Charter President Abra Evanoff, Charter member Larry Lopez, Charter Treasurer Tanya De La Cruz
And from the Retirees - Denise Williams, President
Our first General Meeting was very exciting! Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Superintendent of Santa County Office of Education was the guest speaker. She shared many aspects of the County office work. What resonated with me is how “A Foundation For The Future” begins with the Early Learning Initiative and that is where lifelong learning begins. Our little scholars should develop a mindset of great attendance and being engaged every day in their learning. Engaging students every day builds strong foundations for success in life and future careers. It’s never too young to build the skill set and the minds of our children especially knowing that 90% of a child’s brain develops by age five. To raise awareness, the county provides opportunities for parents to build strategies to support their children through this initiative. When you include the parents . . . that’s a united platform!
