A Word from our President - Daric Jackson
Greetings Region 8 Members,
I hope this note finds you in good health and spirits as we push through the month of March. There are those in education who may say that March and October are the longest months in the school year. Well, I say that these two months are great opportunities to provide our students with deeper learning on a consistent basis while we have a captured audience.
Our world is changing at a rapid pace and we as educators are tasked with giving our students the tools they need to navigate, experiment, and even challenge the status quo. We can help them by providing opportunities to engage in productive discourse, empower them to take risks, to collaborate with others, and become civic leaders in their communities. These are only a few of the skills they will need to become college and career ready. Regardless of their career goals, these skills will help them in all areas of their lives.
On another note, I hope to see you all at our next Region 8 event on Friday, March 22, 2024. Please refer to your email invitation.
As always, have a great remainder of your month on purpose. Be intentional about your physical, mental, and emotional health. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others.
You Are Enough! - Eric Andrew, Executive Director
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“You are strong enough to handle your challenges,
wise enough to find solutions to your problems,
and capable enough to do whatever needs to be done.”
-Lori Deschene, Author
This quote embodies our theme for the year, “You Are Enough!” As we spring forward, let’s remember that we are enough. We are capable and we are driven to lead others in the pursuit of educational excellence and achievement for ALL students. Let the emergence of Spring nurture your leadership skills in a way that blossoms with the confidence to inspire new growth for yourself and those you influence.
Save the date: 5/15/24 for Spring Leadership Forum.
It's coming close to the end of the school year! Use this time to connect with your colleagues and relax to close out and celebrate all your hard work. Save the date: 5/15/24. More details coming soon! If you have any questions, please reach out to: Lisa Katimbang - lkatimbang@moreland.org and Tina Ybarra - tybarra@sjusd.org
CONGRATULATIONS!!
We are excited to announce our 2023-2024 ACSA:Region 8 Awardees! We look forward to honoring our recipients on April 26, 2024 @ Villa Ragusa. You may RSVP for the Awards Ceremony using this link.
We also want to continue to recognize our Rookies of the Year and Retirees. Please see instructions for submitting those honorees below.
ACSA Region 8 Co-Chairs, Maurissa Koide & Joell Hanson, are requesting the names of your district's Rookie of the Year (brand new administrators within their first 2 years of service). Each district may select one deserving Rookie. The intent is to honor them at our ACSA Region 8 Awards Dinner on April 26, 2024. They do not have to be ACSA members to be recognized.
ACSA Region 8 Co-Chairs, Maurissa Koide & Joell Hanson, are requesting the names of your district's retirees so they may be honored at our ACSA Region 8 Awards Dinner on April 26, 2024. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Maurissa (mkoide@musd.org) or Joell (jhanson@metroed.net).
Legislative Action Day 2024!
CHANGE OF DATE: Legislative Action Days was inadvertently scheduled on the Passover Seder, a Jewish ritual that has great significance. To avoid the conflict, it has been decided to move LAD to Sunday, April 28 and Monday, April 29.
I hope you’ll join ACSA Region 8 school and district leaders in this year’s ACSA Legislative Action Days activities, scheduled during the week of April 28, 2024. Legislative Action Day is a wonderful opportunity to come together with our region’s and state’s educational leaders to meet our local legislators and advocate for public education. We’re fortunate in Santa Clara County that our legislators want to hear from us and value our stories and perspectives as they create policy.
No experience is necessary! We’ll ease you into the process so that everyone has an opportunity to comfortably participate. Also, it’s important to remember that this activity is considered “advocacy” as opposed to political activity.
Pre-registration is required to participate in the ACSA program on April 28 and 29. That information and link will be sent out once released by ACSA.
ACSA’s Government Relations Team will finalize and share a “talking points” document in advance of Legislative Action Days. We’ll share that with you as soon as it’s ready.
If you are interested in participating, please complete this interest survey.
If you have any questions, please Heather Wellendorf at hwellendorf@campbellusd.org
What’s up in San Jose Unified? - Joe Heffernan- Charter President
2024 Spring Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) Event
Friday, May 10, 8:00-10:00 a.m. San Jose Room | SCCOE Ridder Park
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 (COEAA) Charter, and the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE). Join us for Imagine the Possibilities, the spring 2024 WLN Event on Friday, May 10, 8:00-10:00 a.m., in the San Jose Room at the Ridder Park campus! Attendees are encouraged to arrive as early as 7:45 a.m. for a continental breakfast and to mingle before the event starts.
What have we been doing to be bigger and better versions of ourselves as leaders, coaches and collaborative team members? At this event, we will take the time to acknowledge our growth and look ahead as well. The keynote will be based on Jennifer Abrams' newest work, Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work, where we will look at the five facets of development we should acknowledge as we celebrate being our best selves at work as women leaders - better understanding our identities, suspending our certainty, taking responsibility for our side of interactions, working interdependently with others, and building our resiliency. Join us to celebrate the development of our skills and capacities as lead learners in our schools and districts.
Preview our event promotional trailer here.
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.
Space is limited so register early. To register, go to https://sccoe.to/wln051024. Register by April 19 to receive an event gift.
Human Resources Council - Lena Bundtzen
In the dynamic landscape of Human Resources, staying ahead of ever-changing employment legislation and trends is paramount for professionals seeking to drive organizational success. In this pursuit, the ACSA Negotiation Symposium stands out as a beacon of knowledge and collaboration, offering a platform where HR practitioners, consultants, attorneys, and negotiators convene to delve into pertinent issues and laws shaping the field today.
The ACSA Negotiation Symposium is not just another conference; it's a curated experience designed to empower HR departments with the tools and insights needed to navigate the complexities of negotiation effectively. Through a blend of interactive sessions and workshops, led by seasoned practitioners and legal experts, attendees gain a deep understanding of the nuances involved in negotiation strategies, tactics, and compliance.
At the heart of this symposium is the recognition that negotiation skills are not just about securing favorable terms; they are instrumental in fostering positive organizational change and driving student academic success. By honing negotiation competencies, HR professionals contribute directly to shaping environments conducive to learning and growth for our students.
For school districts, the symposium presents a unique opportunity to strengthen negotiation capabilities at a systemic level. When the entire negotiating team attends and collaborates on refining their skills, the impact is amplified. By aligning strategies and fostering a shared understanding of objectives, districts can negotiate more effectively, leading to outcomes that prioritize the well-being of both staff and students.
The ACSA Negotiation Symposium is more than just a gathering of HR professionals; it's a catalyst for positive change within the education sector. By equipping attendees with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to navigate the complexities of negotiation, the symposium empowers them to drive meaningful transformation in their organizations and communities.
As we navigate an increasingly complex landscape of employment legislation, budget reductions and organizational dynamics, the importance of effective negotiation cannot be overstated. The ACSA Negotiation Symposium stands as a beacon of excellence in this regard, offering a platform where HR professionals can come together, learn from each other, and chart a course towards a brighter future for education.
