Bill’s Blog

The newly-formed Colton JUSD charter, Management Association of Colton (MAC), has mobilized to assist with victims of Hurricane Harvey. See this press release from their district below!

Colton – Thanks to the generosity of Colton Joint Unified School District administrators, staff and students, boxes of much-needed supplies are on their way to Texas to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

The CJUSD Management Association of Colton (MAC), working in partnership with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and the CJUSD Transportation Department, coordinated a “Stuff the Bus for Harvey” campaign to collect supplies for Houston Independent School District. The district’s 200,000 students were impacted by Harvey and in need of basic supplies.

“Many of the students and families of the Houston Independent School District have lost everything,” noted MAC Secretary Melissa Williamson. “One of the primary focuses of MAC is to provide assistance to those in need. As MAC representatives, we were excited to have an opportunity to help with this need.”

Items collected included: clothing, undergarments, shoes, canned goods, backpacks, school supplies and toiletries.

Sites that participated in the effort include: Michael D’Arcy, Sycamore Hills, Ruth Grimes, William McKinley, Grand Terrace and Terrace View Elementary Schools, Ruth O. Harris Middle School, San Salvador Preschool, CJUSD Transportation and the CJUSD District Office.

MAC and ACSA Region 12 are partner professional organizations that support CJUSD administrators and advocate for leadership development and philanthropy. The CJUSD MAC/ACSA Board includes: President Timberly Axelrod; Vice President Jo Ann Grier; Treasurer Amber Duran; Secretary Melissa Williamson; Vice President of Legislative Action, Judy Servin and Vice President of Membership, Cindy Aguilar-Munoz.

Your incoming Region 12 board and staff held their first planning and strategy meeting at Marie Callender’s on August 21, 2017 to ponder the fate and direction of our region for the new school year. Not all board members are pictured below.

Our agenda can be accessed via this link:

Elected Board Agenda Aug 21 2017

For a complete list of who’s who on the Region board and how to contact us, click here:

board region 12 directory of officers 2017 2018 with cells rev 8 29 17 bro

Coach Jim White (McFarland USA) faces the audience.

Once again this year leaders of Regions 12 and XIX conducted and attended a joint leadership conference at the Palm Springs Hilton from June 3-4, 2017.  The tri-fold purpose of this conference is to introduce or extend ACSA policies and procedures, become up to date on hot topics in the political, financial and academic world of educational leadership, and to socialize and get to know each other. We also do our annual installation of incoming officers at this same event, and reserve time for region and charter specific planning time.  Special guests included State ACSA’s incoming president, Dr. Lisa Gonzales, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre and (guest speaker) Coach Jim White, whose story was played by actor Kevin Costner in the film McFarland USA.

SB County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre greets the crowd.

Region 12 leaders assemble on the Stairway to Heaven for this group shot.

Region 12 leaders (left of podium) and XIX (right of podium) are simultaneously sworn in by incoming State ACSA President Dr. Lisa Gonzales (at podium).

Coach Jim White discusses leadership and determination. Coach was the subject of the movie McFarland USA, and was portrayed by Kevin Costner.

Leaders of the Fontana Management Association (FMA) charter schmooze for the camera whle modestly taking a back table.

The charter to which you all aspire–REM–held one of their twice-annual luncheons on June 2, 2017, the day prior to the Regions 12 and XIX annual Leadership Conference at the Palm Springs Hilton. The incoming Slate of Officers was approved by the general membership and installed by the incoming presidents of the two regions: Dr. Cindie Medeiros of R-12, and Diane Perez of R-XIX. The REM group has a lot of fun. Although we keep abreast of trends in education and educational leadership, and provide high school scholarships and even scholarships for working administrators to attend ACSA academies, we also set out to enrich ourselves by the “field trips” we take and the guest speakers we invite to our functions. This day’s speaker was Nancy Cliath, not coincidentally also one of our V.P.s of Programs, who spoke on “Geneaology as a Hobby and Telling Your Stories. Nancy has done research on genealogy and provided us with many interesting resources.

You can access the agenda for this event here and see how the other half lives: luncheon June 2017 agenda

Incoming REM boardies take the solemn oath of office as they are sworn in by incoming region presidents for 12 and XIX Diane Perez (far left) and Dr. Cindie Medeiros (second from left) .

Guest speaker Nancy Cliath, standing at back left, shares her experiences with genealogy.

The SALSA (San Bernardino Association fo Leaders for School Administration) charter, i.e. the SB County Supt. of Schools office, held a luncheon to raise funds for scholarships on May 3.

Once again this year, ACSA Region 12 held its Spring Celebration event where we feted peer-nominated leaders in a variety of categories, as well as several high school scholarships (children or grandchildren of ACSA members) and our Every Student Succeeds (ESS) selection. This year’s event was held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in San Bernardino. (NOTE: our 2017-18 event will be on Monday, April 23, 2018 and will be at the Doubletree by Hilton in Ontario. Their main room has twice the capacity and we have outgrown our britches at the SB location.)

Our event was co-hosted by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre, and State ACSA’s 2016-17 President Dr. Ralph Gomez Porras, who took turns awarding our honorees.

FYI, nominations for this year’s awards are now open and are being centralized by State ACSA. Please see details of how to nominate under the “news and resources” section of the Region 12 website. The absolute deadline to submit nominations is on January 12, 2018. This is a state deadline and there are NO exceptions.

It was not possible to include ALL photos taken at this event in one blog. However, you can see all of them via this Dropbox link. Cut and paste into your browser if clicking does not take you there:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rq1gaxcbqk8trrt/AABLnvw-pSn9Vh2da4vikR79a?dl=0

Region leaders compare notes as attendees arrive and check in.Click here to see the entire list of recipients!

The Redlands High School Chamber Strings entertains guests during the social hour.

spring celebration save the date flyer

Volunteers man the registration booth and await the onslaught of 300+ arrivals.

Awardees assemble on-stage at the conclusion of the ceremonies.

Region 12 selected two superintendents for the Superintendent of the Year award this time around. Above, Jerry Almendarez of Colton Joint USD is flanked by State ACSA President Dr. Ralph Gomez Porras. Pictured at right is Dr. Ron Williams, superintendent of Victor Valley Union HSD.

High school scholarship recipient Sara Kirk sings the National Anthem.

We were over capacity at 300+ attendees, necessitating moving to a new venue next year.

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre shares a moment with high school scholarship recipient Kalynne Brantley.

A beaming Joanne Thoring-Ojeda, a past region president, watches as her granson Noah Johnson receives a scholarship.

Once again this spring, contingents from all ACSA regions descended upon the State Capitol Building in Sacramento to petition our legislators regarding ACSA thoughts on education-related issues. This year’s thrusts involved the following topics:

• Extending the teacher probationary period (optional “third year”).
• English Learner reform efforts.
• Pension issues.

In addition to legislative visits, attendees heard a variety of speakers from both State ACSA and the political world. ACSA Friends of Education awards were given to Sue Burr, Member, State Board of Education & CCEE, as well as Senator Ben Allen (D-26). Our guest speaker at the opening session on Sunday was Marshall Tuck, 2018 candidate for SPI.

A number of VPs of Legislative Action, presidents and other officials from Region 12’s charters and region board attended. Pictured below are some highlights.

Region 12 VP of Legislative Action Scott Sparks listens pensively during the Sunday meetings as attendees are briefed on talking points.

At far center, State ACSA’s Legislative Advocate Laura Preston provides more tips and information on our talking points for the following day as Region attendeees listen.

One of several region break-out groups delineates respective roles during legislator visits. Groups were divided into groups representing their specific work areas.

Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D-52) is pictured at top-center-right (hands folded) with  his legislative aide Andrew Avila at his side as he converses with one visiting group. The Assemblymember was very convivial with us! Some pictured are from another region.  

State SPI Tom Torlakson addresses LAD attendees who were able to break away and report to Hearing Room 112 at the Capitol.

Some Region 12 members met with Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-47) (in glasses second from left) and her legislative aide Melissa Cosio at far left). Region VPLA Scott Sparks, our primary facilitator for LAD for Region 12, is pictured at center.

President Kim Cavanagh suggested an interesting project at our March 2017 Region Leadership Assembly meeting in Rancho Cucamonga, and asked for volunteer “ambassadors” to effect it. Her idea was to deliver “goodie boxes” to each district in the region just to say “thanks” and “hello.” By the time all are delivered, 36 different offices will have received their treats, including SBCSS and CRY-ROP.  In many cases, boxes were delivered in person as pictured below. Due to the remoteness of some of our districts (e.g. Baker and Morongo), boxes were mailed.  Each delivery was accompanied by a personalized letter from President Kim.

Delivery ambassadors included the following:

Mary Kay DeCrescenzo (Retired)

Dana Carter (Principal, YCJUSD)

Kim Cavanagh (Coordinator, Redlands USD)

Lonnie Keeter (Retired)

Jim Marinis (Retired)

Michelle Wavering (Principal, Upland USD)

Rick Wiersma (Director, Chaffey JUHSD)

Scott Sparks (Principal, Rialto USD)

Tom Mackessy (Principal, Chino Valley USD)

Kim Cavanagh (right) delivers to Superintendent Lori Rhodes of Redlands USD.

Dana Carter (right) delivers to Yucaipa Leaders in his home district.

Lonnie Keeter (right) delivers to Doug Beaton of Apple Valley USD.

Lonnie Keeter delivers to Kristin Hernandez, Public Information Officer for Apple Valley USD.

Kim Cavanagh (right)  delivers to Stephanie Houston of CRY-ROP office.

Region 12 held its Spring Membership Social this year on March 14, 2017 at the Shandin Hills Golf Club at Little Mountain in San Bernardino. Over 100 RSVPd, and nearly that number showed up. This is the most well-attended social in region history, or at least in anyone’s memory. Highlights included a presentation and conferring of informal awards by County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre, a talk by Sherman Garnett (State ACSA Membership Recruitment Team and also Trustee for the SB County Supt. of Schools Board of Directors) on the benefits of joining ACSA, and a presentation by Dr. Gabe Soumakian, a retired superintendent now Business Development Manager for Teacher’s Pension & Insurance Services. Dr. Soumakian’s company helped defray costs of our event.

A major highlight that made this social different was the idea by our Region VP of Membership Sandra Rodriguez to invite and informally recognize ALL those who were nominated by their peers for an Administrator of the Year award, regardless of outcome–and also to recognize their nominators who completed the arduous process of completing the application forms. County Superintendent Ted Alejandre assisted us in this endeavor, as pictured below.

Sherman Garnett explains the benefits of ACSA.

Dr. Gabe Soumakian of Teacher’s Pension talks to attendees about the importance of financial planning.

The following three pictures show those who were nominated for an administrator award and present at the social receiving certificates of appreciation from Ted Alejandre and ACSA President Kim Cavanagh.

View of audience looking to the left…

View of audience looking to the right.