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.

Congratulations to our Region 12 rep on the State ACSA Board of Directors, Dr. Ron Williams (Superintendent, VVUHSD), on obtaining the coveted National Superintendent Certification. The attached picture shows him with other recipients at the ceremonies recently held in New Orleans. Dr. Williams is the tall one in the very center.  More info can be found at this link:

http://nce.aasa.org/aasas-class-of-2017-marks-end-to-national-certification-pursuits/

Terri Rufert, Superintendent of Sundale Union Elementary School District, is running for State ACSA Vice President of Legislative Action. Here, she practices standing on her soap box at our Region Leadership Assembly meeting on March 2, 2017.

Board general agenda March 2 2017

Region 12 has a special charter for those who are working on administrative credentials and seeking to learn from and interact with those of us already in the field. In fact, some years the Student/Associate Charter is amongst the most active in our region!  We are always pleased when one of them does achieve an administrative position, even though it means they must switch to another charter. We are also happy to see the successes of these students (usually classroom teachers) at the teaching level, because it can portend success when they finally land that coveted administrative spot. SAC member LaShon Tilman shared her recent success with us. See the pictures below. LaShon is holding her certificate of recognition from the Rialto USD’s Rialto Education Association (teachers union). LaShon has been an active and dedicated member of our SAC charter.

The Fontana Management Association (FMA) charter of Region 12 held a special dinner event on February 16, 2017 at the Jesse Turner Community Center in North Fontana.  Featured was State ACSA’s Naj Alikhan, senior director of their communications department. Naj has wide experience in television news reporting as well as other credentials. His topic: “I Did Not Mean It That Way”  —Ways to communicate the message you wish.  The well-attended event can be visualized in the pictures below. Kudos to FMA President Craig Baker (Director of CWA in Fontana USD) for initiating this event, and thanks to Mr. Alikhan for flying down from Sacramento to visit.

Naj Alikhan can be seen standing at far right as FMA members listen.

Mr. Alikhan shares mistakes of others with The Press and explicates better ways of responding to reporters’ questions.

Superintendent Randal Bassett of Fontana USD acknowledges the crowd and thanks them for coming as he delivers a mini-address to school leaders.

FMA President Craig Baker, standing center-back, calls out winning tickets during the end-of-event opportunity drawings.

State ACSA’s several Leadership Assemblies held throughout the year are held at various locations around the state.  This January’s meeting was held in Ontario, and Region 12 was asked to provide a student showcase prior to the start of the official business on Thursday, January 26.  We were able to procure the Upland USD High School Choral Group for this honor. They were truly captivating and astounding, and received standing ovations. See the picture below!

ACSA Regions hold “Leadership Assemblies” (formerly called Delegate Assemblies) several times per year, just prior to the State Leadership Assembly meetings. These gatherings include informational/governence items, sharing of charter successes, oftentimes guest speakers from State ACSA or partners, and strategic planning issues. The large picture below depicts President Cavanagh as she reviews the Board of Directors strategic plan draft, a one page document that all regions in the state are doing to align region practices and policies with those of the State. You can click here to see the current draft of that model:

Strategic Plan

Leadership Assembly is comprised of the following leaders in the region:

Executive Board and Staff

Charter Presidents

Charter Board Delegates

State and Region Committees and Councils chairs and presidents

Charter VPs of Legislative Action

Charter VPs of Membership

Historical Past Region Presidents

You can view the agenda for this assembly here:

leadership assembly region agenda Jan 19 2017

President Cavanagh, standing leads the assembly in refining the Strategic Plan for R-12.

VP of Membership Sandra Rodriguez discusses plans for the upcoming March Membership Social.

State ACSA has secured a number of “Partner4Purpose” affiliates in the general business world to join forces with the regions to strengthen our mission. One of these is AXA Advisors (Yes, pronounced just like “ACSA”).  AXA’s representatives to Region 12 are Daniel S. Oh, Michael Chung, and Michael Sywyk.  Pictured below, Region President Kim Cavanagh at right accepts AXA’s “check” from Michael Sywyk and Michael Chung at the January 19, 2017 Region Leadership Assembly meeting. The region board and AXA partners are currently in discussions on best ways to utilize this funding.