{"id":3000,"date":"2026-03-04T15:29:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T23:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/?page_id=3000"},"modified":"2026-04-05T11:17:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T19:17:50","slug":"%f0%9f%8c%9f-march-member-feature-dr-rochelle-renae-espitia-%f0%9f%8c%9f","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/%f0%9f%8c%9f-march-member-feature-dr-rochelle-renae-espitia-%f0%9f%8c%9f\/","title":{"rendered":"\ud83c\udf1f March Member Feature \u2013 Dr. Rochelle Renae Espitia \ud83c\udf1f"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\">Region 8 is proud to spotlight Dr. Rochelle Espitia, Ed.D., a transformational leader and 2024\u20132025 ACSA Region 8 Elementary Principal of the Year. From leading rapid culture shifts to dramatically increasing student achievement, her impact reflects what it means to lead with vision, courage, and equity at the center.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gmail-p1\"><span class=\"gmail-s1\"><b>Dr. Rochelle Renae Espitia<\/b><\/span> serves as Principal of George Shirakawa Sr. Elementary School in the Franklin McKinley School District, where she led a rapid culture transformation within eight weeks, earning public recognition from Board members, veteran staff, students, and families. Under her leadership, staff survey results reached 92 percent favorable ratings, with Academic Support increasing by 21 percent and Engagement increasing by 17 percent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gmail-p1\">Previously, Dr. Espitia led Los Arboles Literacy and Technology Academy from one of the district\u2019s lowest performing schools to the second highest performer in just two years. During that time, reading proficiency increased by 32 percent and overall student achievement increased by 19 percent. Her impact earned her the 2024 to 2025 ACSA Region 8 Elementary Principal of the Year Award.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gmail-p1\">Dr. Espitia earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from San Jos\u00e9 State University and recently completed her Doctor of Education in K\u201312 Leadership at the USC Rossier School of Education. Her dissertation examines how superintendents lead school consolidations with equity, transparency, and community trust.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gmail-p2\">A Hagen Women\u2019s Leadership Fellow, CALSA Prot\u00e9g\u00e9, ACSA Region 8 Secretary, AASA scholarship recipient, and DSAG Scholar, Dr. Espitia is deeply committed to advancing equity in historically underserved communities. She aspires to serve as a superintendent and to lead systems that ensure excellence, coherence, and opportunity for every student.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Espitia continues to inspire our community through service, scholarship, and an unwavering commitment to excellence for every student. \ud83d\udc4f<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"kad-wp-gallery94\" class=\"kad-wp-gallery kad-light-wp-gallery clearfix kt-gallery-column-3 rowtight\"><div class=\"tcol-lg-4 tcol-md-4 tcol-sm-4 tcol-xs-6 tcol-ss-12 g_item\"><div class=\"grid_item kad_gallery_fade_in gallery_item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/March-History-Month-3.jpeg\" data-rel=\"lightbox\" class=\"lightboxhover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/March-History-Month-3-400x400.jpeg\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/March-History-Month-3-400x400.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/March-History-Month-3-800x800.jpeg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" class=\"light-dropshaddow\"\/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tcol-lg-4 tcol-md-4 tcol-sm-4 tcol-xs-6 tcol-ss-12 g_item\"><div class=\"grid_item kad_gallery_fade_in gallery_item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_7667.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox\" class=\"lightboxhover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_7667-400x400.jpg\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_7667-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_7667-800x800.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" class=\"light-dropshaddow\"\/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tcol-lg-4 tcol-md-4 tcol-sm-4 tcol-xs-6 tcol-ss-12 g_item\"><div class=\"grid_item kad_gallery_fade_in gallery_item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/updatedheadshot.png\" data-rel=\"lightbox\" class=\"lightboxhover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/updatedheadshot-400x400.png\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/updatedheadshot-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/updatedheadshot-800x800.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" class=\"light-dropshaddow\"\/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tcol-lg-4 tcol-md-4 tcol-sm-4 tcol-xs-6 tcol-ss-12 g_item\"><div class=\"grid_item kad_gallery_fade_in gallery_item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2024-11-19-at-2.20.18-PM.png\" data-rel=\"lightbox\" class=\"lightboxhover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2024-11-19-at-2.20.18-PM-400x400.png\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2024-11-19-at-2.20.18-PM-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2024-11-19-at-2.20.18-PM-800x800.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" class=\"light-dropshaddow\"\/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tcol-lg-4 tcol-md-4 tcol-sm-4 tcol-xs-6 tcol-ss-12 g_item\"><div class=\"grid_item kad_gallery_fade_in gallery_item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7674.jpeg\" data-rel=\"lightbox\" class=\"lightboxhover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7674-400x400.jpeg\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\"  class=\"light-dropshaddow\"\/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tcol-lg-4 tcol-md-4 tcol-sm-4 tcol-xs-6 tcol-ss-12 g_item\"><div class=\"grid_item kad_gallery_fade_in gallery_item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/Rochelle-Espitia.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox\" class=\"lightboxhover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/Rochelle-Espitia-400x400.jpg\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/Rochelle-Espitia-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/Rochelle-Espitia-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/Rochelle-Espitia-340x340.jpg 340w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/Rochelle-Espitia-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/Rochelle-Espitia-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/Rochelle-Espitia-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/03\/Rochelle-Espitia-800x800.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" class=\"light-dropshaddow\"\/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tcol-lg-4 tcol-md-4 tcol-sm-4 tcol-xs-6 tcol-ss-12 g_item\"><div class=\"grid_item kad_gallery_fade_in gallery_item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7691.jpeg\" data-rel=\"lightbox\" class=\"lightboxhover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7691-400x400.jpeg\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\"  class=\"light-dropshaddow\"\/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tcol-lg-4 tcol-md-4 tcol-sm-4 tcol-xs-6 tcol-ss-12 g_item\"><div class=\"grid_item kad_gallery_fade_in gallery_item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2025\/07\/MembersTshirts-HOME-e1752705584944.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox\" class=\"lightboxhover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/files\/2025\/07\/MembersTshirts-HOME-e1752705584944-400x400.jpg\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\"  class=\"light-dropshaddow\"\/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Region 8 is proud to spotlight Dr. Rochelle Espitia, Ed.D., a transformational leader and 2024\u20132025 ACSA Region 8 Elementary Principal of the Year. From leading rapid culture shifts to dramatically increasing student achievement, her impact reflects what it means to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/%f0%9f%8c%9f-march-member-feature-dr-rochelle-renae-espitia-%f0%9f%8c%9f\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3000","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/132"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3000"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3000\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3312,"href":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3000\/revisions\/3312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regions.acsa.org\/8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}