Region 14 is the latest to join the ACSA Women’s Leadership Network, attracting more than 100 educational leaders to an April event at the Cerritos Public Library.
Mary Sieu, deputy superintendent of ABC Unified School District and chair of the R-14 WLN, launched the breakfast meeting that included school, district and county leaders from the area.
Sieu opened the meeting by sharing the vision, mission and goal statements that were developed by ACSA’s Women’s Leadership Network Task Force in 2010.
The Women’s Leadership Network began at the state level when women in ACSA leadership roles expressed strong interest in an organized system to recruit women to ACSA leadership roles, to support female administrators and to provide greater networking opportunities in local areas.
A WLN Task Force was formed to set goals that included developing a framework for the establishment of local networks at the region and charter levels. The ACSA Women’s Leadership Network continues to build upon that goal. In addition to R-14, WLN events have been established in Regions 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 17 and the Antelope Valley Charter.
The R-14 breakfast, sponsored by Schools First Federal Credit Union, was open to both men and women, ACSA and non-ACSA members.
Alice Petrossian, chief academic officer for Pasadena USD and president-elect of ACSA, provided opening remarks about why the WLN is an important initiative for ACSA. Amy Stuht, R-14 president, welcomed participants from ABC, Bellflower, Downey, El Segundo, Torrance, Norwalk LaMirada and Long Beach USDs; Manhattan Beach, Lennox and Lawndale SDs; and the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
The keynote speaker was Brigid McGrath Massie, an award winning business consultant and writer. Massie has delivered dozens of seminars at both regional and statewide meetings for ACSA. She is the author of “What Do They Say When You Leave the Room” and “Selling for People Who Hate to Sell.”
WLN Chair Sieu said the presentation was met with great enthusiasm. A table activity revolving around key issues facing educational leaders was facilitated by region representatives. A survey was administered to determine the next topic to focus on.
The statewide WLN mission has helped define top issues and barriers faced by women in educational leadership. Balancing life and career, the need for mentoring and networking, the existence of stereotypes and the need for enhanced career skills are among critical issues identified by females in leadership roles.
In addition to region and charter events, an e-Community for Women Leaders has been established online at http://community.acsa.org, and ongoing resources posted at www.acsa.org/wln.