The following article was written by Xilian Chen Stammer, a principal in Los Angeles COE and an Executive Board director in ACSA Region 14. Stammer attended ACSA’s Superintendents’ Academy in Whittier in 2009-10, led by Carmella Franco.
As California public school administrators, we have been watching our schools being forced to make deep program cuts continually. Almost daily, we experience the mandates from federal and state piling on our desks and shoulders. Yet, the resources and supports are reduced in dramatic speed.
How can we survive under these circumstances? How can we continue to provide our students quality education so that they can become high achievers in the future? Where can we get the support? Where can we learn the strategies and skills to, on one hand, improve our schools’ educational quality, and on the other hand to professionally advance ourselves?
According to my professional and personal experience, the answer is ACSA and ACSA’s academies.
I attended the 2009-10 Superintendents Academy in Whittier as a key training piece of my professional development. Carmella Franco is the director for the Whittier Superintendents Academy (scheduled to begin Oct. 8-9 this year). Under Franco’s leadership, not only did we learn a great deal about the functions and skills required of superintendents, but more exciting news is that several of our classmates got promotions either during the academy or shortly after we completed our academy.
Throughout the academy and even after we completed it, Franco has been a great leader and wonderful mentor to us. Besides the very well designed and implemented academy sessions, whenever and whoever had some needs, Franco has been always available for those of us who approached her seeking guidance and help.
When we planned to apply for some new position, Franco would go through our materials line-by-line so that we could revise them to make our application more marketable. With her support and guidance, two of our classmates have been promoted to superintendents. Some of the other classmates got promotions from their previous positions.
Also, if and when we encounter some difficulties and need some guidance, we can always pick up the phone or email Franco without fearing to step in some political minefield. The guidance and support we obtained from Franco has been very helpful and practical.
One of our classmates, Hawthorne School District Director of Special Projects Brian Markarian, shared that: “Personally, I found the Superintendents Academy to be a worthwhile and rewarding experience. In addition to the many speakers that we had the pleasure of listening to, the opportunities to engage in discussions on pertinent topics with participants from such diverse areas were invaluable. Dr. Franco did an outstanding job of ensuring that we left each and every session with materials and ideas that we could connect not only to our daily work, but also to our future career goals. Soon after completing the academy, I was promoted to director of special projects for the Hawthorne School District. I am confident that the experiences I gained in the academy will serve me well in this new role. As the president of the South Bay Charter of ACSA, I will continue to promote enrollment in the many academies offered by ACSA.”
Keith Malcom, principal from Alpine School District, stated that: “The workshops were very informative and we had access to very talented and knowledgeable people with expert guidance from Dr. Franco. The information was useful to me in my current position as a principal and helped me to decide that a small district superintendency would be a good thing for me to pursue.”
To quote from one of our academy speakers, a superintendent from a large district, “Superintendents’ and other administrators’ jobs are very lonesome jobs. There is little support out there if we don’t search for it.”
My personal and professional search result is ACSA and ACSA Academies. It has been a great experience for me to attend the Superintendents Academy under the leadership of Carmella Franco.
So, my dear colleagues in administration, don’t be hesitant anymore. Join ACSA, sign up for an academy and get the support we can’t get elsewhere. Learn the skills and strategies we need to learn. Prepare ourselves to be much stronger and more effective school leaders so that we can cultivate more productive citizens for our nation’s future.
For information on the 2010-11 ACSA Academies click here.