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Our Vision Statement: “We serve educational leaders in the pursuit of equity and excellence to meet the diverse needs of all California students.”

News & Announcements

  • Nominate your colleagues for ACSA's 2018 Statewide Awards Program. The nomination deadline for all regions is Jan. 12. Learn more about ACSA awards.

About ACSA

Who We Are

The Association of California School Administrators is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the United States, serving more than 17,000 California educators.

ACSA’s top priority is advocating for public school students in kindergarten through grade 12, as well as adult learners. Our mission is to be the driving force of education in California and beyond.

Administrators in California had long talked of forming an umbrella organization that encompassed their varied professional functions. Formed in July, 1971, ACSA became the first operative united administrator organization in the nation.

Since ACSA’s inception, administrator associations in 39 states have moved toward some form of consolidated or umbrella organization. ACSA is the only association in the nation that encompasses the broad spectrum of the management/leadership team.

ACSA Leadership

2017-18 Board of Directors

President
Lisa Gonzales
Assistant Supt, Ed. Services, Dublin USD, R-8

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President-Elect
Holly Edds
Assistant Supt, Ed. Services, Orcutt UESD, R-13

Vice President
Linda Kaminski
Superintendent, Azusa USD, R-15

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Vice President for Legislative Action
Terri Rufert
Superintendent, Sundale UESD., R-11

Past President
Ralph Gómez Porras
Superintendent, Pacific Grove USD, R-10

Board Members

  • Jay Spaulding
    Assistant Supt., H.R., South San Francisco USD, R-5
  • Karen Sakata
    County Supt. of Schools, Contra Costa COE., R-6
  • Juan Cruz
    Superintendent, Franklin-McKinley SD, R-8
  • Ana Boyenga
    Assistant Supt., Educational Services, Atwater ESD, R-9
  • Barbara Martinez
    Principal/Director of Safe Schools, Pacific Grove Adult Ed., PGUSD, R-10
  • Sue Kaiser
    Asst. Supt., Ed Services, Monrovia USD, R-15

Board Directors-at-Large

  • Lisa Ketchum
    Manager, Workforce Services, Santa Clara COE., R-8
  • Mike Berg
    Interim Superintendent, Parlier USD, R-9

Staff Directory

Executive Department

Communications

Educational Services

Financial Services

Governmental Relations

Information Technology

Marketing/Parner4Purpose

Member Services

Member Assistance and Legal Support Team

Membership Recruitment Team

Committees & Councils

ACSA's effectiveness in shaping education policy at both the state and federal level lies in its grassroots strength. To that end, ACSA is structured with issue-focused committees and job-alike councils made up of education leaders. Following are descriptions of each of ACSA's committees and councils, as well as their purpose within the organization and contact information if you would like to learn more.

ACSA Issue-Focused Committees

ACSA/CAPEA

To identify and study issues in the areas of higher education, administrator preparation and licensing, professional development providers, and legislation for the purpose of building collaboration and informing policy. To work collaboratively to identify issues and concerns of higher education and K-12 public education, professional preparation and development, and partnerships among school districts, institutions of higher education, and professional development providers. To influence and contribute to the education research agenda. To identify issues and make recommendations regarding increasing diversity and membership in the ranks of education administrators and professors of educational administration. Staff Liaison: Margaret Arthofer, ACSA Educational Services.

Co-Administration

To assist co-administrators (vice-principals, assistant principals, deans, coordinators, etc.) in their role as instructional leaders within their schools and communities. To promote networking and increase communication among co-administrators. To provide access to professional development and mentoring experiences. To increase awareness of the co-administrator's role and the importance of that role. Staff Liaison: To be determined.

Equity

To build the capacity in equity leadership and cultural proficiency of all educators within the organization and throughout the state of California to effectively eliminate all equity gaps.

  • Identify and research issues related to equity and diversity
  • Develop strong recruitment and retention policies and practices to grow membership
  • Recommend policies, practices, and resources which lead to quality instructional/educational programs and services
  • Assist in the development of programs, resources, and materials to help leaders effectively respond to equity issues
  • Establish partnerships and communication links
  • Assist the board in implementing aspects of the association strategic plan

Staff Liaison: Nicole Anderson, ACSA Educational Services.

Legislative Policy

To identify and study areas of needed legislation impacting ACSA members and public education. To solicit sponsorship requests from ACSA members and sponsor bills improving conditions in California schools. To study proposed legislation and, based upon ACSA's Legislative Platform and additional input from the Board of Directors, establish ACSA's position on state and federal legislation. To assist in the establishment of the ACSA Legislative Platform. Staff Liaison: Edgar Zazueta, ACSA Governmental Relations.| Support Staff: Christy Sinclair.

Members Services

To recruit, retain and recognize members. To identify trends and issues with membership categories that may require changes or adjustments. To support and help grow ACSA's Partner4Purpose program in order to further meet the needs of members. To monitor and ensure that region and charter bylaws align with state ACSA bylaws and that region and charters are in compliance with these regulations. Staff Liaison: Joanne Godfrey, ACSA Member Services.

Retirement

o provide leadership, direction, clarification, and understanding of the California State Teachers' and California Public Employees' Retirement Systems to all ACSA members. To actively work with other members of the retirement coalition to protect and enhance the benefits of the CalSTRS and CalPERS. To investigate and to promote legislation that positively impacts or affects members of both systems. To encourage the continued participation, involvement, and service of retired ACSA members in the cause of improving the benefits of the CalSTRS and CalPERS. Staff Liaison: Alice Petrossian, ACSA Member Services.

Small School District

To advocate small school district issues within ACSA. To provide the Legislative Policy Committee information on legislation that would impact small school districts in conformance with ACSA's legislative platform and positions. To provide training and information to support small school district administrators. To facilitate networking between CSBA's Small School District Council and the Small School Districts Association Executive Committee. Staff Liaison: Rich Malfatti/Margaret Arthofer, ACSA Educational Services.

Urban Education

To identify and study issues relating to urban education. To emphasize the need to improve educational opportunity for children in urban school districts. To identify and articulate the unique concerns of administrators in urban school districts. To recommend solutions and/or courses of action to deal with problems and needs of urban schools. Staff Liaison: To be determined.

ACSA Job-Alike Councils

Adult Education

To identify and study issues relating to adult education. To recommend legislative positions to ACSA and advocate for legislation that advances public adult education statewide. To actively enhance and promote adult education's role with professional organizations, government officials, state agencies, school districts, business, industry, and the community at large. To plan and coordinate professional growth opportunities for administrators of adult education programs. Staff Liaison: Ivan Carrillo, ACSA Governmental Relations | Support Staff: Liza Morris.

Business Services

To identify and study issues relating to administrators who work in the area of business services. To promote membership in ACSA by school business officials by enhancing the position and skills of business officials through workshops and conferences. To maintain liaison with other ACSA committees, affiliated organizations, the state Department of Education, and other educational agencies. To serve as a quick response team. Staff Liaison: Martha Alvarez, ACSA Governmental Relations | Support Staff: Christy Sinclair.

Career Technical Education

To support CTE administrators and promote high quality CTE programs that prepare Pre-K through adult students for successful transition to careers and post-secondary education through: legislation, advocacy, professional development, communication, and collaboration. Staff Liaison: Naj Alikhan, ACSA Communications Department.

Classified Leaders

To build and maintain a vibrant and purposeful network of classified leaders, who share a mutual commitment to excellence and are valued as members of their leadership team. To develop and enhance professional growth opportunities for classified educational leaders, promote ACSA membership, and encourage participation in all levels of ACSA.Staff Liaison: Lori Allred, ACSA Executive Department.

Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability Leaders

To identify and study issues and make recommendations on practices, policies, and positions to ACSA's leadership and staff and to state agencies related to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and accountability. To identify and disseminate best practices for administrators who work in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and accountability, to ensure student centered instruction and services, which prepare all students to compete in an international society. To plan, develop, and coordinate professional learning programs, electronic media, and publications related to council business. To maintain liaison with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), including nominating WASC commissioners. To review all non-ACSA requests to conduct research using ACSA records. To review all non-ACSA requests to conduct research using ACSA records. To maintain liaison with state agencies and other organizations which impact curriculum, instruction, accountability, interventions, assessment and evaluation. To assist in ACSA membership recruitment. Staff Liaison: Margaret Arthofer, ACSA Educational Services.

Educational Options

To explore, promote, support, and influence solutions to financial, program, accountability, and legislative issues facing alternative education in the state agencies which impact curriculum, instruction, accountability, interventions, assessment, and evaluation. To assist in ACSA membership recruitment. Staff Liaison: Ivan Carrillo, ACSA Governmental Relations | Support Staff: Jason Henderson.

Elementary Education

To identify and study issues related to elementary and preschool administrators. To recommend best practices and policies and to serve as advocates for high quality programs for all elementary and preschool children. To serve as a forum in which elementary and preschool administrators may resolve issues related to their professional efforts. To serve as a representative of elementary and preschool administrators in meeting the goals and priorities of ACSA. To provide representation and leadership from ACSA to NAESP. To assist in the recruitment of elementary and pre-school administrators as ACSA members. To plan and coordinate professional growth opportunities for elementary and preschool administrators. Staff Liaison: Mary Gomes, ACSA Educational Services.

Human Resources

To identify and study issues relating to professionals responsible for personnel, employer/employee relations and other human resources programs. To provide leadership, direction, clarification, and understanding in such areas as personnel practices, employer-employee relationships, fair and equal employment practices, contract management, negotiations, retirement, legislation, credentials, management team concept, individual rights, and staff-related issues. To plan, provide, and encourage in-service training for administrators in this area, and to maintain liaison between ACSA and the American Association of School Personnel Administrators. To assist in the recruitment of personnel, employer/employee relations and other human resources administrators as ACSA members. To promote the training and recruitment of individuals of diverse backgrounds as human resources administrators. To promote the highest standard of ethical conduct, assist local school administrators, and to assure due process to all members of ACSA. Staff Liaison: Margaret Arthofer, ACSA Educational Services.

Middle Grades Education

To identify and study issues relating to middle grades administrators and to recommend practices and policies that will lead to high quality programs for young adolescents. To strengthen a network for communication among middle grade administrators. To plan, provide, and encourage professional development programs for middle grades administrators. To assist in the recruitment of middle grades administrators as ACSA members. To encourage interaction and support between ACSA, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the California Department of Education, and other organizations and agencies promoting the interests of middle grades education. Staff Liaison: Mary Gomes, ACSA Educational Services.

Secondary Education

To identify and study issues and make recommendations to the ACSA Board of Directors related to secondary education. To recommend practices and policies that will lead to high quality programs for secondary students. To recruit secondary administrators as members and to maintain a liaison between ACSA, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and other state agencies relating to secondary education. To plan and coordinate professional development programs for secondary administrators. Staff Liaison: Mary Gomes, ACSA Educational Services.

Student Services and Special Education

To support administrators in the areas of special education, student services, and coordinated youth services by:

  • Advocating best practices, policies, and legislation to ensure high quality student programs.
  • Improving collaboration and communication between general education, student services, special education, and other support agencies and organizations.
  • Facilitating the development and understanding of current trends and financial issues related to their impact on student programs and services.
  • Planning and coordinating timely and meaningful professional development offerings for new and experienced school administrators.
  • Assisting in ACSA membership recruitment.

Staff Liaison: Cathy McBride, ACSA Governmental Relations | Support Staff: Sue Periera.

Superintendency

To identify and study issues related to the role and responsibilities of superintendents and proactively advocate for solutions. To strengthen a network for communication among superintendents. To be proactive in representing the viewpoints and vision of superintendents on critical education issues with a view toward influencing policy and practice at the local, state, and national levels. To plan strategies and practices that will influence the quality of education for all California students. To voice the critical need for stable, sound finance for educating California's children. To represent superintendents in ACSA's relations with the governor's office, Legislature, and state Superintendent of Public Instruction. To plan and coordinate professional development activities for superintendents and activities to enhance professional development of administrators and all school district positions. To encourage the active participation of superintendents and all other management team members in ACSA. To maintain a liaison relationship with AASA and other state organizations and agencies. Staff Liaison: Wesley Smith, ACSA Executive Director.