2022 ACSA Superintendents' Symposium

The pandemic has made many things about education infinitely more difficult from supporting student success and retaining high-quality staff, to providing mental health support and connecting with stakeholders. Even on a good day, superintendents can be challenged to find the funding to address these key needs. However, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) provides for 15 allowabilities – that’s 15 different ways you can support students, staff and families through the use of these specially designated pandemic-related funds.

For two years, public schools have been trying to navigate through a “Perfect Storm” of controversies, catastrophes, and critical situations. Pandemic pandemonium, Critical Race Theory, natural disasters, mean-spirited politics, DEI (diversity, equity & inclusion), unlevel economic playing fields, declining enrollment, workforce turnover, sexual harassment and abuse, homelessness, immigration, learning loss, and parental choice. Public schools have become the battleground for an increasingly uncivil debate as these issues collide. In this session, veteran communicator Tom DeLapp will share his views about where we are and where we are headed when it comes to public engagement in education. He will also lead a collaborative discussion about practices, pitfalls, and possibilities for isolating and containing the negativity virus in our schools. Presenter: Tom DeLapp and Stephen Nichols

This interactive discussion will focus on preparing you for your next job.  Learn those strategies that will allow you to successfully navigate your way through the entire application, interview and selection process.  While most superintendent candidates possess the required educational background and experiences for the position, there is much you can do to separate yourself from the competition by understanding those strategies that will give you a real edge, and ultimately being selected by the Board as their next superintendent.
This session will be a unique opportunity to learn from experienced search Leadership Associates partners David Verdugo and Sandy Sanchez Thorstenson on ways to enhance your capacity to achieve the right position and realize your career goals.  Dennis Smith, Managing Search Partner, will be the moderator of the session.  Some of the key topics that will be discussed are:
•       Preparing yourself for your next professional opportunity
•       What Boards are looking for and how to stand out
•       Communicating with your Board
•       Working with the search consultant
•       Background checks and what to expect
•       Practical interview tips - avoiding pitfalls
•       Negotiating your contract
•       Exit strategies

A reflective session designed to assist superintendents with developing social-emotional leadership within their district and site leadership teams.  Participants will leave this empowering session with a clear vision of their best next steps to model and create a social-emotional leadership culture that attracts and retains the highest talent in classified, confidential, certificated, and administrative/management positions.

The growing trend to use social media to spread misinformation intended to blur the lines between facts and opinions, and compromise confidence in leadership can been seen across all areas of government, including our school districts.  This workshop will share strategies and practical tips for managing the increasingly complicated world of communication with a goal of building trust in the district’s voice and information.  Parvin Ahmadi, Superintendent Castro Valley USD and Terilyn Finders, Director of Communications, F3 Law.

This session will explore the implementation of Universal Transitional Kindergarten and the Extended Learning Opportunities Program. The panelists will discuss the requirements and options for school districts as implementation ramps up. The speakers will also provide a political analysis and outlook for the potential of providing broader flexibility or delayed implementation of the two programs.

This panel discussion will provide leadership strategies and resources for navigating through unprecedented and emotionally charged dis-information, threats of violence, vaccine and masking mandates, and racial and political tensions. In partnership with CAPEA, a panel composed of Superintendents and CAPEA Members will share their experiences and resources for potential solutions

Names of Panel Presenters:

William Loose, Ed.D. (Panel Moderator) Lecturer National University, Former Superintendent; Oceanview School District, CAPEA Member

Charles Weis, Ph.D. Associate Professor CSU Channel Islands; former Superintendent Fillmore USD, Ventura County, Santa Clara County Office of Education, CSBA Masters in Governance Facilitator, Hueneme Elementary School District Board Member; CAPEA Member

Dr. Kelli Hayes, Superintendent, Moorpark Unified School District

Dr. Thomas McCoy, Superintendent, Oxnard Union High School District

Dr. Tiffany Morse, Superintendent, Ojai Unified School District

Dr. Jason Peplinski, Superintendent, Simi Valley Unified School District