EL redesignation is a time to celebrate for Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Stephanie Pierce , who is deeply involved with the Santee SD Local Control and Accountability Plan and ensuring schools have the most effective tools and resources for student success .

Growing up , Stephanie Pierce had a dream of making a difference for people . As assistant superintendent of educational services in Santee School District , she ’ s been at the helm as the district transformed teaching and learning .

“ As a teacher , I loved designing , curating and evaluating curriculum and researching what instructional practices make a difference in student learning ,” said ACSA ’ s 2016 Curriculum and Instruction Administrator of the Year . “ When I realized that as an administrator I could make an even larger contribution , it became a much easier decision , and I found my call to service .”

Pierce has been with Santee SD since 2003 . She moved up from vice principal to principal to director of C & I and now assistant superintendent . Her efforts to usher in Common Core State Standards , oversee implementation of 1:1 iPad digital learning and ensure the success of the district ’ s Local Control and Accountability Plan are respected throughout San Diego County .

Santee Superintendent Cathy Pierce said her educational services leader has unequivocally , through her decision making and actions , proven to be an “ outstanding leader , continuously promoting the success of students and their learning .”

At the heart of Stephanie Pierce ’ s passion is creating a joy for learning , and she believes it is everyone ’ s responsibility to continually find creative ways to better serve students .

“ Each day I work with people who will stop at nothing to make a positive difference for children ’ s lives ,” Pierce said . “ I am fortunate to come across quite a few of these game-changing people ,

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and the desire to help – and keep up with them – is what drives me to do my best for children .”

Santee schools are redefining learning through exploration , collaboration , tinkering , imagination and inquiry , Pierce said . Students are developing the skills necessary to be critical thinkers and problem solvers .

“ We have worked hard to develop strong systems to support student learning ,” she said . “ It is amazing the excitement when students have a voice and choice in their learning experiences .”

When Santee embarked on its 1:1 digital learning initiative four years ago , it did so by strategically employing LCFF and one-time Common Core implementation funding , which supports instructional materials and staff professional learning designed to elevate student learning .

“ With all the amazingly talented people I work with each day , we have been able to design a system to support this initiative before the first device was deployed ,” Pierce said .

The process started with defining a vision for learning . It is continually evolving as schools learn from successes and , more importantly Pierce said , strategically overcome challenges .

One challenge is to strive for more cognitively complex tasks and find the right supports to build students ’ sense of efficacy , she said .

See PIERCE , page 2

With a presidential election , down-ticket races and a voter information pamphlet the size of the Yellow Pages , educators are hoping voters will remember to vote for three key initiatives that will have a huge impact on public schools in California – before voter fatigue sets in . Out of the 17 initiatives on the ballot , ACSA is voicing support for Propositions 51 , 55 and 58 .

“ What we are hoping is that our members will help spread the word in their local communities about the need to pass these initiatives ,” said Adonai Mack , ACSA senior director for political affairs and strategy . “ Then ask them to get out and vote for them .”

The following information can also be found in greater detail on the ACSA campaign site along with links and easy ways to share information at www . acsa . org / Advocacy / take-action-for-students .

Proposition 55 Prop . 55 is the initiative that will have the biggest overall impact on schools . It

See BALLOT , page 3

ACSA Governmental Relations continues its accountability webinar series Oct . 18 with the session “ ESSA State Plan ” at 9 a . m .

As California moves toward an accountability system that uses multiple measures and is focused on continuous improvement , learn more about the Every Student Succeeds Act and California ’ s draft ESSA State Plan and how they will align into one single , coherent local , state and federal system .

Webinar panelists will include ACSA Legislative Advocate Martha Alvarez ; Barbara Murchison , ESSA state lead at the California Department of Education ; and ACSA ’ s Washington , D . C . team at Foresight Law + Policy , Reg Leichty and Amy Starzynski .

The series continues Nov . 17 at 9 a . m . with “ Local Capacity Building and California Collaborative for Educational

See WEBINAR , page 2

ACSA ’ s 20th anniversary Every Student Succeeding program feature stories continue with Regions 17 and 6 honorees , Abi Rosales and Kassan Ortiz Farrakhan . Watch the video series on Facebook and YouTube , or at www . acsa . org / newsroom .

Abigail Rosales : My awesome life

If you ’ re trying to find Region 17 Every Student Succeeding honoree Abi Rosales , all you have to do is listen for the laugh .

“ When I see her smile , it makes me happy ,” said Deborah Kelly , assistant principal at Ponderosa Elementary in Anaheim . “ I feel genuine happiness and a sense of pride in her .”

But it is Abi ’ s strength that is most

CCEE workshops . With just a couple of weeks until registration closes , seats are filling up fast for free , day-long workshops hosted by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence . The workshops , focusing on continuous improvement and understanding how to use the new LCFF Evaluation Rubrics to support student learning , are offered throughout the state Nov . 2-19 . Register at www . ccee-ca . org / workshops-trainings . asp or email ccee @ rcoe . us .

Negotiator award . It ’ s time to submit nominations for 2016-17 Negotiator of the Year . The award , sponsored by the Human Resources Council , recognizes a chief negotiator for a school district or county office of education with a distinguished record of service to his or her local area and to ACSA . Deadline for nominations is Nov . 8 . Find nomination forms online at www . acsa . org / awards under “ Download Nomination Forms .”

Student leaders . Applications are now available for high school students wishing to serve in leadership positions on the state level . The election of state president and vice-president for the California Association of Student Councils will take place at the Youth Action Summit of California , Feb . 3-5 at the Ontario Radisson . Please encourage outstanding student leaders at your school to apply for elected and appointed positions . The application packet can be found at www . casc . net .

Bully prevention . The Lozano Foundation has launched a Bullying Prevention Program Award , recognizing six public school district programs that demonstrate a concerted strategy and program to raise awareness and prevention of bullying . Nominations will be accepted until Oct . 27 . Visit http :// lozanosmithfoundation . org / projects / awards . If you ’ re not quite ready for an award , think about attending the ACSA Bullying and Cyberspace Misconduct workshop . Find out more at www . acsa . org / trainings .

impressive . At just 2 months old , she was diagnosed with severe liver failure and needed a partial liver transplant .

“ It was really hard to see my baby sleeping all the time and not moving ,” said Abi ’ s mother Luz Rosales . “ I couldn ’ t go to sleep for many days . It was really hard to have to go to bed and not know if she was going to make it through the night . I wanted to stay there forever in case something happened .”

But the transplant only provided temporary relief . Abi has spent the last 10 years in and out of Children ’ s Hospital Los Angeles .

See SUCCEEDING , page 8