ACSA Diversity and Equal Access Executive Nicole Anderson presents at the LGBT panel discussion .

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As more students and staff are asserting their identity as LGBT , schools and districts need to engage in practices to ensure that their opportunities for success are met . It ’ s incumbent upon school leaders to ensure that we live up to our mission and vision statements that promise respect for diversity and promotion of equity .

The LGBT events ACSA has held in the past year have evolved into strong networks of members who have planned amazing events focusing on these specific issues . Region 13 recently hosted an LGBT + panel discussion focused on diversity and cultural proficiency in public schools in the context of LGBT + students and staff . The panel showcased the work of powerful ACSA leaders and practitioners from Ventura USD , including retired district Superintendent Trudy Arriaga ; Steve Bailey , retired Classified Human Resources director ; Michael Tapia , retired principal at Montalvo Arts Academy , and Richard Underhill , assistant principal of Balboa Middle School .

The panel offered research , best practices and personal experience in addressing an aspect of equity that transcends race , ethnicity , socioeconomic and other diversity descriptors . Time was provided for participants to ask questions and interact with panel members along with each other , allowing attendees to gain new insights leading to refined thinking and improved actions and implementations as educational leaders .

Specifically addressed were topics around laws and policies on anti-harassment , workplace perception of discrimination , and support of LGBT + students at the site level . Underhill shared his research on how the Fair Education Act of 2012 impacted the ways leaders have ensured instructional implementation through multiple perspectives within the social studies curriculum that includes LGBT + accomplishments supporting students ’ self-esteem and positive approaches to difference . He also shared strategies around how to effectively support a safe and inclusive environment for LGBT + students . These included :

• Provide visible support through signage , interactions , and dialogue .

• Provide a safe space such as a Gay Straight Alliance .

• Provide inclusive curriculum with teacher support .

• Ensure anti-bullying / harassment policy enforcement .

Participants left with numerous resources to support their knowledge base on next steps . These resources include GLSEN . org to view the most recent school climate survey and the Lavender Effect to view a timeline of resources for the Fair Education Act , as well as a host of books and articles for educators . Participants were also encouraged to consider the following to support LGBT students and staff :

• Policies

• Verbal leadership

• Inclusive diversity work

• Enact law / professional development

• Support gay-straight alliances

• Inclusive library collections

• Healthy Kids supplemental survey

See EQUITY , page 6

With the State Board of Education having given the final go-ahead to the new Accountability and Improvement System , it is hoped the new system will offer key information to help parents , educators , and the public to evaluate schools and districts , identify strengths and weaknesses , and provide targeted assistance as needed .

“ This completes the final pieces of a groundbreaking system to help the public better understand what is going on in our schools ,” said State Board of Education President Mike Kirst . “ I look forward to the launch of the California School Dashboard later this year , but this is just the beginning . We plan to make significant improvements in future years .”

The California School Dashboard , will be unveiled to the public in late February or March . Next year several changes will be made to strengthen and improve the Dashboard for the 2017-18 school year when it will be fully operational .

Kirst and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson thanked the California Department of Education staff and educators throughout the state for their creativity and hard work in producing the California School Dashboard , which was

See DASHBOARD , page 2

The Learning Policy Institute and California School Boards Association recently published a report on California ’ s teacher shortage . The findings should come as no surprise to ACSA members . Overall , the study found that 75 percent of the 200 school districts surveyed reported a shortage of qualified teachers . The districts also reported that the problem has grown in severity over the last two years .

In addition , “ California Teacher Shortages : A Persistent Problem ” reported that districts are being forced to hire untrained teachers and substitutes , assign teachers out of field and increase class sizes .

The greatest shortages reported were in middle and high schools , with 60 percent or more shortages of qualified teachers available at those levels . Elementary schools face a 37 percent shortage .

There is a tremendous need for qualified

See REPORT , page 2

Chico USD Superintendent Kelly Staley says she had two goals when visiting her first ACSA Superintendents ’ Symposium .

“ As a new superintendent back then , I really had no idea what the ‘ superintendency ’ entailed ,” she said .

Goal one was attending as many professional development sessions as possible to better understand the many facets of her new job . Additionally , she wanted to meet fellow superintendents and develop professional relationships ensuring a network of people to call upon when the inevitable stumbling blocks begin popping up .

“ I met several standout professionals that first year and quickly learned that while we all have different challenges , there is even more that we have in common ,” she said .

Undocumented students .

ACSA has developed a resource , Undocumented Students and Families : The Facts , to give educational leaders answers to key legal questions that may come up in light of potential changes at the federal level . This resource , plus additional related resources can be found on ACSA ’ s website at www . acsa . org . Thanks to Fagen Friedman and Fulfrost for helping create this important resource .

Magazine submissions . If you are interested in submitting an article for consideration in the May / June issue of Leadership magazine , please send your submission to nalikhan @ acsa . org by Feb . 10 . The theme for that issue is Leadership for Local Control .

CalPERS event . CalPERS is hosting a two-day Benefits Education Event in Sacramento Feb . 3-4 . The event is free to CalPERS members , and provides information about available programs and benefits . Information and registration can be accessed at www . calpers . ca . gov .

ESSA input . A series of stakeholder discussions to inform the development of California ’ s Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan will be held in February . Any interested member of the public is welcome to attend , but presenters are particularly interested in hearing from educators at all levels and capacities , parents and families , communitybased and civil rights organizations , and employers . The meetings will be held Feb . 6-11 at several county offices of education , plus two webinars . Information and registration can be found on the CDE website at www . cde . ca . gov / re / es / essaopptopart . asp .

Google apps . ACSA , in conjunction with the Krause Center for Innovation , is pleased to offer Google Apps Training for Administrators , April 4 in Los Altos . Visit https :// goo . gl / 1O22rO for registration and information .

“ Not only did I call upon those colleagues frequently that first year , but I continue to do so today .”

Aside from developing relationships with colleagues , this year ’ s Superintendents ’ Symposium includes workshops , panel presentations and roundtable discussions on myriad topics impacting K-12 education . School safety , human resources , business services , accountability , technology innovation , contracts , as well as leadership are some of the topics .

ACSA ’ s Governmental Relations team is also scheduled to give a review of the 2017- 18 Fiscal Year budget proposal , released earlier this month by Governor Jerry Brown .

“ Each year I look forward to the budget

See SYMPOSIUM , page 6