2025 SSDA State Conference: Empowering Educators, Inspiring Learners
From April 5 to 8, 2025, over 520 small school district leaders, educators, and partners gathered at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento for what many are calling the most impactful SSDA State Conference to date. With the theme “Empowering Educators and Inspiring Learners in a Changing Educational Landscape,” this year’s conference brought together the diverse voices of California’s small schools in a powerful celebration of learning, leadership, and community.
As with all SSDA programs and events, our dedicated team of professionals—Amy Roehl, Gwen Bell, Karen Mix, Julie Boesch, Ed.D., and Barbara Mitchell—worked tirelessly to create the best education conference of the year.
A Landmark Gathering of California’s Small School Leaders
The 2025 Conference brought together the heart and soul of California’s small school community for four unforgettable days filled with professional growth, authentic connections, and celebrations of our collective mission. From the moment attendees stepped into the Sheraton Grand, it was clear this year’s conference would be something special. For four dynamic days, every hallway, ballroom, and breakout room buzzed with conversation, collaboration, and the shared commitment to elevating small school districts across the state.
2025 SSDA State Conference Snapshot
THANK YOU, SSDA SIGNATURE PARTNERS!
Veregy set up at the 2025 State Conference!
The Parsec Education Team
Jessicca Rodgers, Solution Tree Executive Director
2025 Small School Superintendency Retreat
In place of the Superintendents and High School Leaders Summit, SSDA is hosting a dedicated gathering exclusively for superintendents in Newport Beach from July 26–28, 2025. The retreat will center around the thoughtful exploration and identification of best practices across key areas relevant to small school superintendents. The collaborative work and discussions will culminate in a written summary, with key takeaways and insights compiled into a final document to be shared with all retreat participants and SSDA members statewide.
The final product will be in the form of a book or textbook that will be used as curriculum for the Small School Districts' Association (SSDA) program Elevat-Ed Forum for New Superintendents.
CTE E3 Forum
Join us May 15-16, 2025, at the Da Vinci Schools for an interactive dialogue focused on how small and rural school districts can design and implement effective, high-impact CTE (Career Technical Education) programs—even with limited resources.
Registration is limited to just 18 participants to keep the conversation meaningful and collaborative. Please note that there is a $375 fee covers hotel accommodations and meals throughout the event.
Learn more in the video below! Register here!
Be sure to join us for our Virtual CTE Coffee Hour on Tuesday, April 29th, from 9:00–10:00 AM!
Hear directly from CTE experts on how to successfully launch and grow CTE programs designed specifically for small and rural school districts.
Six SSDA Member Districts Honored as 2025 California Distinguished Schools
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond recently announced the elementary schools selected for the esteemed 2025 California Distinguished Schools Program, and among them are six SSDA member districts. These districts have been recognized for their dedication to educational excellence and outstanding academic performance.
Recognizing Excellence: 2025 SSDA State Superintendent, Board Member & Teacher of the Year Awards
Superintendent of the Year - Dr. Patrick Keeley, Mountain Empire Unified School District
A proud graduate of Mountain Empire High School, Dr. Keeley now leads the very district that shaped his early education.
He is a passionate and dedicated advocate for small and rural school districts, consistently bringing critical issues — like facilities challenges — to the forefront of statewide conversations.
Board Member of the Year - Michael Marino, Esq., Cold Spring School District
Michael Marino is a passionate and committed leader who always puts students at the forefront. His efforts have been instrumental in strengthening SSDA’s support for Board Members and Superintendents across the state.
Teacher of the Year - Troy Van Bavel, Lucerne Valley Unified School District
Troy is an award-winning FFA teacher at Lucerne Valley High School, celebrated for his dedication to education and the lasting impact he makes on his students.
Adding a special touch to the moment — two of his students were there to present the award!
2025 SSDA Student Scholarship Honoree: Bode Gower
Left - Eric Bonniksen, SSDA President, Middle - Student Bode Gower, Right - Yuri Calderon, SSDA Executive Director
This year, Ukiah High School senior Bode Gower was awarded a $5,000 scholarship from SSDA in recognition of his outstanding advocacy on behalf of students in small and rural school districts. Bode is a passionate rural youth advocate and currently serves as the Associated Student Body President at Ukiah High School. He is the Founder and Chair of the Northern California Youth Policy Coalition, where he champions youth-related legislation and works to elevate the voices of rural youth in policy discussions. In addition to serving on the Board of Governors for the Young Leaders PAC and the Mendocino County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, Bode also hosts his own podcast, The Gower Hour. At this year’s SSDA State Conference, he recorded a special live episode featuring former State Senator Josh Newman, who used the opportunity to announce his candidacy for State Superintendent of Public Instruction (listen to the episode here).
Bode Gower & Former State Senator Josh Newman at the 2025 SSDA Annual State Conference
Mountain Empire Unified School District’s Battle for Safer, Functional Schools
Nestled among the mountains and desert valleys of East San Diego County, Mountain Empire Unified School District spans a staggering 660 square miles. From the Mexican border to the Imperial County line, the district serves approximately 1,700 students. Its reach includes four elementary schools, one junior high, one high school, an alternative high school, multiple toddler and preschool programs, and adult education. Managing education in this vast and rugged region is no small task. As Superintendent Dr. Patrick Keeley puts it, “We serve students from age two to a hundred.”
🌟 Upcoming Parsec Webinars You Don’t Want to Miss!
Whether you're a charter leader preparing for renewal or a district looking to strengthen schoolwide systems, we’ve got two powerful sessions coming up—each packed with insights and real-world examples to move your work forward.
Bright Spots & Breakthroughs: A Data-Driven Charter Renewal Story
Wednesday, April 23 at 10 AM PT
Renewing your charter takes more than good intentions, it takes clarity. Learn how one charter network used data to tell a compelling story of growth and improvement. Dr. Lisa Lamb and Heather Muir will share their journey and the tools that made it possible.
🔗 Register Today!
Bridging the Gap: PBIS Through Student and Staff Eyes
Wednesday, April 30 at 10 AM PT
PBIS is more than a framework—it’s a lived experience. See how Rocklin Unified is using Real to bring together staff and student voice to strengthen schoolwide systems and culture.
SSDA's 2025 Legislative Priorities
SSDA 2025 Legislative Advocacy Day
Following the 2025 SSDA State Conference, superintendents from various small and rural school districts gathered on April 8th for a special Legislative Advocacy Day, led by our valued partners at Capitol Advisors Group LLC. This impactful session included direct engagement with representatives from OPSC, the Department of Finance, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and key members of the Senate and Assembly—marking an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to advocate for the needs of our educational community.
SSDA and Capitol Advisors to Host May Revision Workshops
SSDA and Capitol Advisors is proud to co-sponsor the Budget Perspectives Workshops covering the Governor’s May Revision by partnering with ACSA, CSBA, and county superintendents from around the state.
Registrations are now available here.
As of March, California’s revenue collection is about $4.6 billion above the current year projections made in the Governor’s January Budget. However, there remains a tremendous amount of fiscal uncertainty arising from the Trump Administration’s tariffs, spending and policy priorities. While that instability will likely continue, and the impacts of federal trade policies on California’s economy are still unknown, we hope to have positive news on statewide issues, including current year revenue collection and plans to use the $1.6 billion in Prop 98 that the Administration left unallocated in the January Budget proposal.
We’ll also explore the fiscal outlook for school districts amid declining enrollment, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), labor pressures, and discuss how to navigate increasing budget volatility tied to state revenue trends. These sessions will include practical guidance on how administrators can prepare for budget adoption, advocate for key funding needs, and respond to proposed policy shifts in accountability, workforce development, facilities, and student wellness.
Whether you’re a seasoned school board member/district leader or new to school finance, these workshops will equip you with the knowledge and tools to lead confidently through California’s evolving education budget landscape.
Capitol Advisors will discuss proposed funding and programs in the May Revision, as well as advocacy plans related to:
Prop. 98 funding and restoring money owed to schools
Maintaining LCFF gains and critical ongoing programs
Funding, policy and implementation issues related to expanded learning, TK, universal meals, community schools, special education, etc.
The political dynamics that will impact the Legislature’s consideration of the Governor’s proposal
We look forward to seeing you in these workshops.
SSDA's New Program - The Elevat-Ed Forum for New Superintendents
The Elevat-Ed Forum for New Superintendents is a premier leadership development program tailored specifically for aspiring and early-career superintendents. Designed by the Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA), the program supports leaders who are either applying for superintendent positions or have been in the role for less than three years.
The program is built on FranklinCovey’s four essential roles of leadership:
Inspire Trust
Create Vision
Execute Strategy
Coach Potential
These traits form the foundation of the Elevat-Ed experience, informing all sessions, reflections, and leadership activities.
Melissa Collins Shares Her Passion for Computer Science: from Creative Inspirations to Critical Thinking
Teacher Melissa Collins
Golden Eagle Charter School
By Amy Woodman, CS4NorCal Communications Specialist
Ever since she was a little girl, discovering coding and computers with her father, Melissa Collins has always been obsessed with technology. From the early days of data programming through the internet boom, and continuing with the startup of her web design company, Melissa is at her core a creator.
In 2014, Melissa, or “Ms. Collins” to her students, started at the Golden Eagle Charter School (GECS) – a personalized learning public charter school with two campus locations:
> one in Mt. Shasta (TK - 8 / grades 9 - 12),
> the other in Yreka (grades 5 - 12),
> plus a remote homeschool option.
Siskiyou County Manages Its Expanse with Computer Science Education
Dunsmuir Students
Karla Shelby, Computer Teacher
Yreka Elementary School District
By Kathy Hamilton, Director, CS4NorCal
Characterized by its large territorial size and sparse population, Siskiyou County’s K-12 education landscape also has been marked by limited offerings of Computer Science in its K-12 schools. However, that is changing.
Like many rural school districts in California,Siskiyou County faces challenges that urban and suburban areas cannot imagine. Limited tax bases, vast geographic areas, and higher costs of service delivery mean these districts operate on razor-thin budgets even in the best of times. One result is that these districts and their students lack access to computer science education.
School District Strategies for Computer Science Implementation
(small schools making BIG strides in CS)
Jonathan Rhodea from the Sacramento County Office of Education sharing a key strategy for implementation for small schools, integrating CS into other subjects
At the 2025 SSDA Annual State Conference, CS4NorCal led a dynamic session titled "School District Strategies for Computer Science Implementation: Small Schools Making BIG Strides in CS." Jonathan Rhodea from the Sacramento County Office of Education, alongside CS4NorCal Co-Director Karen Mix and Nikki Navta, Senior Manager of Outreach & Adoption at Code.org, shared impactful strategies for expanding computer science education in small and rural schools. The team emphasized a practical and accessible approach—integrating computer science into core subjects—allowing small districts to overcome staffing and scheduling challenges while still offering high-quality CS learning opportunities for students. Their insights inspired attendees to reimagine how CS can fit into any classroom, regardless of size or location.
Instructional Survey
As the year comes to a close, CS4NorCal is reaching out one final time to ask for your valuable input regarding your computer science implementation and instructional format. Whether or not you are currently implementing CS, we kindly ask each of you to take just a few minutes to complete this final survey. Your responses—no matter your implementation status—provide critical data that helps us refine and improve our model for other small and rural school districts. We’ve also included a QR code below for quick and easy access to the survey.
The data gathered in previous years has been compiled into an Interactive Dashboard available on theCS4NorCal website.
CSTA COP Meetings
Spring Meeting - Thursday May 8th, from 4 - 5 p.m.
Join us for the session
Reimagining CS
to learn more about computer science advancements and make a custom GPT. Don’t miss out!
COMPUTER SCIENCE INFORMATION & RESOURCES FOR ALL SSDA MEMBERS
How districts can increase student access to computer science | Quick Guide by EdSource
Looking to expand computer science (CS) opportunities in your small or rural district but unsure where to begin? This quick guide from EdSource breaks down how districts can boost CS access with real-world strategies and success stories from across California.
The article features insights from CS4NorCal Director Kathy Hamilton and Co-Director Karen Mix M.Ed., and offers practical steps and real-world examples from California schools.
California lawmaker again attempts to make computer science class mandatory by EdSource
"Despite decades long efforts through legislation, funding and advocacy, California’s schools have still not caught up with — and are falling further behind — three dozen other states in the percentage of high schools offering at least one computer science course.
According to the national 2024 State of Computer Science report, 52% of high schools across California offered computer science in the 2023-24 school year.
In other states, statewide policy has been pivotal in expanding access to computing skills for all students."
Are you interested in bring AI learning to your classroom or school district? Click here to learn more about how you can bring Professional Development to your school. The resources are from the creators of Family Code Night.
Turnkey Lessons
Join the Seasons of CS group on CA Educators together!!
Discover Lesson and Workshop Resources as well as Professional Learning Opportunities
Summer Seasons of CS
June 23-27, 2025 | Anaheim, CA
This summer's in-person workshop offerings for California-based middle/intermediate and high school educators of all subject matters to learn how to bring accessible, equitable computer science education to their students. Visit Seasons of CS to enroll now!
Workshops are filling up quickly…
so be sure to sign up TODAY!
Future-Ready Classrooms Start Here: Bring CS & AI to Your District with Code.org!
As AI and emerging technologies transform nearly every aspect of our lives, Code.org is leading a movement to ensure that K-12 students are equipped to adapt to the realities of a rapidly evolving knowledge economy. For more than a decade, Code.org has partnered with educators to advocate for not just policy change, but the resources necessary to expand access to high quality computer science (CS) curriculum and professional learning experiences.
Empower your districts with high-quality, equitable computer science and AI education through the FREE Code.org District Program. Get curriculum, professional learning, and strategic guidance to build sustainable K-12 pathways. Join a nationwide network of leaders—
Are you looking for your next opportunity in education or trying to find the perfect candidate for your small school district?
The SSDA Job Board is your go-to hub for job postings across California’s small and rural school districts!
Explore job openings or post a position here: https://www.ssda.org/page/jobs
SSDA Upcoming Events
CTE E3 Forum
Register now for the CTE E3 Forum, May 15-16, 2025 at the Da Vinci Schools in Los Angeles. Learn more here!
Small School Superintendency Retreat
Register now for the Small School Superintendency Retreat, July 26-28, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach, California. Learn more here!
Thank you, Signature Partners!
Get Social with SSDA!
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