Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead to an Exciting 2025
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to celebrate our SSDA accomplishments in 2024 and share the exciting opportunities for the coming 2025 school year.
This year, we hit the ground running with a packed calendar of events. In our SSDA tradition, we kicked off our year with our Superintendents’ & High School Leaders’ Summit in Newport Beach. The 2024 Summit did not disappoint. With record-high attendance, we took over the Hyatt Regency Resort in Newport Beach and engaged in professional learning, team building, strategic thinking, small school advocacy, and professional networking. The highlights of the Summit included a special appearance by Senator Josh Newman, thanks to our strategic partner, Capitol Advisors. Overall, the Summit was impactful and a wonderful opportunity to grow professionally in anticipation of the new academic year.
Our NEW E3 Forums brought together education experts, Superintendents, and educators in our rural and small school communities for professional learning and networking. These regional events are designed to bring professional learning to our diverse rural and urban communities. We kicked off our first event in Mount Shasta, followed by a well-attended event in Orland, California. Our third E3 Forum was held in Fresno, where we featured a presentation by Attendance Works. Our most recent E3 Forum was held in Eureka at the Humboldt County Office of Education (thank you, County Superintendent Michael Davies-Hughes), with very engaging presentations on Artificial Intelligence from Dr. Amy Alzina, Jacob Carr, and Christian Jackson. These events would not be possible without our partnerships with CalSPRA, CCAP, Cook Center for Human Connection, Veregy, Parsec Education, SitelogIQ, MGT, Eastshore Consulting, California Department of Education, FranklinCovey, Grand Canyon Education, Next Gen Math, Emerzian Shankar Legal, Inc., Four Oaks Wealth Strategies, Protect|ED, Fresno Unified School District, Chico Unified School District, Edapt Schools, Butte County Office of Education, and Nevada County Superintendent of Schools. These partnerships were instrumental in making sure that these events were all FREE to any and all school district and county office employees.
We are wrapping up the year with the kick-off of the first of our Five-Part Governance Webinar Series on December 17. With over 250 registrations, SSDA is committed to making this event the Statewide “go-to” series for new and returning governing board members to receive Effective Governance training. It is not too late to register for the upcoming sessions. Our next session is scheduled for January 16, 2025, at 5:30 PM and will feature Davis Campbell, former CSBA Executive Director and former Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction. Davis will review the strategies in his book “Governance Core 2.0." On February 27, 2025, at 5:30 PM, Author and Trustee Keith Wolaridge is presenting. Professor Wolaridge will review the five pillars of effective school governance outlined in his book, “Decisions from the Dais.” SSDA has secured Continuing Legal Education credits for this program. You do not want to miss the continuation of our Governance Series.
In addition to all these great programs, we hosted a School Business & Administrative Leadership Symposium in San Jose. Superintendents, CBOs, Executive Assistants, and other school leaders from across the State joined us for an opportunity to dive deep into the day-to-day operations of small school districts. This well-attended event spanned two days and was a great opportunity to network with others similarly situated from across the State.
I also had the distinct privilege of visiting county offices of education and school districts across California, from Siskiyou, Modoc, Mendocino, and Humboldt to Inyo, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties. These visits were invaluable opportunities to hear directly from superintendents, gain insights, and strengthen relationships.
Looking ahead to 2025, we have an exciting lineup of events and initiatives planned. Our Board Governance Series will culminate in a robust professional learning series at our Annual Conference in Sacramento on April 5 through 8. We’re also expanding our E3 Forums to new locations like San Diego, Bishop, Lake Arrowhead, and Los Angeles. You won’t want to miss our upcoming E3 Forums.
On the advocacy front, we’ve achieved significant wins this year, including securing dedicated support for small school districts in Proposition 2 and contributing to its successful passage. In 2025, we’ll continue to prioritize local control, equitable funding for small districts, and staffing solutions for our rural school districts.
With growing membership, an expanding network of associate partners, and a renewed commitment to serving small school districts, I’m excited about what’s ahead. I invite you to join us at our upcoming SSDA events in 2025—your participation and engagement are what make this work truly impactful.
Here’s to building on our success and achieving even greater milestones together in the year ahead!
Register Today for the San Diego E3 Forum
This exciting event lets you choose your preferred track. Two concurrent sessions will be available: the Leadership & Happiness Symposium, presented by the Cook Center for Human Connection, and Engaging Communities through Strategic Communication, hosted by CalSPRA. Be sure to select your track when registering.
Supporting Families at Igo-Ono-Platina Union Elementary School District
Igo, Ono, Platina Union Elementary School District have made remarkable strides in building strong community partnerships, as exemplified by Kim Miller, principal of both Igo-Ono School and Shasta Elementary. Miller oversees two small, single-school districts, providing leadership to 35 students at Igo and 100 students at Shasta.
Building Connections and Cultivating Growth: Updates from the SSDA and CCEE Leadership Institute
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been actively gathering data and facilitating interviews with mentors and participants to assess the current design of the Leadership Institute sessions, as well as mentor/mentee expectations and relationships. To deepen our understanding, we distributed a survey to mentors, aiming to capture their experiences and suggestions for improvement.
Join Us at the Measure What We Value Summit! 📊
February 5–6, 2025 | DoubleTree Hotel, Fresno, CA
Be part of an inspiring two-day event where education leaders and innovators come together to rethink student success, share bold ideas, and gain actionable strategies to drive meaningful change.
🌟 Featured Speakers:
Dr. Jamila Lyiscott: I Am More than a Test Score – Explore holistic approaches to assessment that celebrate every student's potential.
Chaka Booker: Rewiring Decisions & Strengthening People Practices – Build diverse, high-performing teams with innovative hiring strategies.
Jamila Dugan: Acclaimed co-author of Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation and thought leader transforming how we think about supporting each student and leadership in education.
Pepper Miller: Let Me Explain Black Again – Gain a deeper understanding of Black cultural experiences to create welcoming classrooms.
Todd Collins: Facing Facts: Uncovering Truth in Our Schools – Learn how data transparency can drive equity and accountability.
🎯 Sessions You Can't Miss:
Student Panels: Hear firsthand how policies impact student lives and learning.
Accelerating Math Achievement: Discover strategies to set middle school students on a pathway to success.
Elevating Student Voice: Learn to use innovative tools to amplify student perspectives.
Unlocking LCAP Strategies: Take actionable insights to streamline your processes.
💡 This Summit is your opportunity to connect with like-minded leaders, hear diverse perspectives, and leave with practical tools to create change in your schools.
🎟 Reserve your spot now at parsecsummit.com. Tickets are selling fast!
CS4NorCal: A Year in Review
December 2 brought the submission of SSDA’s Annual Performance Report (APR) on the CS4NorCal project, funded by the federal Education Innovation and Research grant. While the 108-page report includes many details from 2023-24, there are a number of highlights:
Seventy-two individuals from 44 schools participated in Summer of CS 2024 workshops and confidence in teaching CS increased from 40% at the beginning of a workshop to 90% at the end.
Participants from the six-county (Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou) region served by the project are persisting as they learn to implement computer science pathways. Of 75 respondents to a beginning-of-the-year survey who are teaching CS in 2024-25, 75% are in their second, third, fourth or fifth year with CS4NorCal.
Participation in the six-year project is broad: 66% of districts in the region have sent at least one educator to the professional learning program.
Participants anticipate serving about 4,000 students in 2024-25.
Multi-grade CS pathways are emerging in feeder pattern schools.
SSDA has nearly met or exceeded three of the five service targets identified in the 2019 grant application: 141% of schools served, 93% of districts served and 96% of teachers served.
For more information:
CS4NorCal’s interactive Implementation Dashboard provides information about how participating schools are offering computer science. Check it out!
Section C of the APR describes the efforts of the project’s co-director to recruit participants and disseminate CS4NorCal learnings. You may enjoy the photos and links to additional project resources.
Computer Science is a Family Affair
in Susanville with David Zavala
The staff at Diamond View Middle School - a 2024 Distinguished School
David Zavala and his wife Christina at the Seasons of CS training in Redding (spring 2024).
David Zavala grew up all along the coast of California… moving from Santa Cruz to Irvine and Long Beach, before moving back up north and settling far from the Pacific in Susanville, CA with his family. David is the computer guru for the Susanville Elementary School District; although his official title is Technology Specialist and Computer Lab Technician at Diamond View Middle School.
Computer Science Resources for All SSDA Members
The California STEAM Symposium convenes STEAM education enthusiasts annually who believe in the power of active, joyful, and engaging exploration and learning for all California students, especially those in traditionally marginalized communities.
Join SSDA’s CS4NorCal Project at our presentations:
Increase Student Access to Computer Science through Integration and Project-Based Learning
You Belong in STEAM: Expanding Access in Rural Schools
Sacramento Update: What Small Districts Need to Know
Read the full article from Capitol Advisors for essential updates from Sacramento, including the swearing-in of new legislators, the implementation of Prop 2, and the development of a Personal Finance Curriculum in alignment with AB 2927 (McCarty).
SSDA Upcoming Events
Campus Safety & Security Webinar - December 20, 2024
Register here for the Campus Safety & Security Webinar this Friday, December 20th, from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM. This webinar, led by law enforcement experts, is specifically designed for small school districts. It will provide practical guidance on assessing potential threats on your campus, with cost-effective strategies tailored to districts where hiring a full security team may not be feasible.
Governing Board Webinar Series
Our first session of the Governing Board Webinar Series was a huge success, with over 230 attendees! It's not too late to participate in the upcoming sessions.
Register here for the Governing Board Webinar Series! While our first session has already taken place, you can still join us for the remaining four sessions.
January 16, 2025, 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM: Davis W. Campbell, Author
February 6, 2025, 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM: Barrett Snider, Capitol Advisors
February 27, 2025, 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM: Keith Wolaridge, Author & Veteran Board Member
March 20, 2025, 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM: Namita S. Brown, Partner, Fagen, Friedman & Folfrost, LLP
SSDA E3 Forum - San Diego, Thursday, January 16, 2025
Register here! Brought to you by the SSDA E3 Forum, the Cook Center for Human Connection, and CalSPRA
University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park Way, San Diego, CA 92110 | 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
This SSDA E3 Forum features two distinct tracks: the Leadership & Happiness Symposium hosted by the Cook Center for Human Connection and Engaging Communities through Strategic Communication presented by CalSPRA, which focuses on communications and public relations. When registering, please select the track you wish to participate in so we can plan accordingly for your Forum attendance.
SSDA E3 Forums - Region 10 (Mono/Inyo/Riverside Counties) Save the Date!
March 11, 2025 & March 13, 2025
Annual SSDA State Conference - Registration Opening Soon!
Registration for our annual state conference will be opening soon! The event will take place at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in downtown Sacramento from April 5-8, 2025, with our annual golf tournament at Topgolf on April 5, 2025. This year's conference will feature an exciting new layout, and it's one you definitely won’t want to miss!
Important SSDA Updates
Superintendent Roundtables will resume on January 15, 2025, following our regular 1st and 3rd week schedule. Please note there will be no Roundtable on January 1st due to New Year’s Day. Click here to view all of the calendar dates.
Additionally, don’t forget about our Office Hours, which will be held on January 8th. These sessions are designed to provide support and connection during the weeks we do not have a Superintendent Roundtable.
CBO Roundtables will resume on January 16, 2025, continuing our regular 1st and 3rd week schedule. Please note there will be no Roundtable on January 2nd. Click here to view all of the calendar dates.
Get Social with SSDA!
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