Call to Action: Support Schools and Students Impacted by Natural Disasters
Our hearts go out to all affected by the fires in Southern California. Natural disasters know no boundaries—they are not an issue of wealth, location, or community type. From urban centers to rural regions, these events affect everyone, and schools are often at the heart of recovery efforts. Small school districts in California face these challenges regularly and consistently rise to the occasion, prioritizing the well-being of our children.
The Small School Districts’ Association is here to help, but we cannot do it alone. It is imperative that the State of California takes bold and decisive action to:
Restore Normalcy for Students: Children impacted by natural disasters experience trauma that can disrupt their education and emotional well-being. We urge the State to provide immediate resources and support to help schools quickly reestablish a sense of normalcy for every child affected. Red tape and hoops needing to jump through gets in the way of providing the relief these students need.
Mitigate Future Disasters: Prevention is key. We call on the State of California to invest in strategies and infrastructure improvements to reduce the likelihood and severity of these incidents.
We are deeply grateful for the leadership of small school districts across the state. These educators and administrators step up every time, demonstrating resilience and commitment to our children’s futures. Their actions remind us all of the vital role schools play in the fabric of our communities.
Now, we ask the State of California to match that dedication with robust support and proactive measures. Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive, even in the face of adversity.
Let’s act now—for our schools, our communities, and most importantly, our children.
Cold Spring School District Kids Camp for LA Fire Evacuees
Dr. Amy Alzina, SSDA Secretary on the SSDA Board of Directors and Superintendent/Principal of Cold Spring School District, organized a one-day camp at her school, which later expanded to an additional two days to support children and families impacted by the wildfires. The camp initially welcomed about 35 kids and eventually grew to accommodate 75. They received generous donations for students and their families, offered a variety of activities for the kids, and had counselors on-site to provide support.
2025 San Diego E3 Forum
Marcos Cruz-Rosas, Diego Beltran & Gabriel Cesena from Mountain Empire High School performed.
Attendees at the San Diego E3 Forum!
Executive Director of CalSPRA Trinette Marquis presented her session on Reputation Management.
Last week’s SSDA E3 Forum in beautiful, sunny San Diego was a great success! The event featured two concurrent sessions: one by the Cook Center for Human Connection on their Leadership & Happiness Symposium, offering valuable insights into becoming a happy and effective leader, and another by the California School Public Relations Association on Building Communities through Strategic Communication. Both sessions were led by dynamic speakers and provided superintendents with practical skills to bring back to their small school districts.
Adding to the event’s success, Mountain Empire Unified School District brought several high school students who delivered a fantastic performance in front of 60 attendees!
Don’t miss the opportunity to engage, empower, and elevate your skills at future E3 Forums. The next ones are scheduled for March 11th in Bishop and March 13th in Lake Arrowhead!
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!
Ducor Union Elementary School District: A Call for Action on Facilities Challenges
Nestled in California's agricultural heartland, Ducor Union Elementary School District (Ducor UESD) exemplifies the promise and peril of rural education in small districts. The district serves just 138 students. Although it is a vital hub for its community, it faces profound challenges tied to deteriorating infrastructure. Superintendent Dr. Robert Hudson, a tireless advocate for rural schools, highlights the urgency of addressing these problems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment for its students.
Anderson Valley Unified School District: A Story of Resilience and Transformation
Anderson Valley Unified School District (AVUSD) is a small, rural district serving fewer than 400 students in Boonville, California. The district is home to a largely socioeconomically disadvantaged population that has faced a series of challenges over the years, ranging from declining enrollment to aging infrastructure. Yet, despite the obstacles, there remains a sense of hope and determination as the district works to rebuild and modernize its facilities for the future.
You can also explore other articles about Anderson Valley USD and see how they’ve persevered and secured some needed support!
We’re looking to gather as many facilities stories as possible to raise awareness and ensure small and rural school districts receive the support they need. By compiling these stories, we can create a platform to share them effectively. If you’d like to spotlight your district’s facilities challenges or successes, please email gwen@ssda.org.
Computer Science Integration, First and Foremost
Karla Shelby, 1st Grade Teacher, Evergreen Elementary School
Although she was born and raised in Montana, Karla Shelby spent most of her adult life in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego – enjoying the warm Southern California weather and sunny beach life. However, after visiting Northern California on several trips with her husband Rick, they fell in love with the beautiful small town of Montague (CA) and made the permanent move to their new home in 2015.
Project Highlights: Spotlight on Lassen County
This brief shines a spotlight on Lassen County’s implementation of computer science(CS) pathways in partnership with the Small School Districts’ Association’s federally funded CS4NorCal project.
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.
Featuring 2 CS4NorCal Presentations:
Are you an experienced K-12 teacher interested in teaching CS to in service or pre service teachers?
This course empowers candidates to build foundational K-12 computer science content knowledge and coding skills in a range of applications, as well as best practices in equitable CS pedagogy (teaching children) and andragogy (teaching adults.) Click on the link to learn more and register by Monday February 3rd!
The 4th cohort for Reach University's free 8-week online course CS 333: Pedagogy and Andragogy is now open! This course is for:
Experienced educators or administrators entering computer science
Computer science educators or PD providers interested in leveling up their theory and practice
Anyone interested in teaching undergraduate CS courses at Reach University, regardless of background
Registration closes Monday, Feb 3! Register and take advantage of a partial experience even if you aren't sure you can complete the whole course -- we know life is complicated!
Synchronous Zoom classes start Tuesday, Feb 4, or Thursday, Feb 6, meeting weekly through the end of March.
Governor’s 2025-26 Budget Analysis
By Abe Hajela, Partner, Capitol Advisors Group
The Administration’s January budget proposal for 2025-26 was released on Friday, January 10th. Overall, the proposed budget does not contain a lot of additional spending or major policy or program changes. In announcing the budget, the Department of Finance (DOF) noted that the two-year framework taken in the last budget helped by making adjustments early, mitigating the need for further cuts now. As a reminder, just 12 months ago the state was dealing with a huge budget deficit caused by over-estimating revenues while waiting for actual tax receipts from the extended tax filing deadline.
Major Education Issues to Watch in 2025
By Barrett Snider, Partner, Capitoladvisors.org
California begins 2025 at the center of a high-stakes political and policy environment, with significant implications for education leaders across the state. The re-election of Donald Trump has created tension between California’s Democratic Governor/supermajority Legislature and federal policies on issues including immigration enforcement, climate change, and disaster relief. Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have already convened a special session to secure funding for potential litigation against federal initiatives that may impact state priorities, including the protection of undocumented students and families.
SSDA Upcoming Events
Proposition 2: Modernization Eligibility Workshop - January 23, 2025
Register here for the Campus Safety & Security Webinar this Thursday, January 23rd, from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM. Join us for a Prop 2 webinar featuring a step-by-step walkthrough by MGT on calculating your modernization eligibility. This webinar is free for SSDA members!
SSDA E3 Forum: Dialogue: CTE on a Shoestring Budget
Attention High School Districts: Engage in a meaningful conversation from February 26-27, 2025, about designing an effective CTE program in your district with limited resources at the Da Vinci Schools 201 N Douglas St, El Segundo, CA 90245. Register here!
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 three sessions.
February 6, 2025, 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM: Barrett Snider, Capitol Advisors & Yuri Calderon, SSDA
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 Forums - Region 10 (Mono/Inyo/Riverside Counties) Save the Date!
March 11, 2025 & March 13, 2025
Annual SSDA State Conference
Register now for our annual state conference! 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!
Get Social with SSDA!
This message was sent to you by the Small School Districts' Association
925 L Street, Suite 1185, Sacramento, CA 95814
916-750-0722, ssda.org