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SSDA's 2026 Annual State Conference is coming up in just three months! It keeps getting bigger and better, and we’d love to have you there.

March 7-10 | Sheraton Grand Hotel Sacramento | Register Here!

Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and grow with small and rural school district leaders from across the state. 

Learn more and secure your spot today: 2026 SSDA State Conference

Gratitude in Action 

We’ve reached that point in the school year when the days feel shorter, the calendars feel fuller, and the holiday season is suddenly right in front of us. November always brings with it a mix of energy and exhaustion — a reminder of how much we’ve already accomplished and how much heart it takes to keep going strong through the final stretch of the semester. 

If there’s one word that captures this time of year for me, it’s gratitude. 
Not just gratitude for what we do, but for who we do it with. 

Discover more about each member by clicking their logo.

The Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) is proud to announce that our Executive Director, Yuri Calderon, has been nominated and elected to serve on the Board of the National Rural Education Association (NREA). This appointment is a tremendous honor and reflects Yuri’s dedication and commitment to advancing the needs of small and rural school districts across California and the nation. 

Serving on the NREA Board provides an invaluable opportunity to work alongside educational leaders from across the country who are dedicated to strengthening rural communities. The NREA plays a critical role in shaping national policy, supporting rural educators, and ensuring that the unique challenges faced by rural schools are understood and addressed at the federal level. 

Under the leadership of NREA Executive Director Dr. Melissa Sadorf, the organization has been actively engaged in several national advocacy efforts. Recently, members of the NREA, including SSDA, joined FFA students from California and across the nation to advocate for the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) legislation. This essential program provides funding to rural counties and school districts that have been historically impacted by federal land management policies. Learn more about this Washington, D.C. trip with NREA and SSDA by watching the video here.

The NREA proudly serves as the national voice for rural schools, educators, and communities. Its work directly aligns with SSDA’s mission, and this partnership ensures that California’s rural districts are represented in national conversations. 

“I am honored to be appointed to the NREA Board. I’m excited to join this group and work to elevate the voices of small and rural school districts at the national level," said Yuri Calderon. 

This achievement is particularly meaningful for SSDA members. As many of you know, all SSDA members are automatically members of the National Rural Education Association. Yuri’s election strengthens this connection and amplifies our collective voice on the national stage. 

EdSource is hosting an expert panel discussion on Thursday, December 11th, from 12 PM to 1 PM. The session, Degrees of Value: How Changing Attitudes Toward College Challenge Higher Education in California, will explore shifting perceptions of college and their impact on the state’s higher education system. We’re proud to share that SSDA member district Superintendent Morgan Nugent from Fall River Joint Unified School District will be part of this expert panel. He continues to lead incredible work in his district, and his perspective will be a valuable addition to the conversation.

Learn more here: https://edsource.org/broadcasts/degrees-of-value-how-changing-attitudes-toward-college-challenge-higher-education-in-california

In case you missed it, SSDA hosted a State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Candidate Forum on October 30th, featuring Al Muratsuchi, Josh Newman, Anthony Rendon, and Nichelle Henderson. The forum was moderated by Louise Simson, Superintendent of Mark Twain Union School District, who did a fantastic job leading the discussion.

The candidates shared their perspectives on small and rural school districts and discussed what actions they would take to support them.

Click here to watch the full forum!

Or watch each question individually by clicking on the links below!

Question 1 | Question 2 | Question 3 | Question 4 | Question 5 | Question 6 | Question 7

Maple Elementary SD students preparing for their presentation

Facilities panel presenters: Veregy, VPCS, Persinger Architects, Eastshore Consulting, & Conexwest

Office of Public School Construction Presenters Tracy Sharp & Kaycie Barr

The Bakersfield E3 Forum, From Blueprint to Breakthrough: Facilities Solutions for Small Schools, proved to be an inspiring and high-impact event, bringing together leaders, experts, and innovators who are shaping the future of school facilities across California. 

A standout moment came at the start of the event with a presentation from a 5th-grade class at Maple Elementary School District, showcasing their impressive “Project Lead the Way” work. Their presentation demonstrated the powerful impact of early STEM learning, showing that these students are already laying the foundation for future STEM careers, giving them a head start and preparing them for success in the grades ahead. 

We were fortunate to have a lineup of excellent speakers who delivered powerful insights throughout the day:

The Bakersfield E3 Forum truly engaged leaders, empowered districts, and elevated the future of school facilities in California’s small and rural communities.

You can access resources from the day here. 

Morgan Nugent testimonial, Superintendent, Fall River Joint Unified School District

Panel Presentation: Chris Rafanelli, Nesha Pattinson, & Peter Livingston

Attendees of the E3 Forum

Yuri Calderon, SSDA Executive Director & Eric Premack, CSDC Executive Director

The 2025 E3 Forum, Charting the Course: Navigating Charter School Authorization and Oversight, was an exceptional convening of charter school leaders, authorizers, and advocates. 

SSDA is deeply grateful to Eric Premack, Executive Director of CSDC; Laura Kerr, Legislative and Outreach Specialist; Leslie Loy, Leadership Trainer and Event Manager at CSDC; Raquel Maden, Vice President at CCSA; Tom Hutton, Executive Director of CCAP (and a reminder that all SSDA members are automatically CCAP members); and Elizabeth Brenner, Superintendent & CEO of Compass Charter Schools and the Charter Representative on the SSDA Board of Directors. Their collective leadership and expertise shaped a program that was timely, informative, and reflective of the evolving landscape of charter school oversight and innovation. 

This E3 Forum brought together 50 charter school and small school district authorizers in person, while the full event was livestreamed to the entire SSDA community, drawing an additional 100 virtual attendees.

From start to finish, the E3 Forum delivered exactly what its name promises: engagement, empowerment, and elevation. Thanks to the partnership of CCAP, CSDC, and CCSA, attendees left with renewed energy, new tools, and a stronger shared commitment to serving California students.  

You can access resources here and the recording of the entire day here.

Tom Hutton testimonial, Executive Director of CCAP

Remember! As your SSDA membership automatically includes CCAP membership.

In honor of American Education Week (November 17-21), WGU is excited to celebrate the important work of educators and school district employees with the Fund My Classroom grant, valued at up to $300. We’d love to show our appreciation to members of the Small School District Association by buying supplies for your school or classroom! 

WGU Fund My Classroom Grant Information and Criteria 

Grants will be awarded in amounts of up to $300 (not including applicable taxes or shipping and handling). 

All grants will be delivered through the supplies or items requested, not through direct funds or reimbursement for previous purchases. 

Recipients will be selected based on nominations received, the purpose of the request, and the anticipated impact and benefit to the classroom, school district, or team. 

Applications close on November 21 at 11pm (Pacific Time). 

Applicants selected to receive the grant will be notified by December 5. Recipients will be able to submit their “wish list” to the WGU representative (Eve Marsh) by Dec 12th and items will be shipped ASAP. 

How to Apply 

1. Complete the WGU Fund My Classroom application form. 

2. You may nominate yourself, your school, your team, or a colleague who makes a difference in advancing quality K-12 education. 

3. Submit your application or nomination by November 21. 

Thank you for all that you do every single day to make a difference in K-12 education! 

Happy Valley School District (HVSD) continues to shine academically, reporting outstanding state assessment scores of 80% in English Language Arts (ELA) and 83% in Math. Math performance alone grew by 8% in a single year, now 6% above pre-pandemic levels. These achievements stand out even more given the district’s small size of 111 students and six classroom teachers, where combination classes, limited intervention time, and shared instructional roles are part of everyday life. 

Superintendent Michelle Stewart expressed her pride in the district’s progress: “Our school district was placed on the honor roll. We are one of two schools in our entire county out of eight that got on the honor roll, and that’s a huge undertaking, since you have to reach growth in certain sub-areas.” 

While the district serves an affluent community, Stewart noted that the success reflects years of sustained effort, collaboration, and intentional work. Much of the district’s recent growth, particularly in math, was the result of strategic instructional shifts. Sixth grade alone saw a remarkable 12% increase in proficiency, an outcome Stewart described as “huge gains.” 

In true small-school spirit, the Saucelito Elementary School District brought students, families, and staff together for a special cause in October: a charity soccer match to raise awareness for breast cancer. The event, thoroughly planned and led by the school’s middle school FFA officer team, united the community for an afternoon of pink jerseys, laughter, and teamwork, all while raising money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  

Superintendent Courtney Castle shared, “We sit on the south end of Tulare County, right between Terra Bella and Pixley. I have a total of 81 students on campus this year in TK through 8th grade, so all my classrooms are combination rooms. My largest classes this year have 19 students total.”  

Despite its small size, Saucelito’s FFA chapter, now in its fifth year, continues to grow in creativity and leadership. Inspired by local high school “pink-out” games, students wanted to host their own community event. “Last year, we started a pink-out game against another local elementary school. But timing this year wasn’t going to work out,” Castle explained. “We really wanted to bring the idea of community service, giving back to an organization, bringing awareness to how we can support the medical industry, in a fun way, and tie it into bringing our parents onto campus.”

Dunham Elementary School District proudly hosted its Second Annual Dunham Agriculture Days, a celebration of its unique identity as Sonoma County's first elementary agriculture program. Students, families, and community partners came together for hands-on experiences in gardening, livestock care, and farm-to-table culinary learning. The event not only showcased student learning but also highlighted Dunham's strong partnerships with local farms and agricultural leaders.  

Superintendent Ani Larson shared that Dunham's agricultural focus was born out of both tradition and innovation. Dunham School District is located in the northern part of Petaluma, bordering Sebastopol. "We are a school that's surrounded by dairy and beef cattle ranches, and as part of the community, the school district's been around since 1850," Superintendent Larson explained. "When I first got here four years ago, we were down in enrollment, and we decided to focus on being the first elementary school in Sonoma County to have a full agriculture program."  

Superintendent Bryan Easter of Maple Elementary School District shared this wonderful series with SSDA!

Maple Elementary has launched an inspiring 8-part parent engagement video series designed to uplift and strengthen the family unit, fully adaptable for any small or rural district.

Each episode explores a unique theme and features locally filmed B-roll with families, creating relatable, engaging content that aligns with this year's school theme: Keepin' it Rural and staying Rooted in Family, Community, and Education. Three episodes have already been released, with five more coming soon!

Registration is now open for the remaining E3 (Engage-Empower-Elevate) Forums! These events are free for SSDA members and feature valuable professional development sessions on timely topics.

Next Up!

San Diego | Wednesday, January 14, 2026

E3 Forum: The Superintendent as the Instructional Leader

Imperial | Thursday, January 15, 2026

E3 Forum: The Superintendent as the Instructional Leader

SSDA hosted the third session of the governance series yesterday, with Katie Kohler, Superintendent, and Cynthia McCoy, Board President of Chicago Park School District, who shared about Creating Synergy Between the Superintendent and the Board President. Randy Erickson, Principal Attorney, presented part 3 of the FPPC ethics compliance training. 

You can still register for the remaining sessions! This series is free for SSDA members. The fourth session is on January 22nd, from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM, with Capitol Advisors and the fourth installment of the FPPC ethics training presented by Randy Erickson, Principal Attorney at McDougal Law Firm. 

In the meantime, watch last night's recording by clicking on the video below!

The CS4NorCal project has officially ended, but we wanted to reassure you that our resources will still be available on the ssda.org website. Visit the CS4NorCal tab, under the Programs menu, for quick links to all our curriculum resources –  which will also be shared through the SSDA monthly newsletters. 

We want to SINCERELY THANK all our dedicated teachers, administrators, trainers and partners for a successful CS4NorCal program! Since 2021, this federally-funded grant has brought more computer science to six Northern California counties: serving over 100 schools (and entities) to promote equitable access to computer science (CS) education for small and rural schools. From kindergarten through commencement, CS4NorCal built capacity, partnerships and pathways to provide more CS access to these rural communities.

“We’re proud of the work we’ve done so far… and this is only the beginning.” – Yuri Calderon, SSDA Executive Director

PROBLEM OF PRACTICE

In small and rural schools, computer science is often integrated into existing subjects (like Math, Science, etc.). The majority of the teachers who teach computer science also teach other content areas, with most teachers reporting that computer science was taught through the business, technology, or mathematics department in their schools. (Gal-Ezer & Stephenson, 2010).

Embedding computer science (CS) education into middle school curricula is essential for preparing students to innovate and solve problems in a technology-driven world that is increasingly shaped by computer technologies (Huang & Looi, 2021) but does not require educators to learn how to teach coding or navigate software-based curriculum and platforms. 

It's no longer, a “nice” or “might do”. It's definitely our kids who deserve it. Rural kids deserve computer science as much or more as anybody.

Sacramento Update: What Small Districts Need to Know 

Below is a round-up of recent important information out of Sacramento that we think SSDA members should be aware of. 

2025 Changes in Law 

Our team has produced a series of comprehensive client briefs detailing new education laws that were passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Newsom in 2025. Each brief is organized by subject area and includes an executive summary highlighting major changes and debates we think you should know about. Bills signed by the Governor take effect on January 1, 2026, unless the bill specifically states otherwise. 

Curriculum and Instruction 

Early Childhood 

Facilities 

Governance and Operations 

Human Resources 

Immigration 

School Finance 

School Safety 

Student Services 

Technology 

Secure Prop 2 funding quickly and efficiently using Edapt’s AI-powered tool, now available through SSDA. This innovative solution makes drafting a Five-Year Facilities Master Plan fast, affordable, and simple.

Here's how it works: 

If you would like to join the SSDA Board Policy Program list, please email staff@ssda.org. Enrollment is handled one at a time, in the order in which requests are received. You can view an example of the board policies here.

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

Superintendent - Hilmar Unified School District

Hilmar Unified School District is seeking a Superintendent. Deadline to apply is December 28, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. PST. To apply, please visit: www.educationleadershipservices.org/current-openings and select the listing for this position. For general information, contact Dr. José L. González, Search Consultant, at jgonzalez@els4u.org or (209)535-3259. Salary is competitive and negotiable, based on education and experience; 2,300 ADA.

Apply: Hilmar USD Application

Deadline to Apply: December 28, 2025, at 11:55 PM

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