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2026 ACSA Women in School Leadership Forum
Venue: TBA clear filter
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Thursday, September 24
 

7:00am PDT

Continental Breakfast
Thursday September 24, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am PDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am PDT
TBA

9:30am PDT

Building the Relationships That Sustain Women Leaders
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
Women leaders are often encouraged to be resilient, but resilience is not meant to be built in isolation.


Educational leadership can be demanding, complex, and deeply personal work. This session creates space for honest reflection about the relationships that help women sustain their leadership over time and offers practical strategies for building stronger support systems that benefit both the leader and the communities they serve.


Learning Outcomes
  1. Assess their current leadership support network
  2. Participants will identify the relationships that currently provide challenge, encouragement, accountability, and advocacy—and where meaningful gaps may exist.
  3. Recognize barriers that can weaken connection among women leaders
  4. Participants will explore common dynamics such as isolation, comparison, perfectionism, competition, and unspoken expectations that can make authentic support more difficult.
  5. Develop practical strategies to intentionally strengthen leadership sisterhood
  6. Participants will leave with ideas and tools for building more intentional circles of trust and support within their schools, districts, and professional communities.

Leave with:
  1. A practical framework for strengthening trusted professional relationships
  2. Reflection tools they can use immediately within their own leadership journey
  3. Concrete ideas for fostering stronger support networks among women in education

Speakers
avatar for Margie Cuizon Armelino

Margie Cuizon Armelino

Deputy Executive Director, ACSA
Margarita Cuizon-Armelino is the Deputy Executive Director of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), where she leads strategic initiatives and supports over 18,000 school and district leaders across the state. Over her ACSA career, she helped build ACSA’s Member... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Renae Bryant

Dr. Renae Bryant

Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Gorman Learning Charter Network
Dr. Renae Bryant serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services at Gorman Learning Charter Network working collaboratively with scholars, staff, families and communities to increase student access, opportunity, equity and success. With over twenty years in education... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Kimberly MacKinney

Dr. Kimberly MacKinney

Executive Director, Secondary Schools, Fontana USD
Experienced educator with a demonstrated history of advocating for equity and creating safe spaces for all learners including students of color, multi-lingual learners, and at-promise youth. Skilled in professional development, student leadership, relationship building, lesson planning... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
TBA

9:30am PDT

Courageous Leadership: What They Don’t Teach You in Admin Programs
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
In today’s complex and fast-paced educational environment, leaders are expected to drive results, build culture, and navigate challenges; yet many are unprepared for the realities of leading through resistance, conflict, and change. This session explores what it truly means to lead with courage: confronting hard truths, engaging in difficult conversations, and making decisions that prioritize students over comfort.


Grounded in real-world leadership experience, this interactive session will unpack the essential practices of courageous leaders, including addressing toxicity, fostering trust through transparency, and building systems of accountability. Participants will reflect on their own leadership, engage in practical scenarios, and leave with actionable strategies to lead change with clarity and confidence.


This session goes beyond theory, focusing on the leadership moves that are often not taught in preparation programs, but are critical for creating strong, student-centered school communities.


Participants will leave with:
  1. A practical framework for courageous leadership that supports leading difficult conversations, making decisive actions, and building trust within teams
  2. Concrete strategies to address resistance and toxicity while maintaining a positive, student-centered culture
  3. A personal action plan to immediately apply courageous leadership practices in their school or district setting
Speakers
avatar for Adaina Brown

Adaina Brown

Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Fullerton School District
Dr. Adaina Brown is an accomplished district leader and Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services in Fullerton School District, where she leads systemwide efforts to improve student achievement, strengthen instructional coherence, and advance equity across 20 schools. Under... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
TBA

9:30am PDT

When Things Go Sideways: Crisis Leadership in Special Education
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
Complaints, investigations, and due process filings are an inevitable part of special education leadership, yet most leaders are not trained in how to respond effectively when situations escalate.

This session provides a clear, practical roadmap for navigating high-stakes situations, including state complaints, OCR investigations, and due process. Presented through the combined perspective of a Special Education Director and a Special Education Attorney, this session demystifies the process and focuses on what leaders need to do in the moment.

Participants will learn how to respond in the critical first 24–48 hours, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and avoid common missteps that increase risk. Grounded in real-world scenarios, this session equips leaders with tools to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose during challenging situations.

Key Audience Takeaways:
• Clear steps for responding in the first 24–48 hours of a crisis
• Strategies for managing communication with families, staff, and leadership
• Awareness of common errors that escalate conflict and liability
Speakers
avatar for Jenny Pinedo

Jenny Pinedo

Director of Special Education, Yolo COE
Dr. Jenny Pinedo is the Director of Special Education at the Yolo County Office of Education, where she leads countywide programs and supports districts in building effective, student-centered systems. She has extensive experience navigating complex IEP processes, conflict resolution... Read More →
avatar for Cathy Holmes

Cathy Holmes

Partner, AALRR
Cathy Holmes is a partner in the Student Services and Disabilities Practice Group of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo (AALRR). She was raised and mentored by public school educators but in a moment of young rebellion, decided to pursue law school instead of teaching. Unable... Read More →
avatar for Elizabeth Rho-Ng

Elizabeth Rho-Ng

Partner, AALRR
Elizabeth Rho-Ng has spent her professional career representing California public school districts, county offices of education, independent/private schools, community college districts, independent colleges/universities, and special education local plan areas (SELPA) in various scopes... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
TBA

9:30am PDT

Build Your Own AI Assistant: Creating Gemini Gems for School Leadership
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
Artificial intelligence can save time, improve communication, and support decision-making, but only when it is aligned to the needs, expectations, and policies of your organization. This hands-on workshop moves beyond theory and provides the opportunity to design and build a customized AI assistant using Gemini Gems.


Participants will learn how to create Gems that reflect district frameworks, reinforce responsible and ethical use, and support real tasks such as communication, lesson support, policy guidance, and operational workflows.


This interactive session is designed for educators ready to move from exploration to practical application. By the end of the session, participants will have a functional starting point for a Gemini Gem they can immediately use and refine in their own context.


Participants will leave with:
  1. A step-by-step process for designing and building a Gemini Gem aligned to district policies and instructional goals;
  2. working draft of a customized AI assistant to support their own workflow or team needs;
  3. Strategies for embedding guardrails that promote ethical use, protect data, and maintain academic integrity
  4. Practical examples of how Gems can support communication, instruction, and operational efficiency; and Ideas for scaling AI assistants across teams or departments while maintaining consistency and trust
Speakers
avatar for Sheryl Garman

Sheryl Garman

Director of Information Technology & Cybersecurity, Merced UHSD
Sheryl Garman serves as the Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity for Merced Union High School District, where she leads systemwide efforts to create secure, innovative, and future-ready learning environments. She guides district initiatives focused on artificial intelligence... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
TBA
  Workshop

9:30am PDT

Mock Interviews
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 4:00pm PDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 4:00pm PDT
TBA

11:00am PDT

AI as a Leadership Ally: Human-Centered Tools for Unstoppable Women Leaders
Thursday September 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
Artificial intelligence is reshaping education, but the most powerful AI strategies are not tech-first, they are human-first. In this hands-on workshop, women school leaders will explore how to leverage AI tools to amplify their impact, reclaim time, and lead with greater intentionality. Through guided activities and real-world scenarios, participants will leave with practical AI skills they can use immediately, grounded in values, equity, and authentic leadership.

1. Identify 3 to 5 AI tools relevant to their leadership role (communication, planning, data, staff support)
2. Apply a human-centered framework for evaluating and integrating AI responsibly
3. Craft at least one AI-assisted workflow or resource to implement the following week
Speakers
avatar for Mercedes Lovie

Mercedes Lovie

Associate Superintendent, Oceanside USD
Mercedes Lovie, Ed.D. is the Associate Superintendent of Oceanside Unified School District, serving over 15,500 students. Dr. Lovie started her educational career as a teacher in a culturally and linguistically diverse school district in California. As an educator, she has served... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
TBA

11:00am PDT

Champion Sponsor
Thursday September 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
TBA

11:00am PDT

Leadership by Design: A Systems Approach to Developing Aspiring Leaders
Thursday September 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
School systems cannot rely on chance to develop their next generation of leaders. Yet many districts promote strong educators into leadership roles without intentional preparation, coaching, or system alignment. This session provides a practical, scalable framework for building the capacity of aspiring leaders through distributed leadership, structured mentorship, and aligned professional learning.

Participants will explore how to design a leadership development pipeline that integrates instructional leadership, operational literacy, culture-building, and systems leadership. Drawing from real district implementation examples, the session will demonstrate how leadership capacity can be embedded into PLC structures, committee work, pathway initiatives, and emerging technology efforts rather than treated as an isolated program.

Attendees will leave with a replicable leadership pipeline model, sample structures for mentorship and coaching, and practical tools for identifying, developing, and sustaining aspiring leaders across roles.
Speakers
avatar for Paige Stills

Paige Stills

Principal, Placentia Yorba Linda USD
Paige Stills serves as a middle school principal and former high school assistant principal. She leads systems that strengthen instruction, build leadership capacity, and support diverse learners. Her work emphasizes special education, inclusion, AVID, and PLC-driven MTSS frameworks... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Olivia Yaung

Dr. Olivia Yaung

Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, El Segundo USD
Dr. Olivia Yaung serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for El Segundo Unified School District, where she leads districtwide efforts to strengthen instructional systems, leadership capacity, and innovative learning opportunities for students. Throughout her... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
TBA

11:00am PDT

Unapologetic Leadership: The 10 Shifts Women Must Make to Lead with Authority
Thursday September 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
What if the way leaders show up each day directly shapes whether students, staff, and families feel valued, heard, and empowered within a school community? This interactive session explores how internalized leadership habits, particularly those shaped by gendered expectations, can unintentionally influence school culture and limit belonging. Participants will engage with 10 high-impact leadership shifts designed to strengthen clarity, confidence, and presence while creating environments where all voices are genuinely elevated.


These shifts challenge common patterns many women leaders have been conditioned into, including waiting to feel ready before stepping into authority, seeking consensus before providing direction, over-explaining decisions, and prioritizing comfort over clarity. While well-intentioned, these habits can dilute leadership presence, create inconsistency, and unintentionally suppress student and staff voice. Through real-world scenarios and guided reflection, participants will identify where these patterns show up in their leadership and how they impact school culture.


Participants will leave with
  1. a clear understanding of the 10 leadership shifts and how they influence belonging and voice.
  2. They will gain practical strategies to make confident decisions, communicate with precision, and set clear expectations that foster inclusive environments where all stakeholders feel valued and empowered.
Speakers
avatar for Gina Lynch

Gina Lynch

Superintendent, The Palmdale Aerospace Academy
Gina Lynch is the Superintendent of The Palmdale Aerospace Academy in Southern California and an innovative educational leader with over 30 years of combined experience in K-12 and adult education, including 16 years in the classroom and 15 years in administration. She is known for... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
TBA

12:15pm PDT

Exemplary Women in Education Award Ceremony Luncheon | Sponsored by AlphaBEST Education
Thursday September 24, 2026 12:15pm - 1:45pm PDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:15pm - 1:45pm PDT
TBA

2:00pm PDT

Bottle Your Expertise: AI Agent Operating System for Reflective Practice
Thursday September 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm PDT
Women in school leadership wear every hat: board liaison, instructional leader, HR, finance, crisis communicator, equity advocate, mentor, often inside the same hour. The standard AI pitch is one more tool. This session is the opposite. It shows how women leaders are bottling their expertise into an agent team that carries some of those hats with them, in their voice.

This walkthrough opens the working setup in action. Megan opens her actual vault and demos the agent team she runs alongside her SpEd leader role. Each agent is built to act in her voice and judgment, drawing on her past work and the daily reflection that feeds it.

The deeper move is reflective practice. A Second Brain plus an agent team makes thinking traceable across time, surfaces patterns the day-to-day blurs, and gives leaders space to reflect before they react. In a job that often forces reaction over reflection, that shift is the practice.

Three key audience takeaways:
1. The "bottle your expertise" frame: which decision patterns are agent-ready, which need living judgment
2. A starter architecture for a leader's Second Brain that an agent team can work from
3. The reflective-practice frame: how an agent team protects time for thinking
Speakers
avatar for Megan Hsu

Megan Hsu

Special Education Administrator, Sunnyvale SD
Megan Hsu is a school district administrator in the Bay Area, California, and the founder of Edumated: Education Automated, an initiative focused on helping educators and leaders harness AI and automation to transform how schools operate. She leads special education programs by day... Read More →
avatar for Jennifer Taylor

Jennifer Taylor

Special Education Teacher, Sunnyvale School District
ESN Elementary Teacher at Sunnyvale School District
Thursday September 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm PDT
TBA

2:00pm PDT

Built to Belong: Collaborative Leadership for Educator Well-Being
Thursday September 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm PDT
Schools are being asked to evolve at an unprecedented pace: strengthen instruction, respond to student mental health needs, increase engagement, redesign learning experiences, and prepare students for an uncertain future. Amidst this change, one essential question often goes unmeasured: How are the adults doing?

Fifteen districts partnered to better understand educator well-being, leadership, and labor-management collaboration as interconnected conditions that shape whether people thrive, stay, and lead forward together. Findings showed that educators with stronger collaboration and support were more likely to recommend their district as a workplace, remain in the profession, and report higher job satisfaction and well-being.

This session explores how collaborative leadership practices can strengthen educator resilience, reduce depletion, and create conditions for sustainable change. Participants will hear from district and labor leaders about the realities and successes of collaboration; reflect on how personal and organizational values shape decisions during stress and change; explore strategies to strengthen trust, communication, and shared accountability; and engage in a listening and reflection protocol they can immediately use with teams and colleagues.

Participants will leave with practical tools, reflective protocols, and research-informed strategies to strengthen relationships, sustain teams, and cultivate systems where educators and students thrive together.
Speakers
avatar for Rebeca Andrade

Rebeca Andrade

Superintendent, Salinas City Elementary School District
Dr. Rebeca Andrade has 27 years of public school experience, ranging from classroom teaching to central office administration. Her service also includes leading early education and expanded learning, two systems that provide a human developmental and social emotional focus in PreK8th... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm PDT
TBA

2:00pm PDT

From Misalignment to Sustainable Leadership: Leading with Clarity, Capacity, and Courage
Thursday September 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm PDT
In today’s educational environments, leaders are often expected to perform within systems that were never designed for sustainability—resulting in burnout, misalignment, and diminished impact on students and staff.

This session introduces a practical leadership framework that supports educational leaders in identifying internal and systemic misalignment, strengthening their leadership identity, and building sustainable practices that improve decision-making and organizational coherence.

Participants will engage in guided reflection and real-world application to examine how misalignment affects school climate, staff capacity, and student outcomes. Through structured tools and strategies, leaders will learn how to move from reactive leadership to intentional, aligned leadership that supports both effectiveness and well-being.

This session directly supports the development of equity-minded leaders by addressing how leadership clarity, capacity, and alignment influence the creation of inclusive, student-centered systems.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Felecia Tolliver

Dr. Felecia Tolliver

Director of Educational Support Programs, Southern Kern USD
Felecia Tolliver, Ed.D. is an education leader, speaker, and district administrator with extensive experience supporting schools and systems through equity-centered change. Her work focuses on helping leaders move beyond performative initiatives to address the structural conditions... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm PDT
TBA

2:00pm PDT

Stronger Together: The Power of Superintendent–Board President Partnership
Thursday September 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm PDT
What happens when strong leadership, trust, and shared purpose align at the highest levels of a school system? This session highlights the partnership between a female Superintendent and an all-female Board of Education, anchored by a collaborative relationship with the Board President that is redefining governance and student-centered decision-making.

From the Superintendent’s hiring, district leaders established a culture grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and continuous communication. Through proactive dialogue, the Superintendent and Board President work together to address community concerns, prepare for challenging agenda items, and navigate controversial topics.

Their unified approach has enabled the district to successfully tackle complex issues, including the adoption of Ethnic Studies, the implications of Mahmoud v. Taylor, instructional program changes, race relations, and grading practices, all while keeping equity, integrity, and student success at the center of every decision.

Participants will gain practical strategies for strengthening Superintendent–Board partnerships, fostering trust, improving governance practices, and leading through complex issues with clarity and cohesion. This session provides actionable tools districts can immediately apply to build responsive leadership teams focused on unity, resilience, and meaningful progress.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Andrea Norman

Dr. Andrea Norman

Superintendent, Carlsbad USD
Dr. Andrea Norman has dedicated more than 29 years to public education, serving in multiple leadership roles across five California school districts. She began her career in 1997 with Los Angeles Unified School District as an elementary teacher, teaching grades 2–5 for over six... Read More →
avatar for Michele Tsutagawa Ward

Michele Tsutagawa Ward

President, School Board of Trustees, Carlsbad USD
Michele Tsutagawa Ward was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2022. She earned her teaching credential from UC Davis in 1999 and began her career in the New Haven USD before joining the Carlsbad USD. During her years in Carlsbad, she was named Calavera Hills Elementary Teacher of... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm PDT
TBA

3:30pm PDT

ACSA/Professional Learning
Thursday September 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm PDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm PDT
TBA

3:30pm PDT

Leading From the Margins: Reflection, Storytelling & Strategy
Thursday September 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm PDT
Educational leadership spaces often privilege dominant narratives, leaving leaders from historically marginalized communities, particularly women, women of color, and Black women, navigating systems that were not designed with them in mind. This session centers the experience of leading from the margins and offers leaders both validation and practical tools to sustain themselves while continuing equity-centered work.

Grounded in doctoral research, district leadership practice, and lived experience, this workshop explores the power of critical reflection, storytelling as resistance, and intentional coping strategies for leaders operating at the intersections of race, gender, and power. Participants will engage in structured reflection, shared narrative practices, and planning tools designed to support clarity, agency, and resilience when systems fail to change

The session intentionally creates a brave, supportive space where leaders can reflect honestly, hear lived experiences, and leave with renewed purpose and concrete strategies for navigating inequitable systems.

Key Audience Takeaways
  1. Explore how race, gender, and systemic inequities shape leadership identity and decision-making.
  2. Apply critical reflection and storytelling as tools for clarity, advocacy, and resilience.
  3. Identify strategic practices, including support networks, boundary-setting, and preemptive planning, to navigate inequitable systems with clarity and conviction.

Speakers
avatar for LaRonda Ortega, Ed D.

LaRonda Ortega, Ed D.

Director, Curriculum & Instruction, Buena Park School District
Dr. LaRonda L. Ortega is a scholar-practitioner, systems leader, and advocate for equity-centered leadership. With more than two decades of experience in public education, her work focuses on building coherent, human-centered systems that elevate teaching, honor identity, and expand... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm PDT
TBA

3:30pm PDT

Leading While Female: Motivation, Belonging, and Resilience in Educational Leadership
Thursday September 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm PDT
Female leaders in education often navigate complex leadership spaces shaped by visibility, representation, resilience, and responsibility. While educational leadership can be deeply rewarding, it can also entail isolation, heightened scrutiny, and pressure to continually prove competence. This interactive session explores how motivation, identity, and sense of belonging influence the leadership experiences of females in education.

Grounded in research and lived leadership experiences, this workshop will provide participants with opportunities to reflect on their leadership journeys, identify strategies to sustain resilience, and examine practices that cultivate belonging and equity within school communities. Participants will leave with practical tools to strengthen leadership identity, support wellness, and foster inclusive leadership spaces for themselves and others.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Examine how identity and representation shape leadership experiences in education.
2. Identify factors that impact motivation, resilience, and belonging among women leaders.
3. Reflect on personal and systemic barriers that influence leadership sustainability.
4. Apply practical strategies to cultivate resilience, wellness, and inclusive leadership environments
Speakers
avatar for Colette Boston

Colette Boston

Principal, LAUSD
Dr. Colette Boston is a veteran educational leader with 30 years of experience serving in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where she began her career in 1996. She currently serves as a school principal and is committed to fostering inclusive, equitable, and high-achieving... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm PDT
TBA

3:30pm PDT

Lift As We Lead: Women Mentoring Women with the Power of Allies
Thursday September 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm PDT
Education leadership requires more than individual excellence; it demands collective strength and inclusive collaboration. This interactive session invites participants to rethink how leadership teams are built and sustained, emphasizing trust, shared vision, mentorship, and allyship.

The session begins with an exploration of common challenges women face in leadership roles, including underrepresentation, limited access to mentorship, and implicit bias. Participants will then reflect on their own leadership journeys and the networks that have shaped their growth.

A central focus will be the dual importance of women mentoring women and engaging male allies. While mentorship among women creates spaces of shared experience, validation, and empowerment, male allies often hold positions of influence that can open doors, amplify voices, and advocate for equitable opportunities. Participants will explore how to effectively partner with male colleagues as sponsors and champions, and how to foster allyship that is authentic and impactful.

The session will also distinguish between mentorship and sponsorship, emphasizing how both women and men can play critical roles in advancing leadership pathways. Through guided discussion and scenario-based learning, participants will learn about the presenter's personal journey to the Superintendency and how every relationship plays a critical role in personal and professional development and advancement.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Andrea Norman

Dr. Andrea Norman

Superintendent, Carlsbad USD
Dr. Andrea Norman has dedicated more than 29 years to public education, serving in multiple leadership roles across five California school districts. She began her career in 1997 with Los Angeles Unified School District as an elementary teacher, teaching grades 2–5 for over six... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm PDT
TBA

4:45pm PDT

A Golden Evening of Leadership & Connection | Sponsored by AALRR
Thursday September 24, 2026 4:45pm - 6:00pm PDT
Join us for an evening of connection, inspiration, and meaningful conversation as we celebrate women who are leading the way. Wear yellow to symbolize positivity, inspiration, and visionary leadership—the qualities that empower us to build relationships, motivate others, and create lasting impact.
Sponsors
Thursday September 24, 2026 4:45pm - 6:00pm PDT
TBA
 
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