Academies, which are now open for registration at acsa.org/academies, meet on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the school year to build capacity in one of eight leadership specializations.

We asked four educational leaders who have taken academies to share how the knowledge and connections they gained have supported their leadership journeys.

‘It all came together’ Dr. Linsey Gotanda didn’t realize how much her academy prepared her for her current role until she was in it.

Back in 2018 when she took the Personnel Administrators Academy with Dr. Andrew Pulver and Cathie Abdel, Gotanda was an ed services director working on her long-term goal of becoming an assistant superintendent of HR.

The academy covered topics she hadn’t studied in depth before, like legal compliance, Ed Code, having hard conversations, and how the organization of the HR office impacts school sites.

Even while working as an assistant superintendent of education services, her HR knowledge gave her an edge at the bargaining table and when rolling out new programs. “My interactions with the union I think were strengthened by my knowledge that I had learned in the academy,” she said. “You feel more confident going into a conversation when you know you know the Ed Code and the compliance side of things.”

When she did get her position as deputy superintendent of Pupil and Personnel Services at Paramount USD “it all just came together” — the foundational knowledge from the academy and her many years of experience in educational services.

“The academy helped me understand how many ways HR touches the other divisions and how much we need to collaborate together,” she said.

An amazing experience Principal Ricardo Cooke has taken two ACSA Academies: Equity Administrators in 2023-24 and Curriculum & Instructional Leaders in 2024-25.

“Unequivocally, the ACSA Academies for Equity Administrators and Curriculum & Instructional Leaders were two of the most important professional development experiences I have participated in,” he said.

Cooke said Academy Directors Dr. Cherina Betters (Equity Administrators) and Darlene Messinger (Curriculum & Instructional Leaders) were knowledgeable, experienced and provided a great structure for learning that included guest speakers, breakout discussions, project-based learning, and access to impactful resources.

“Each session included multiple opportunities to understand real world applications of the material and theories of action,” he said.

In addition, Cooke said the networking opportunities furthered his growth and prepared him for advancement in his career.

“I feel confident that I will use the knowledge I gained to become a stronger administrator at my current and future position,” he said.

A new mindset (and new position) Dr. Mallanie Harris has always found the role of personnel administrator intriguing. After a colleague signed up for the 2024-25 Personnel Administrators Academy, she decided to enroll as well so they could support each other.

“As a former elementary and middle school site administrator, I have participated in interview panels, job fairs, and even served on a negotiation team for about five years,” Harris said. “However, that perspective was limited, and I wanted a broader, more balcony lens for working with employees.”

Harris found what she was looking for. Academy Directors Dr. Sherri Beetz and Heather Campos led participants through exercises that forced them to think critically about decisions affecting employees.

“The information presented was facilitated in a way that allowed for the learners to collaborate and ask questions affecting their positions in real-time,” she said.

Before the academy year concluded, Harris received an offer for her first position as a director of Human Resources.

“I am truly excited and nervous about the change, but my nerves only reflect my ambition to be an innovative and servant leader working alongside my new team,” she said.

Leadership, amplified Dr. Mary Mardirosian, coordinator for Equity, Access and Family Engagement in Glendale Unified School District, signed up for the Equity Administrators Academy in 2024-25 to expand her capacity for serving students.

“[The academy] was a pivotal opportunity to amplify my contributions to the field of education, particularly in the areas I am most passionate about: supporting English Learners, equity for our students and leveraging data to improve access,” she said.

Mardirosian said her Academy Directors — Dr. Cherina Betters and Dr. Marcie Poole — created a “safe, supportive environment that was also fun and knowledgeable.” She believes the relationships she forged within the academy will undoubtedly provide a rich source of mentorship and support.

“The opportunity to network with other aspiring and established leaders in education as well as being part of a collaborative learning environment was the greatest highlight from the overall experience,” she said. “I had the opportunity to exchange diverse ideas and tackle complex challenges facing our educational system.”