ACSA’s Member Assistance and Legal Support Team is proud to be completing its 25th year of service in its current format. Under the leadership of ACSA’s Deputy Executive Director Margarita Cuizon-Armelino and Member Support Program Director Joanne Godfrey, our dedicated team — John Almond, Dr. Ron Carruth, Dr. Chris Downing, Dr. Sharon Dezutti, Joe Jones, Janet Morey, Dr. Gary Rutherford, and Lloyd Wamhof — has assisted approximately 800 members this year as of the end of May.

In earlier years, most of this support focused on helping members navigate the Education Code and understand their due process rights. However, recent years have brought unprecedented challenges. From the onset of the pandemic to today’s polarized political climate, school administrators have been tasked with reinventing education delivery, implementing ever-changing state mandates, addressing heightened tensions among parents and communities, and striving to maintain morale in difficult circumstances.

These shifting realities have transformed the nature of our work. Our team now spends substantial time assisting members with crisis response, media relations and managing conflict among stakeholders. Simply put, this team is operating in a new world with a redefined “normal.”

Types of support provided Beyond crisis management, ACSA’s Advocates help members address a wide range of professional challenges, including:

• Contract reviews.
• Parent/community complaints.
• Paid administrative leave.
• Reassignment, demotion, or termination.
• CTC issues.
• Supervisor conflicts.
• Sexual harassment.
• Settlement agreements.

It’s important to note that all services provided by ACSA staff are free to members. About 70 percent of support requests are resolved directly by the advocates. When legal assistance is needed, members may receive up to three levels of support from ACSA panel attorneys:

Level 1: ACSA covers up to two hours of attorney time at no cost to the member.

Level 2: If further assistance is needed, an Advocate may authorize up to $1,000 in additional legal fees. ACSA pays 60 percent, and the member covers 40 percent.

Level 3: For more complex cases, members may apply for additional support. Upon approval by the member support program director, ACSA may provide up to $4,000 more, covering 60 percent of the total, with the member responsible for the remaining balance.

Outreach and accessibility In addition to working with individual members, advocates regularly present at ACSA Academies and conferences. While the pandemic initially limited in-person events, virtual presentations have allowed us to reach even more members. These circumstances also pushed all administrators, including our team, to think creatively and build new skills.

We believe that “Leadership Matters” — and so does your ACSA membership. Our team is here to support you through whatever challenges you face. Visit acsa.org/legalsupport for more information.