School is back in session and so are ACSA’s professional development programs.

Here are just three opportunities coming up in September, but the New Superintendents Seminar Series and several Academies also begin next month (see High 5).

Take a moment to review these offerings for yourself or spread the word to your colleagues about ACSA’s top-notch PD programs.

California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber will keynote ACSA’s Sisterhood Leadership Symposium, which will be held in-person Sept. 24-25 in Alhambra.

The Sisterhood Leadership Symposium is an inclusive space that brings together women in the education profession, women in leadership positions and women leaders seeking to advance their career for a one-day event focusing on leadership, diversity and empowerment.

Guided by the theme “R3: Re-Imagining, Re-Inventing, Re-Designing through Resilient Female Leadership,” this event is co-sponsored by ACSA, California Association of African-American Superintendents & Administrators, California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators, and California Association of Asian Pacific Islander Leaders in Education.

Presenter topics include fearless leadership, breaking the “bamboo ceiling,” building team capacity, recognizing privilege, and building a positive female support model to transform education.

The symposium will close with a panel of male and female leaders that support and mentor women in leadership roles. The panel will be moderated by Michele Bowers, Superintendent of Lancaster School District, and will feature:

In May, event organizers held a special virtual “check-in” event that opened with a keynote from Bowers.

“Dr. Bowers kept it real. She was so warm and authentic and I felt welcomed from the first moment I entered into this space,” wrote one attendee at the virtual check-in. Attendees of that event said they appreciated the story sharing and camaraderie — attributes that will carry over into the live, in-person event in September.

As one attendee put it: “I am so grateful for the opportunity to intentionally connect with other female educators!”

Registration is $139 for members of the sponsoring associations. Don’t miss the Paint & Dinner night on Sept. 24 ($30 tickets). Find more information on speakers and hotel block rates at bit.ly/ACSAsisterhood2021.

Having trouble keeping up with all the human resources changes this year? ACSA’s Personnel Institute will help leaders from the world of HR stay on top of the ever-changing rules and regulations that affect school employers.

This in-person event to be held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Long Beach will give human resources leaders an opportunity to discuss topics such as remote work, diversity in recruiting, managing morale, labor relations, evaluation best practices and more.

Attendees will also get up-to-date information on laws and regulations pertaining to personnel, with expert guidance from attorneys and veteran human resources leaders.

“One of the challenges of being a school administrator is keeping up with the constant changes related to personnel. It is not enough to just respond to those changes after they happen. We must be able to anticipate and prepare for changes in order to keep our districts running smoothly,” said Nicole Glentzer, assistant superintendent, HR in Ukiah USD and co-chair of this year’s planning committee. “Attending the Personnel Institute is the best way I have found to stay abreast of new legislation and trends in personnel so that I can help my district respond appropriately.”

Registration for ACSA members is $549 for all three days; one-day rates available for $299. Find more information and register now at bit.ly/personnelinstitute2021.

Know anyone who needs to clear an administrative credential? ACSA does that! ACSA’s Clear Administrative Credential Program is the platinum standard among California induction programs and is the longest running coaching-based Clear Administrative Services Credential program in the state. Through targeted coaching and timely and ongoing professional development, program participants build capacity to develop positive and collaborative school cultures. ACSA’s program is designed to support and accelerate school leader practice to positively impact student learning.

The new Clear Induction Standards and California Commission on Teacher Credentialing-approved programs that align with them are the only way to clear the Administrative Services Credential. As part of the new standards, all new administrators must enroll in a two-year CTC-approved clear induction program within one year of the first day on the job. Candidates who come to ACSA know they will get exactly what they need.

Make sure new administrators know about ACSA’s Clear Administrative Credential Program. Visit acsa.org/credentialing for more information, including how to apply. Deadline for the Fall Cohort is Sept. 15, 2021.