Classified staff are essential to the success of schools.

While they aren’t in the classroom physically, their contributions to student learning are felt immensely — from the safe, clean facilities where students learn and play to the nutritious food that fuels their days.

ACSA remains committed to supporting classified staff in their crucial roles through the annual Classified Educational Leaders Institute, which will be held Feb. 18-20 in Burlingame.

Conference planning committee chair Antonio Romayor, who also heads ACSA’s Council of Classified Leaders, emphasized that classified leaders are well represented in the association.

“We want attendees to know that ACSA is a professional association for classified staff,” he said. “We want attendees to feel that they belong to a premier community that is advocating for their interests and concerns.”

As the only statewide professional development conference specifically designed for classified school leaders, attendees will be able to strengthen their professional networks with peers in a number of classified fields.

“The annual CEL Institute is an opportunity for new and seasoned classified members to come together to learn about the latest technologies and build stronger relationships through job-alike sessions,” Romayor said. “And also taking time to focus on themselves — how they can manage their stress by learning new skills, focusing on physical and mental wellness, and joy founded in inspiration.”

The institute is designed for administrators in several essential areas of school leadership, including:

• Business/fiscal services.
• Human resources/personnel.
• Maintenance/operations/custodial.
• Information technology.
• Facilities.
• Nutrition.
• Transportation.
• Administrative assistants.

Anyone interested in attending the conference should grab their spot early. The 2025 CEL Institute broke attendance records — a trend Romayor said has continued for the past few years.

“The CEL Council believes this is a result of the program format, content, and the commitment from classified employees to continual improvement,” he said. Session topics will focus on the latest information for classified leaders, including artificial intelligence, using data, labor relationships, leadership, mental health/self-care, PRA requests, time management, declining enrollment and more.

Romayor said classified leaders will not want to miss this opportunity.

“We have some surprises in store, that’s for sure,” Romayor said. “It’s also important to focus on the core needs of the members — sessions on how attendees can continue helping their LEAs, while thriving and growing themselves.”