ACSA members represented California at the recent NASSP Region 7 Fall Conference, held Sept. 20-22 in Park City, Utah.

For the past 10 years, the conference has been facilitated by the California Middle Grade and Secondary Grade Council NASSP Liaison Derrick Lawson.

This year’s delegation consisted of:

• Derrick Lawson (Region 19) ASCA NASSP liaison;
• Bill W. Sanderson, Middle Grades and Secondary Education Council executive representing ACSA’s executive director; and
• Mary Gomes, retiring Middle Grades and Secondary Education Council executive representing ACSA’s executive director.

Each year the fall conference features structured networking activities, state presentations and professional development all designed to enable council officers and state executives from nine western states to provide the latest in support for their site leaders in the areas of focus.

The conference focus for this year was for each state to present and share resources and actions surrounding two critical issues in education:

1. Strengthening and supporting the principalship across the states: Attendees discussed connecting administrators with leadership networks focused on collaboration and co-creation, support for aspiring leader development, models of statewide mentorship program for principals in their first through third year, supporting principal internships in Washington, and more.

Following the sharing of state resources and information, Jennifer Silva, director of External Relations with NASSP, provided updates on Congress, administration and NAEP and introduced the new Advocacy toolkits.

A special presentations was given by Dr. David Boren, associate professor, BYU, on “Transformational Leader Learning: Developing Principals’ Heads, Hands, and Hearts.”

The event wrapped up with messages of encouragement and appreciation from NASSP Executive Director Ronn Nozoe and Utah State Coordinator Peter Glahn, both making an outstanding case for why every school leader needs to maintain self care and balance as they empower and shape the next generation by providing the best learning and growth opportunities on every campus.