Let’s resolve to strengthen relationships in 2026
From the Executive Director, Dr. Edgar Zazueta
January 12, 2026
Our world looks different today than it did 12 months ago. Our schools are different. Our programs are different. Most importantly, our students are different. With so much change in such a short period of time, it is not lost on me that educators are carrying an increasingly heavy burden.
As we begin 2026, I find myself asking how all of you will continue to navigate another year of rapid change, especially the kind that directly impacts the students we serve and the communities we lead. How do we continue to deliver on our promise of a first-class education in an environment that feels more complex by the day?
The more I reflect, the clearer the answer becomes. We need each other.
We concluded our ACSA Leadership Summit in November with the theme “Lead Loudly: Sharing Stories. Building Bridges.” This message deeply reflects the leadership of ACSA President Dr. Daryl Camp, whose work in San Lorenzo USD has centered on building meaningful connections across his school community.
At the Summit, Dr. Camp reminded us that meeting today’s challenges requires more than technical solutions. It requires intention and openness.
When we intentionally connect with educators outside our immediate circles, we expand our thinking and strengthen our collective impact.
“We all have unique values, beliefs and experiences that represent our culture,” he said. “These are the building blocks that define who we are as people, as family members and as educators.”
There is a profound commonality that unites us. Students come first. One of the most powerful ways to keep students at the center of our work is by prioritizing one another as colleagues. When we intentionally connect with educators outside our immediate circles, we expand our thinking and strengthen our collective impact.
So much of our professional dialogue focuses on strategies, frameworks and tools. All of these matter. But meaningful collaboration starts with something far more human: trust. It begins with a willingness to be open, to share honestly, and to listen without
defensiveness. When we engage each other with vulnerability and respect, we break down barriers that too often isolate us.
When we take time to understand the perspectives and lived experiences of our colleagues, we build more than professional networks. We build authentic relationships. Those relationships are what sustain us through difficult moments and amplify our successes.
As we move into the new year, I encourage each of you to recommit to collaboration and connection. Reach out to a colleague. Share what you are learning. Ask for support. Offer it freely. Together, we are better equipped to solve the challenges before us and to create the conditions our students deserve. Because at the end of the day, the strength of our schools is rooted in the strength of our relationships.