More than 250 leaders gathered in San Diego on Jan. 15-16 for the Negotiators’ Symposium — ACSA’s conference that brings negotiation teams together to share best practices and develop cohesive strategies tailored to their district’s unique needs.

Attendees heard from legal partners, school leaders and ACSA staff on negotiating trends and new laws impacting labor relations. They also heard keynote presentations from Anthony De Marco at AALRR and John Gray with School Services, Inc.

This year marked the return of the symposium as a standalone conference after two years of being combined with personnel content at the Personnel & Negotiations Symposium.

During the conference, ACSA also honored its Negotiator of the Year — Dr. Collyn Nielsen, deputy superintendent of human resources at William S. Hart Union High School District. In just three years, Nielsen has transformed the culture of labor relations in the William S. Hart Union High School District, replacing years of delay and division with trust, cooperation, and timely resolution. His fairness and diplomacy have earned him universal respect from both classified and certificated bargaining units as well as from district leadership.

The 2024–25 school year brought unprecedented challenges: uncertain fiscal conditions, declining enrollment, and a lower unduplicated student population that limited state funding through the equity multiplier. At the same time, the district faced sweeping leadership transitions. Amidst this instability, Nielsen provided calm, continuity, and conviction.

Nielsen’s leadership embodies the theme of this year’s symposium: “Building Bridges Through Negotiations: Shaping Tomorrow Together.”

“Honoring Dr. Nielsen is to celebrate a leader who has built bridges where barriers once stood. He is a leader who embodies the idea that the accurate measure of administrative excellence lies in what and how it is achieved,” said Carolyn Hoffman, chief administrative officer, Educational Services and Student Learning with William S. Hart Union High School District, in her nomination. “His legacy will continue to shape our district where collaboration thrives, staff feel valued, and students benefit from the strength of the community he helped build.”