Of all the resolutions you make, professional development can be the one you keep in 2020. ACSA’s workshops make it easy by focusing on in-demand topics in a one-day format offered in southern and northern California locations. With shorter time and travel commitments, work won’t pile up while you’re away gaining skills to be a more effective school leader in the new year. Workshops cater to district demand, both in topic and geographic area ­— ACSA can bring specific trainings to a district by request. “We’re constantly scanning to find out what people are most interested in and then partnering or developing workshops to address those needs,” said ACSA Senior Director of Educational Services Margaret Arthofer. One of the most in-demand — and most challenging — skills for middle and high schools is master scheduling. “On the most basic level, it tells every student and every teacher what they do and where they go every day during each class period,” said Dawnalyn Murakawa-Leopard, deputy superintendent of Manhattan Beach Unified School District, who teaches ACSA workshops on master scheduling. “On a deeper level, it’s often the primary way that schools can move their initiatives and reforms forward.” Murakawa-Leopard said assistant principals and counselors in charge of scheduling should consider this workshop, “but I love it when school teams come, including department chairs, principals, and district office folks,” she said.  She emphasized that there’s no prep work or homework, just lots of tools they can start applying right away. “We provide an overview and a road map, and participants get a chance to take a minute, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life on an active school campus, to think about how they will approach the process,” she said.

Find complete offerings and registration links at

acsa.org/workshops

. To request a workshop in your area, contact

Julia Cash

. Here are just a few of the skills you could be gaining by attending ACSA workshops: Co-administrators are deans, vice-principals and assistant principals who become the lifeblood of a school site. The focus of their day: acting and reacting to situations big and small. “A Day in the Life of a Co-Administrator” exposes co-administrators to proactive measures for utilization in the world of discipline, records, attendance, safety and more. Providing sample policies, procedures and unique strategies to all participants during this day-long workshop, attendees are armed with tools and techniques allowing them the opportunity to become more effective instructional leaders rather than firefighters. Jan. 28: Ontario Feb. 11: Sacramento There is a strong connection between student attendance and achievement — when students are not in school, whether for excused or unexcused absences, they lose out on the opportunity to learn. As such, chronic absenteeism must be addressed through the Local Control and Accountability Plan, and has been identified as an indicator for school success. “Building a Successful Attendance Plan: A Practitioner’s Approach” will provide day-to-day practical strategies and best practices in which school personnel can build a successful attendance improvement plan. Feb. 20: Woodland March 18: Ontario

The complexities of building today’s master schedule in both middle and high school can be overwhelming, especially if you have little or no master scheduling experience. This one-day workshop will provide the necessary basics, including: identification of essential “non-negotiable” components, realistic and necessary timelines, a step-by-step method for creating a schedule with course selection equity, and an opportunity to practice building a master schedule with real numbers. Jan. 30: Oxnard Jan. 31: San Jose Feb. 6: La Mesa “The Skillful Certificated Evaluator” will focus on meaningful certificated employee evaluations to build capacity and increase student achievement, due process documentation, and file-building. Learn to establish a common philosophy across the district regarding employee evaluation, provide feedback with quantitative and qualitative evidence, create systems that enhance the capacity of site supervisors to provide meaningful feedback, and much more. Feb. 26: Ontario April 1: Sacramento This training is designed to give participants an opportunity to explore their unconscious or implicit bias through a facilitated dialogue and activities. It is up to each participant to make connections from the training to their work assignment and to decide how to apply the learnings to their job/assignment. Learning about unconscious or implicit bias is just one part of becoming a culturally responsive educator. Our perceptions, assumptions, and expectations play a large role in student academic outcomes. Available on demand: Contact ACSA Senior Director of Equity and Inclusion Marguerite Williams, mwilliams@acsa.org, 916-329-3810. “The Human Resources Office: The First 90 Days and Beyond” is designed for administrators with HR responsibilities, classified managers and other support staff. Participants new to HR and those with years of experience will benefit from the comprehensive overview of the myriad tasks and responsibilities of the Human Resources office, as well as practical skills and best practices. The presentation will include a detailed calendar, standard procedures and an HR self-assessment tool. Feb. 25: Sacramento March 9: Ontario