Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators Volume 47 | Number 6 | September 5 , 2016
ACSA ’ s 20th year Every Student
Succeeding series continues on video at
Facebook , YouTube and www . acsa . org .
Lizeth Nance : Call answered for a good life
From the outside , you would never know the depths of pain Lizeth Nance has faced in her life .
“ I just try to stay positive ,” said Lizeth , a recent graduate of Ramona High School in Riverside and Region 19 Every Student Succeeding Award recipient . “ That ’ s the biggest component . I just try and see the good in everything . Even if I ’ m having a bad day , there ’ s something good that has to happen .”
It ’ s a mentality she adopted from an early age . In August 2000 , Lizeth ’ s mother was murdered in Memphis , Tenn . Lizeth was just 2 years old . Her father , Edgar Quintana-Ramos , was a suspect , but he was never charged with the crime .
Lizeth moved to Los Angeles with Quintana-Ramos , and in 2007 , she found her 1-year-old stepbrother dead in her father ’ s apartment . Court records reveal Quintana-Ramos pled guilty to willful
Not all students fit into a traditional education setting comfortably . That ’ s why continuation schools play a vital role in helping students discover a better life .
One of the best educators in this field is Jan Gordon , principal of Argus Continuation High School and Endeavor Alternative Center in Ceres Unified School District , a position she has held since 2008 . She moved into the position after serving the schools as an assistant principal and learning director . Now Gordon is ACSA ’ s 2016 Continuation / Educational Options Administrator of the Year .
Gordon said seeing students overcome the many challenges they face and earn their high school diplomas makes graduation the high point of every school year .
“ Our staff is committed to do whatever it takes to ensure our students achieve success ,” she said . “ We have seen a steady increase in graduation rates over the past
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Lizeth Nance has an exceptionally positive outlook on life that got her through tough times . She is now headed for a four-year university .
neglect of a child resulting in injury . He was deported to Mexico and Lizeth was placed in the foster care system .
“ I would spend a lot of time at court just sitting in the waiting room ,” Lizeth said . “ I didn ’ t know what was going on . I ’ d see my dad across the way and just cry because I didn ’ t know what was going on . I knew it was bad , but I didn ’ t know what was going on .”
Lizeth suffered more neglect as she bounced from foster home to foster home . In fact , she went through seven different homes before she met Madonna Nance .
“ I introduced myself to her ,” Nance said . “ She was the cutest little kid . She
See LIZETH , page 5
several years . In addition , our programs have had a significant impact in decreasing the dropout rates for Ceres Unified .”
Gordon said their instructional programs are aligned with the comprehensive
Legal team looks at CTC complaints
Among the inquiries handled by ACSA ’ s Member Assistance and Legal Support Team are those regarding employee complaints by school districts filed with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing as may be required by law .
Under the direction of Senior Director of Member Services Margarita Cuizon , the legal support team – John Almond , Sharon Dezutti , Bill Tschida , Joe Jones , Janet Morey , Rod Todd and Lloyd Wamhof – asked ACSA panel attorney Greg Rolen to respond to a series of questions to help ACSA members better understand the CTC process for alleged misconduct .
Question : What is the CTC and what do they do ?
Rolen : The CTC is a California agency responsible for licensing and credentialing educators .
Q : Who makes up the CTC investigative body ?
A : The CTC sends allegations of educator misconduct to the California Committee of Credentials , which is a seven-member disciplinary review board . The committee
See CTC , page 8
Ensuring the best educational options
Have you moved or changed jobs ?
sites , allowing easy transitions between schools .
Gordon
“ We maintain high expectations of our students , which have resulted in recognition and commendations of our academic programs during WASC accreditation visits ,” she said . “ Student attendance is the biggest challenge we face , and we are continuing to explore new and innovative ways to bring our students to school .”
Having achieved this statewide recognition , Gordon is not one to rest on her laurels . For one , she and her staff look forward to increasing student performance on CAASPP / SBAC tests .
“ As an alternative education site , we are developing curriculum and lessons to prepare our students to increase levels of achievements and compete with students at the comprehensive sites ,” Gordon said . “ We are also focusing on college and career opportunities . Ideally , we would like to form partnerships with local businesses to provide access and exposure for our students .”
During her time at Argus / Endeavor , Gordon has seen the implementation of reforms such as Common Core State Standards and the Local Control and Accountability Plan . She ’ s found these to be exciting challenges and said they have had a positive impact on her staff .
“ Our district tackled the new standards See GORDON , page 5
Help ACSA keep your records accurate . Update your contact information today by emailing memberservices @ acsa . org .
www . acsa . org | # ACSA
Award-winning educational columnist Margaret Lavin wrote the following article for EdCal in observance of Attendance Awareness Month .
Woody Allen famously quipped , “ 80 percent of life is showing up .” This is certainly true for schoolchildren . Showing up to school is one of the most important steps in assuring academic success at school and beyond .
I know as an educator and mom , there is no silver bullet to scholastic success . Learning is messy and complicated because it is a very personal endeavor , and we humans
End of session . The California legislative session came to an end at press time , and we know of at least one welcome outcome : The orientation mandate bill , AB 2835 , was relegated to the “ inactive file ” and is effectively dead at the end of a two-year session . Visit www . acsa . org / advocacy for the latest news on legislative priorities . The next session begins Dec . 5 , after the general election .
LGBT network . A major outcome for ACSA ’ s LGBTQ Leaders Network has been the development of a central source of information and communication hosted on the Region 13 website . It includes links to materials , news , events and the ability to join the e-mail network for instant information as it becomes available . Go to www . acsaregion13 . org ; click on the LGBTQ Network logo and browse what has been developed so far . Send suggestions for additional content or comments to network moderator Steve Bailey at sbvta @ roadrunner . com . .
WOSA reminder . Don ’ t forget that Week of the School Administrator is Oct . 10-14 . In addition , October is National Principals Month . To assist schools and districts in recognizing their own during this time , ACSA has developed a sample resolution , available online at www . acsa . org / wosa .
R-7 conference . ACSA Region 7 is hosting the second annual 2016 Fall Mini Conference , Sept . 28 at James C . Enochs High School in Modesto , starting at 4:30 p . m . Early registration for ACSA members , before Sept . 12 , is $ 10 . Non-members and registration after that is $ 15 . Join your colleagues for an evening filled with professional development opportunities , sharing ideas , networking and renewing your passion for education . Make checks payable to ACSA Region 7 and mail to Claudia Vicino , Empire Union School District , 116 N . McClure Road , Modesto , CA 95357 . For info email cvicino @ empire . k12 . ca . us .
ACSA credentialing . Sign-up for the fall cohort of ACSA ’ s Clear Administrative Services Credentialing Program runs through Sept . 30 . Visit www . acsa . org / programs for details .
Focus on attendance essential
are , well , messy and complicated . However , there are certain red flags that clearly show a child is on the wrong track . Missing school is one of the biggies .
It seems self-evident that kids who are at school the most get the most out of it . What ’ s surprising is the impact attendance has on all aspects of a well-rounded education . Kids with good attendance are more responsible and have better work habits . They also learn valuable social skills and develop a broader worldview .
The academic upside is also tremendous . Better student attendance is a statistically
See ATTENDANCE , page 2