ACSA Executive Director Bob Wells


Assistant Executive Director, Communications Julie White


Editor Susan Davis


Board of Directors President


Alice Petrossian


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Vice President Marc Ecker


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Leadership magazine (ISSN 1531-3174) is published bi-monthly in September/October, November/December, January/February, March/ April and May/June by the Asso ciation of Califor- nia School Admin istrators, 1575 Bayshore Hwy., Burlingame, CA 94010. (USPS 282-740) Annual subscription: $60, single copies; $12 (includes state tax). Subscriptions outside the U.S. add $20 ($80 total). Periodical postage paid at Burlingame, California and additional post offices. Articles and advertisements are the expressions of the author(s) and advertisers and are not statements of policy or endorsements of ACSA. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Leadership magazine, ACSA, 1575 Bayshore Hwy., Burlingame, CA 94010.


To our readers


Leadership matters for learning, especially during tough times


Dear Colleague: ACSA’s Leadership Matters campaign has shared the message that


school leadership is second only to teaching among school-related factors that impact student learning. Furthermore, there are no doc- umented instances of troubled schools being turned around without intervention by a powerful leader (Wallace Foundation, 2004).


Leadership Matters continues to be one of ACSA’s most successful grassroots initiatives to inform public opinion about school leader-


ship. Seldom do we have the opportunity to celebrate the successes of school administrators who provide leadership that makes a difference for students. In this issue of our magazine, ACSA takes a look at how school leaders are creating effective learning environments in these tough times.


Passing the torch With the number of new school administrators on the rise due to retirements, paying


attention to leadership transitions is important to maintaining forward momentum for stu- dent achievement. “The intricate web of staff interactions that are needed to support that momentum can be damaged without a new leader even realizing it,” writes Terry Wilhelm (page 8), who shares strategies for passing the torch.


Another highlight of this issue is the story told by three Latina superintendents – Car-


mella Franco, Maria Ott and Darline Robles – about the challenges and rewards behind their success (page 12). The authors, who have recently published a book, write: “We invite you to use our stories and the questions we pose to lead for equity so that opportunities and achievements increase for all students, especially for students who are underserved by pres- ent and past policies and practices.”


You can also read about a community-wide initiative to close the achievement gap in San


Jose by the year 2020, findings of a study on successful principals, effective charter school oversight, creating a positive school climate, streamlining the hiring process, and more.


It is important to take the time to share and celebrate successes and let it be known that


Leadership Does Matter. Author Anthony Frascone (page 34) put it beautifully when he re- minds us how important it is to continue to learn and share practices and new strategies. By doing so, he says, it reminds us “that we are a part of something greater than ourselves – the future that we in education have a hand in developing.”


Sincerely,


Alice Petrossian ACSA President


November/December 2011 7


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