AASA Cohort Graduates Get a Warm Sendoff at Conference Reception
At a Thursday evening graduation ceremony at the 2020 AASA National Conference on Education, the cohorts of four professional training programs received honors and congratulations. It was a moment to pass the baton from former superintendents to the next generation of leaders. Several former superintendents shared advice about tackling the demands of the superintendency and […]
Superintendent Panel Plugs Expansion of Valued Coding Skills in the Curriculum for Students of All Ages
Skip the expected conference introductions and go head-on with a BootUpPD video. In the “Computer Science for All” session on Thursday, that was exactly the case. While the audience watched the video on the BootUpPD website, four presenters — Russ Adams, superintendent of MOC Floyd Valley Community School District in Orange County, Iowa; Ember Conley, […]
Eugene’s Balderas, a Migrant Laborer as a Youth, Named Nation’s Top Superintendent for 2020
A 52-year-old educator who spent his formative years as a migrant laborer with his Mexican parents in the Pacific Northwest has been named the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year in an announcement Thursday (Feb. 13) at the AASA national conference in San Diego, Calif.
Is Your District Going Green? Virginia Beach Leaders Offer Tips to Conference Attendees
If school districts want to make sustainability a priority for their students, staff and community, they have to do more than just talk about it. They must change their culture, according to administrators of Virginia Beach City Public Schools in Virginia. “When you talk about environmental practices, you’re going to have eyes on you and […]
Profile of Gustavo Balderas: From Humble Beginnings to a Professional Pinnacle
Gustavo Balderas, superintendent of Eugene Public School District 4J in western Oregon, is not about to get caught up in the “pobrecito syndrome.” That’s the term he uses to describe the “feel-sorry-for-him-or-her” syndrome. “Kids just want to learn, and you need to have high expectations for all kids,” Balderas says. “You need to love them to death, but we need to have a high bar.”
Video: Gustavo Balderas on His ‘Humbling Honor’ as 2020’s Top Superintendent (2:51)
In this short video (2:51), Gustavo Balderas, superintendent of Eugene School District 4J in Eugene, Ore., delivered remarks upon accepting the 2020 AASA National Superintendent of the Year award at the AASA conference’s 1st General Session in San Diego on Feb. 13. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.
Strategies Shared by Duo for Reducing Absenteeism in Schools
Three superintendents are called up to the front of the AASA conference session. Hedy Chang, the executive director of Attendance Works, informs them that they have become 5 year olds, then tells a story of how certain setbacks, including poor resources and lack of consistent transportation, leads the trio to chronic absences, costing them months […]
Odds and Ends About Gustavo Balderas
A collection of short takes on what defines Gustavo Balderas of Eugene, Ore., newly named National Superintendent of the Year for 2020.
Trio to be Recognized with Horace Mann League’s 2020 Honors
The Horace Mann League will recognize three outstanding individuals who have contributed to the success of quality public education at its 98th annual meeting on Friday in San Diego.
Superintendents Point to Social Media’s Merit for Engaging Their School Communities
Don’t let the lengthy session title fool you. The case for a school district’s presence on social media can be summed up in a tweet: engage.