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.”
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 […]
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.
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.
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.
David Brooks on Nurturing Hearts and Minds and Not ‘Brains on a Stick’
Walking out onto stage Thursday night for his keynote speech at the 1st General Session of the AASA national conference in San Diego, it was easy to see David Brooks, the acclaimed New York Times op-ed columnist, book author and public television pundit. There he was on stage, the recognizable clean-cut man with thinning, gray […]
AASA President Uses Painful Episode to Call for Greater Attention to Equity in Schooling
In her presidential address at the conference’s 1st General Session on Thursday, Deborah Kerr used a painful experience from the past year in her Wisconsin school community to deliver an important point about equity.
Top Pollster Examines Political Landscape Through Education at AASA’s Federal Relations Luncheon
Political enthusiasm is nearly at an all-time high heading into the 2020 election – but Americans are increasingly divided on many issues, including the state of K-12 public education.