A word from our President - Dr. Roxane Fuentes
Dear ACSA Region 8,
As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering dedication, leadership, and commitment to the success of our students and school communities across Santa Clara County. The work you do—often behind the scenes—is truly inspiring, and your impact is felt every day in the classrooms, hallways, and beyond.
This time of year offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made together thus far. Thank you to our team members that helped coordinate a beautiful Women's Leadership Network evening featuring Dr. Jennie Weiner, author of Education LeadHERship: Advancing Women in K12 Education. Her supportive message and humbling spirit was inspirational. We are also so appreciative to everyone who joined our Fall Leadership Forum at Il Fornaio in Downtown San Jose. It was a great evening dialoguing with Jamie Nunez from Common Sense Media on the impact of AI in our student lives. Finally, what an amazing Region 8 turnout at this year’s ACSA Leadership Summit in San Diego. I hope you each had a meaningful learning experience and some networking fun! All of these networking opportunities could not happen without our incredible Region 8 members. Your hard work and passion for education is strong and continues to make a lasting difference, and for that, we are all grateful. I am so proud of our region’s work and our collective leadership.
On behalf of the ACSA Region 8 Executive Board, we wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season, filled with rest, rejuvenation, and time spent with loved ones. May the new year bring continued success, growth, and inspiration for you and your school and district communities.
Thank you for everything you do. Here's to a bright and impactful 2025!
Warm regards,
Dr. Roxane Fuentes
ACSA Region 8 President
Region 8 Exec Director, Dr. Eric Andrew shares a story: The Box - Molly Grisham
Here is an article by author and lecturer Molly Grisham. Molly has a blog called 'Light Bulb Moments' that I follow. Please take the time to read the entire article. It's worth it! Have a Merry Holiday Season and Be Efficacious!
Eric
From The Box
I had been at the beach for a few hours when it hit me: I was hungry. Scratch that—I was on the verge of being hangry. The kind of hunger that shortens my patience.
The problem? I had checked into my Airbnb the night before and hadn’t been to the grocery store yet. I packed up my stuff, quickly walked to my home for the week, and headed to the nearest grocery store. Thankfully, I had created my shopping list on the airplane, so I knew this would be a quick trip. Or so I thought. Once inside, I moved through the store and filled my cart with only the essentials on my list. As I approached the checkout area, I looked at the length of each line. I was determined to pick the shortest line. Line #9 had just one customer. Perfect.
The family in front of me—a blond-haired, blue-eyed group of four—was speaking a language I couldn’t quite place. As I began loading my items onto the conveyor belt, I heard the cashier ask them, “Where are you from?”
The dad paused, gathering each word before answering with intentionality: “We. Are. Dutch.” Each word carried the weight of careful consideration. I smiled, recognizing that familiar struggle to piece together sentences in a foreign language. As a world traveler, I’d been in his shoes many times.
The cashier, a warm, jovial man with a thick Jamaican accent, smiled and said, “I am Jamaican!” His voice was full of joy.
The checkout process was moving along smoothly until the cashier scanned a can of beer, and the register emitted an audible error code. He tried a second time. Then a third. Same result. Turning to the father, he asked, “Where did you get this?”
The man paused and replied slowly, “From. The. Box.”
The cashier was confused and asked, “From where?”
The Dutchman pointed toward the alcohol section, repeating patiently, “From. The. Box.”
My sense of hurry, hunger, and hangry-ness took a back seat to my curiosity. I had a pretty good idea of what had happened: they’d opened a case of beer and taken only the seven cans they wanted.
The manager arrived and was briefed on the situation at hand. I noticed her lips were pursed in an effort not to laugh. I avoided eye contact with her, knowing that my smile would have us both laughing. The situation was, quite frankly, very humorous. The manager headed to the alcohol section and returned a moment later with a large, half-ripped, half-empty case of beer. “Here in the States,” she explained gently, “you have to buy the entire box.” The family’s eyes widened. It was clear this concept was new to them.
After a few seconds, the Dutch father nodded, threw his hands up in the air, and said, “No problem.”
The cashier laughed and replied. “No problem.”
The manager nodded and grinned.
It was a simple but profound moment. Here we were—a group of strangers from entirely different backgrounds, speaking different languages, navigating unfamiliar norms—and yet, everything was “no problem.”
As I left the store, the moment played on repeat in my mind. I was touched by the grace of it all—the way strangers from such different worlds can find a way to communicate, adapt, and move forward with kindness and understanding.
It made me wonder: What if we all embraced a “no problem” mindset as we move into 2025? What if we approached the unfamiliar, the inconvenient, and even the mildly frustrating with the same spirit I witnessed in that store?
Of course, there are moments when “no problem” is the wrong response. If someone’s human rights or dignity are being challenged, that is a problem—one worth addressing head-on.
But what about the everyday moments? The grocery store mix-ups, fighting for a parking spot, the plans that don’t go quite as expected? What if, instead of getting frustrated, we paused, smiled, and chose grace over anger?
To the Dutch family, the cashier, and the manager: thank you for the gift of that moment. You reminded me that connection is still possible in a world often divided by conflict and hate.
Let’s carry that mindset forward. Let’s meet the new year with open minds, open hearts, and the willingness to say, “No problem,” even when we’re hungry—or on the verge of being hangry.
24-25 Award Nominations are OPEN!
We are offering Charters an incentive for every nomination submitted. Your Charter will receive $100 for each nomination up to 5 nominations. That’s $500! Wow! Don’t miss out!
Don’t delay — nominate your colleagues for ACSA Awards today! The deadline is Jan. 16. www.acsa.org/awards
Here are several links to help you.
If you have any questions email Joell jhanson@metroed.net or Maurissa at mkoide@musd.org. We are eager to help!
A word of gratitude from Ferd. Kiesel Service Award winner, Region 8’s own George Manthey
It was an incredible honor to have been nominated by Region 8 for the Ferd. Kiesel Service Award. To receive the award at the ACSA Summit in San Diego and have the Region 8 attendees seated right next to my table was “icing on the cake.” It’s been awhile since I was active in Region 8 events and activities, but my leadership role in the region was another highlight of my career. I still remember my first administrator meeting after being hired as a principal and my superintendent telling me that one of my responsibilities would be to be the district representative to the West Valley Charter. He then handed me an ACSA Membership Application adding, “And that means you’ll need to join ACSA.” That didn’t make it much of a choice, but joining ACSA was one of the best decisions I have made.
If you’ve been with me in a coaching workshop you’ll know that I can never not quote the poet Denise Levertov as she wrote about vision.
[Leadership] sets out,
journeying somewhere,
walking the dreamwaters:
arrives not on the far shore but upriver,
a place discovered, not evoked.
I am so lucky that the place I discovered was right here in Region 8.
Many thanks,
George
A note from the editor: The Ferd. Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor ACSA can present to an individual. The award is made in the memory of Ferd. Kiesel, ACSA’s founding president.
Membership Update - David Putney - VP of Membership
Seasons Greetings Region 8 Colleagues,
With the holiday season in full swing it's a great time to take a few minutes to appreciate the beauty of our professional network. We are so fortunate to be a part of ACSA Region 8 as our community of professionals is second to none! I am impressed and appreciative of all of you for your dedication, equity based leadership, and supporting your community.
This spring we will be hosting a ACSA Region 8 networking and social event on Friday, March 28th. You will receive an invitation and link to register. This is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from across our region and to bring folks who are interested in getting invoiced in ACSA. These events are wonderful opportunities, so don’t miss your chance to connect , network and meet new friends.
So far we have added 9 new members to our region! Great job. Our goal this year is to increase our membership by 5%. We are on our way and need only 32 more to reach our goal! We Can Do This!!!
Here are a few Membership Resources to help you:
To update your profile or renew your membership? Please contact Member Services @ 800-608-2272 ormemberservices@acsa.org If you have Region 8 Membership questions, please feel free to contact me @ dputney@sccoe.org
Thanks so much for your continued participation in ACSA Region 8 and for all you do on behalf of our students and community. We Are Better Together!
Legislative Action Day 2025!
Consider being a part of the 2025 Legislative Action day on March 17-18, 2025. Each year, approximately 400 education leaders throughout the state bring their regional teams to Sacramento to advocate for California’s 6.1 million students. ACSA staff, along with experts in the field, will provide members with briefings and guidance on current issues in education as well as offer the tools to directly lobby the legislature. Join us to hear our legislative priorities and advocate for leadership, equity, support and investment on behalf of California’s students and educators. No experience is necessary! We’ll ease you into the process so that everyone has an opportunity to comfortably participate. If you have any questions, please Heather Wellendorf at hwellendorf@campbellusd.org
ACSA is a valuable resource for HR Professionals - Lena Bundtzen - HR Council
In today’s education sector, Human Resources (HR) plays a pivotal role in shaping the culture and success of schools. As educational environments become more diverse and dynamic, HR professionals must adapt to changing demands by not only managing recruitment and retention but also supporting staff development, well-being, and inclusion. This year, ACSA has been an invaluable resource to HR professionals, offering programs and tools to help navigate these challenges. From providing tailored professional development opportunities to offering wellness initiatives, ACSA has been committed to ensuring HR teams are equipped to foster strong, supportive school environments.
Attracting and retaining qualified staff remains a key priority for HR departments in education. ACSA has supported HR professionals with workshops focused on inclusive hiring practices, helping districts recruit a more diverse workforce that reflects the student population. In addition, ACSA’s Leadership Development Programs have equipped HR teams with strategies for improving retention and creating career growth opportunities for educators. By focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruitment and retention efforts, HR professionals can build stronger, more resilient teams that are aligned with the school’s mission.
As the well-being of educators becomes increasingly important, HR departments are taking proactive steps to prevent burnout and support staff mental health. ACSA has offered valuable resources, such as its Employee Wellness Toolkit, to help HR professionals implement wellness programs that include counseling services, stress-relief workshops, and flexible scheduling options. These efforts are vital to ensuring that educators not only thrive in their roles but are also empowered to support the mental health and success of their students. ACSA’s advocacy for wellness policies further supports HR professionals in fostering environments where both staff and students can flourish. As we look ahead, ACSA will continue to be a key partner in supporting HR professionals in building inclusive, innovative, and supportive school communities that ensure every student and educator can succeed.
On a personal note, it has been a true pleasure to serve Region 8 for the last 14 years. After 34 years in education, I will be retiring effective January 24, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and relationships I have built during my time with Region 8. I’m excited to announce that Dr. Paul Winslow from Gilroy Unified will be taking over as the new HR Council Representative. Paul is a friend, colleague, and a highly skilled professional who will continue to serve Region 8 with passion and dedication. Thank you for the privilege of working alongside such a remarkable Region!
Legislative Policy Committee
Greetings ACSA Region 8 members! We would like to introduce ourselves to you as we need your insights and experience so that we can serve effectively in our roles on ACSA’s Legislative Policy Committee -- Cheryl Jordan is the LPC Chair and Dr. Anisha Munshi is the R8 Representative on the LPC. Here are our LPC meeting dates for the year, they are set around the legislative calendar:
March 3, 2025
April 7, 2025
May 5, 2025
June 2, 2025
Just prior to these meetings, we will receive from our ACSA legislative advocates team the CA bill agenda that we will be discussing, and we would like to have your thoughts and concerns particularly on those that have potential impact in your area of expertise. Due to the nature of the Legislature’s schedule, we often will only have 2-3 days to review the bills. This is why we are asking that you flag the week prior to each LPC bill review date to remind you that we will be sending a google form to gather input from our ACSA R8. We look forward to carrying your VOICE in our work on the ACSA LPC this year!
Alum Rock Administrator Association - Alecia Kelly, President
The Alum Rock Administrators Association (ARAA), a proud charter of ACSA Region 8, has been making significant strides this year with a strong focus on growth, representation, and support for its members. In a time of change and challenge, ARAA continues to serve as a pillar of leadership and advocacy for our school administrators.
Key Accomplishments This Year
Increasing Membership
ARAA set an ambitious goal to increase membership by 10% this year, and we are proud to announce we’ve achieved that milestone with six new members! This growth reflects the collective commitment to strengthening our professional network and amplifying our voice within the district.Enhanced Collective Representation
Through our Meet & Confer process with the Superintendent, ARAA has elevated the number and depth of topics discussed. Utilizing our Meet & Confer input form and distributing a monthly Meet & Confer Report, we’ve ensured transparent communication with all members. This process empowered school site leaders to pose critical questions to the new Superintendent, particularly regarding the district’s school closures, consolidations, and redesign plans.Development of a Management Handbook
ARAA is working on a comprehensive Management Handbook to provide clear guidance on responsibilities and operational agreements for all members. While still in draft form, this project is steadily progressing, acknowledging the transitional nature of this school year.
Gilroy Charter - Velia Codiga, President
Greetings from the Board Members of the Gilroy Charter: Velia Codiga, Lee Anne Vallejos, Lovedeep Sahota, and Jason Franks. We’re excited to announce that we are back in action! Currently, we are hard at work developing our charter plan, which includes a variety of events and activities designed to achieve our board goals. Stay tuned for more updates about our charter. Wishing you a joyful and safe holiday season!
County Office Charter - Ana Reyes, President
The COEAA Charter is excited to have gotten our charter revitalized. We have added 4 new members since November and 1 reinstated member. We are excited to host a Happy Hour in February for our members as well as bring back the annual Chili Cook-Off in March!
