OCHO

Dear Region 8 Leaders,

I extend my warmest wishes for a joyous and restful holiday season. May this time be filled with opportunities to disconnect, recharge, and build cherished memories with those who are special to you. As 2025 draws to a close, let us reflect and take immense pride in our collective successes. Just as importantly, let's recognize that our commitment to growth this year has powerfully set the stage for future achievements across Region 8.

On that note of achievement, I would like to formally recognize and congratulate our outstanding leaders who were honored at the ACSA Leadership Summit Awards Dinner in early November. It was an honor to witness the acknowledgment of the dedication, hard work, and value these awardees bring to public education, specifically within Region 8. Their commitment serves as an inspiration to us all.

Please join me in celebrating our distinguished State ACSA Winners:

• Dr. Joann Vaars: Central Office Administrator of the Year

• Clifford E. Tyler: Region 8 Retired Administrator of the Year

• Juan Cruz: Valuing Diversity Award

  
  

Congratulations again to these exceptional leaders!

I look forward to supporting your continued success in the coming year. Please remember the importance of balancing our professional goals with the moments that truly matter personally.

Happy Holidays,

Lisa Katimbang President, ACSA Region 8

Listen Deeply. Act Intentionally. Lead Boldly.

Dear Region 8 Leaders-

As you look forward to a well deserved holiday break and we transition toward the New Year, I hope you find time for well-deserved rest and reflection. The past year demanded extraordinary resilience, creativity, and dedication from every administrator in Santa Clara County. In that spirit, it’s an excellent time to revisit our Region’s shared theme for this school year: “Listen Deeply. Act Intentionally. Lead Boldly” as we continue to support each other in our work for the benefit of the students and families of our schools and districts.

I am excited to re-introduce myself in my new role as ACSA Region 8 Executive Director. Having served as an administrator in Santa Clara County for 29 years across three districts and as a dedicated ACSA member, I deeply understand and want to honor your tireless commitment to our students and families.

As we enter 2026, I am dedicated to ensuring our Region provides the timely resources, robust advocacy, and professional networking opportunities you need to continue your vital leadership. Please don't hesitate to email (michael@reflect-forward.com) with any questions or ideas. I look forward to supporting you in the New Year!

—Michael Gallagher, Ed.D.

The ACSA Award Nomination due date is Thursday, January 22, 11:59 pm.

Nominate your colleagues! Recognize deserving administrators and fellow ACSA members for their contributions to the profession and dedication to students by nominating them for one of ACSA’s Awards. These include the Administrator of the Year Awards in 22 job-alike categories, the Valuing Diversity Award and the Marcus Foster Memorial Award. Find complete information on the program and nomination process at www.acsa.org/awards.

The nomination window for the 2026 ACSA Awards Program is now open. Nominate deserving colleagues and students for the Administrator of the Year Awards and Every Student Succeeding. Start your nomination now to give yourself plenty of time before the Jan. 22 deadline. Learn more at www.acsa.org/awards.

Honor the achievements of California pre-K to adult education students who have succeeded against all odds and beyond all expectations. Nominations should be submitted to Maurissa Koide mkoide@musd.org and Vanessa Espitia vespitia@musd.org by February 13. Learn more at www.acsa.org/ess.

Here are several links to help you:

• ACSA Awards Program

• Everything you need to know

• Award Nomination Tips

• Dos and Don’ts for Successful Nominations

• Video on How to submit on the online platform

• Sample Nomination Forms

If you have any questions email Vanessa vespitia@musd.org or Maurissa at mkoide@musd.org. We are eager to help everyone!

In partnership with Regions 5 and 6, we are proud to host this powerful symposium focused on advancing equity-driven leadership and systemic transformation.

📅 March 28, 2026 - Save the Date!
🕔 8:30AM–3:30 PM
📍 Location: TBA

The Women's Leadership Network for Region 8 recently convened a powerful and inspiring session at the beautiful Coyote Creek Golf Club. We were honored to welcome the dynamic Rosanna Alvarez, who led our women leaders and allies in a vital conversation focused on empowerment, purpose, and renewal.

Rosanna Alvarez is a writer and artist who lives poetically, while sharing her life lessons as a consultant, facilitator, and educator throughout the Bay Area. She is committed to social justice, community, cultural excellence, and equity.

The session inspired attendees to embrace authentic leadership, prioritize self-care as a non-negotiable strategy, and build a support network essential for sustained impact. It was a rejuvenating opportunity to connect, grow, and leave with tools to lead with greater confidence and well-being.

The event was also a wonderful chance for members to grow in their personal and professional development, while connecting with colleagues from across the region. We look forward to continuing our connections and the next Women’s Leadership event in the Spring!

The Executive Board approved its 2025–26 school year budget at its meeting on August 18.

Region 8 began the 2025–26 fiscal year with a balance of $156,731 in its checking account and $76,575 in its savings account.

From July through September, the region generated a total income of $29,996. This amount primarily came from ACSA State-level rebates, vendor sponsorships, and miscellaneous income related to the prior year’s awards event.

During the same period, total expenditures amounted to $29,107, mainly covering the Leadership Retreat and the Fall Leadership Forum.

As of the end of September, the checking account balance stands at $157,618, and the savings account holds $76,576, for a combined total of $234,195.

Congratulations to Dr. Cliff Tyler! At the ACSA Conference in San Francisco, Cliff was honored for all his exceptional work as an administrator. He received the state ACSA Award for the Retired Administrator of the year.

At our November General Membership Meeting and Luncheon, the Retiree Charter welcomed William McGee, Deputy Superintendent of Public Educastion, as our keynote speaker. We learned more about the BEST Branch (Building Educational Success Together) and how California prepares students to live, work, and thrive in the world. Learning never ends!

Our next General Membership Meeting will be on February 10, 2026 at the Sobracto Center. We will dive deeper into AI. Our guest speaker will be Martin Cisneros, Education Evangelist at Adobe. He will share his views on unlocking the power of AI Creativity in Education. Join us if you can.

Re: Retiree Charter Membership ... if you or an administrator in your district plans to retire in the coming year, please let them know about our Retiree Charter and to connect with me.

Alicia Padilla

President, ACSA Region 8 Retiree Charter, alipad10@comcast.net

OGMA members played a vital role this October in advancing our district’s commitment to cultural inclusion. Their dedication made it possible for nearly 1,000 students to engage in meaningful Hispanic Latinx Recognition activities that highlighted heritage, leadership, and community strength. In a historic first for our district, we also celebrated Filipino American History Month by welcoming Filipino families, staff, and community leaders to share in the experience. Their involvement was not only powerful—it was personal, especially for students who saw their identities celebrated in new ways.

October is a deeply meaningful month for the Filipino American community, honoring the landing of the first Filipinos in the continental U.S. in 1587. Recognizing this history helps ensure the rich legacy, resilience, and contributions of Filipino Americans are acknowledged and valued in our learning environments. These events are more than commemorations—they are affirmations of our belief that diversity is a strength, and inclusion is a promise. We are proud of these intentional efforts and will continue to work together to create spaces where all students feel a sense of pride, connection, and belonging.

The Campbell ACSA Charter recently hosted a successful Wine Tasting Happy Hour at Tessarossa, treating members to a selection of delicious wines and engaging conversation. This relaxed and enjoyable social gathering offered a wonderful opportunity for the charter's members to connect. Looking ahead, the charter is eagerly anticipating its upcoming Winter Retreat, where members plan to celebrate and unwind with fun, competitive Minute to Win It-style games.

Ensure your new administrators receive the support they need while meeting the Clear Administrative Services Credential requirement. ACSA’s Clear Administrative Credential Program provides a proven, two-year induction experience grounded in the California Professional Standards for Education Leaders.

As the largest provider in the state, ACSA offers individualized, job embedded coaching with forty hours of one-on-one support from certified leadership coaches. Candidates also receive targeted professional development and guidance from local program coordinators who understand their regional context and district needs.

For more than a decade, districts across all 19 ACSA regions have partnered with ACSA to strengthen their leadership pipeline. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing has recognized the program as powerful and highly valued by candidates, coaches and stakeholders.

Enrollment for the Winter 2026–2028 cohort is open through January 15. Early enrollment ensures candidates begin coaching on time.

If you have administrators who need to enroll this cycle, we are ready to support you.

Best regards,

Association of California School Administrators

OCHO is the quarterly online publication that serves as a tool for sharing information from Region 8 leadership and committees with the 20 local charters and over 850 Santa Clara County ACSA members. Our Region 8 leadership will contribute to each edition as will representatives from key Region 8 committees and the Presidents of the different charters. To find all Region 8 news, announcements, calendars of upcoming events, and past editions of OCHO, check out the ACSA Region 8 website.

The next regular edition of OCHO will be distributed in March. Please reach out if you have suggestions of how to better our Region 8 communications. bschmaedick19@gmail.com

“When we are happy — when our mindset and mood are positive — we are smarter, more motivated, and thus more successful. Happiness is the center, and success revolves around it.

Even the smallest shots of positivity can give someone a serious competitive edge."

From The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor