21CSLA (21st Century California School Leadership Academy)

Rural Education Webinar, TODAY 3/19 at 4pm PT! 21CSLA Center presents "Equitable School Leadership in California's Rural Contexts" featuring Dr. Kristina A. Hesbol (culturally responsive leadership expert), Dr. Jabari Mahiri, and Rindy DeVoll (30+ years as rural superintendent). Learn how to navigate unique rural challenges while building more equitable schools. Register at no cost: https://lnkd.in/gGY_qfBM #RuralEducation #EducationalLeadership #21CSLA #EquityInEducation

Leadership Programs and 21CSLA presented at today's Association of California School Administrators Equity Institute on the power of affinity groups. These groups help create more equitable schools by uplifting and empowering education leaders of color and supporting white leaders to examine and reflect on their racial identity. "Affinity groups show how we are the same but they also show how we are different. We are not a monolith… [Racial affinity spaces] help us to lean into those differences and challenge our assumptions and beliefs." –Soraya Sablo Sutton Pictured, left to right in first photo: Alex Creer Kahn, Rebecca Cheung, Soraya Sablo Sutton, Richard Zapien, Wesley Tang, Jerome Gourdine, Lihi Rosenthal, Erin Schweng

Webinar: Equitable School Leadership in California's Rural Contexts Join us March 19 (4–5pm PT) for an insightful discussion on transforming leadership in California's rural schools with renowned experts Dr. Kristina Hesbol (specialist in culturally responsive leadership), Dr. Jabari Mahiri, and Rindy DeVoll (veteran rural district superintendent with 30+ years experience). Discover practical strategies for addressing unique rural education challenges while advancing equity in your school community. Registration at no cost: https://lnkd.in/gNaZAdeT #RuralEducation #EquityInEducation #21CSLA

On the final day of the 21CSLA Spring Retreat, we engaged in meaningful conversations about equity leadership, deep listening, and the challenges of dialogue across difference. Our board members led thought-provoking discussions on the growing polarization in education and the importance of creating spaces where all voices are heard. Through breakout sessions facilitated by our staff and special guests, we explored how professional learning can support leaders in fostering belonging, navigating discomfort, and driving real change in their communities. As we close out the retreat, we carry forward the insights, connections, and commitments we’ve built over these past few days. Our facilitators challenged us to think critically, reflect deeply, and embrace both discomfort and joy in this work. With a renewed sense of purpose, we look ahead—ready to plant the seeds of transformation and cultivate lasting impact in our schools and communities.

At the 21CSLA Spring Retreat, Kim Wallace and Melissa Virrueta, Ed.D. led a session exploring how the 21CSLA Professional Learning Packages (PLPs) can support equity leaders in addressing critical issues like teacher diversity, resilience, and retention. Participants engaged in collaborative exploration, mapping out connections between PLP content and their ongoing work. By identifying meaningful entry points for integration, the session emphasized that professional learning must be dynamic, responsive, and rooted in the lived experiences of educators. These tools offer a pathway to design learning that not only builds capacity but fosters equity and transformation in schools and communities.

Webinar: Equitable School Leadership in California's Rural Contexts. Join us March 19 (4-5pm PT) for an insightful discussion on transforming leadership in California's rural schools with renowned experts Dr. Kristina Hesbol (specialist in culturally responsive leadership), Dr. Jabari Mahiri, and Rindy DeVoll (veteran rural district superintendent with 30+ years experience). Discover practical strategies for addressing unique rural education challenges while advancing equity in your school community. Register at no cost: https://lnkd.in/gNaZAdeT #RuralEducation #EquityInEducation #21CSLA

“This can be a discomforting process because it challenges the status quo.” Today, we explored the complexities of equity leadership with Daniel Solórzano and John Rogers, reflecting on the power of listening, dialogue, and action in transformative leadership. John Rogers challenged us to consider the importance of diversity in our reflections, to remain receptive to possibilities and actively invite missing voices into the conversation. He posed a powerful question: Can education leaders experience joy in today’s climate?

The 21CSLA Leadership Board convened to shape the next phase of our work in Cohort 2. Discussions centered on key priorities, including refining 21CSLA activities, identifying focus areas for upcoming webinars and research, and advancing advocacy efforts. Board members also shared reflections to help guide future initiatives. We appreciate the valuable insights and leadership of our board members. Their collective expertise and dedication continue to drive 21CSLA’s mission of equity-centered leadership development across California. We look forward to the work ahead and a productive Spring Retreat this week.

“Dissonance is not just noise; it’s the space where growth happens. If we lean into it rather than resist it, we open ourselves to transformation.” We just wrapped up the first day of the 21CSLA Spring Retreat, where we explored listening as an essential practice of equity leadership. Through deep discussions, we examined the power of discomfort, dissonance, and joy in leadership—recognizing that true transformation happens when we lean into complexity rather than resist it. We reflected on land acknowledgments as more than symbolic gestures, but as commitments to action—emphasizing our collective responsibility to uplift Indigenous communities through advocacy and direct support. Through constructivist listening and powerful conversations, we connected historical legacies to joy as an act of resistance. Looking ahead, we ask: How can we create more spaces that embrace discomfort, cultivate joy, and move us toward meaningful change?

New seasons bring new possibilities. Read our March news: https://lnkd.in/gB5DKruz