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CALSA’s Summer Institute is where innovators, educators, and leaders come together to shape the future of public education. Grounded in the theme Somos el Puente entre Generaciones, this year’s conference elevates the voices, practices, and partnerships that strengthen schools and communities across California.

Click here to view the Know Before You Go Guide to help you plan your conference experience!

 For more information on Summer Institute 2026, visit calsa.org/summerinstitute.

Venue: Live Oak 2 clear filter
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Thursday, June 25
 

9:00am PDT

Nunca solas: Sisterhood and the Power of Sustaining Latine Leadership
Thursday June 25, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
This session is grounded in the lived experiences of two sisters—both Latina administrators in public education— shaped by family, culture, and generational identity. Together, they bring a deeply personal lens to how first-generation, 1.5 generation, second-generation, and multigenerational identities influence the way we show up as leaders: how we use our voice, how we navigate authority, how we advocate, and how we build relationships within our systems.At the heart of their journey is a shared truth: none of us get here alone. Across generations, our paths have been shaped not only by opportunity, but by the mentors, allies, and trusted colleagues who saw us, guided us, and reminded us that we belonged in spaces that were not always designed with us in mind. We will unpack our collective responsibility to lift up others as we climb, and move beyond stereotypes within our Latine community to focus on the families and students we serve.This interactive session invites participants into a space of reflection, connection, and comunidad. Through storytelling, dialogue, and structured activities, this session emphasizes the importance of representation, intentional mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving in developing strong leadership pipelines. By fostering environments where leaders support one another through reflection and shared learning, educational systems can cultivate leaders who are resilient, connected, and empowered to lead with purpose.
Speakers
avatar for Vanessa Fortney

Vanessa Fortney

Principal, Pittsburg Unified School District
Vanessa Fortney is an educational leader specializing in secondary education, with a strong commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all scholars. She currently serves as Principal of Rancho Medanos Junior High in Pittsburg Unified School District, where she... Read More →
avatar for Cristina Urbano

Cristina Urbano

Senior Program Director, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Pedagogy, Alameda County Office of Education
Cristina Urbano is an educational leader with deep commitment to advancing culturally and linguistically responsive education. She has served as a Spanish bilingual elementary teacher, an English Language Development Curriculum Specialist, an Instructional Coach for language and literacy... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
Live Oak 2

10:15am PDT

Why Your LCAP Planning Process Is Slowing You Down (And How Alisal USD Fixed It)
Thursday June 25, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
What does it look like to build an LCAP process that not only meets compliance requirements,
but also serves as a bridge between student voice, district priorities, and lasting system
improvement?
In this session, leaders from Alisal Union School District will share how they reimagined their
LCAP planning process to better listen to students, distribute ownership across teams, and
connect feedback to meaningful action. Serving a unique and dynamic community, Alisal
developed innovative strategies to move beyond traditional surveys and annual reporting
cycles by creating more accessible, multimodal opportunities for students to share their
experiences.
Aligned with the Summer Institute theme, Somos el Puente entre Generaciones, this session
will explore how district leaders can strengthen the connection between today’s student
needs and tomorrow’s educational systems. Participants will learn how Alisal connected
student feedback with existing data points such as attendance, achievement, growth, and
school climate to identify patterns, understand root causes, and make more responsive
decisions across schools and student groups.
The session will also highlight how Alisal redesigned workflows to reduce redundancy,
improve data quality, and create a continuous feedback loop that supports shared
leadership throughout the year. By distributing the work across teams, Alisal transformed

LCAP from a one-time compliance task into a living system for collaboration, reflection, and
improvement.
Attendees will leave with practical strategies to modernize their own LCAP processes, elevate
student and family voice, and build systems that bridge today’s feedback with tomorrow’s
decisions. Creating more efficient, transparent, and responsive planning practices for the
communities they serve.
Speakers
avatar for Mary Beal

Mary Beal

Director of Leadership Development and Accountability, Alisal Union School District

avatar for Summer Whitley

Summer Whitley

Senior Account Executive, Pars Education
I firmly believe in the inherent value of every individual and am driven by a passion for revolutionizing education. Blessed to find my place at Parsec Education, where we specialize in software solutions for accountability planning and data storytelling.

Parsec Real stands out as... Read More →
avatar for Kimberly White

Kimberly White

Learning Integration Specialist, Parsec Education
Thursday June 25, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Live Oak 2

2:00pm PDT

Leading with Authority: Power, Identity, and the Future of Latina Leadership
Thursday June 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Somos el puente entre generaciones. We are the bridge — between the leaders who fought to open doors that were never meant for us, and the ones who will one day walk through doors we are building right now. This session is where that bridge becomes visible.
Leading with Authority: Power, Identity, and the Future of Latina Leadership is a dynamic conversation exploring the greatest challenges and boldest opportunities facing women leaders today. This powerful panel brings together trailblazing voices from across leadership organizations to confront systemic barriers, cultural expectations, and the realities of navigating leadership as Latinas — while elevating the ways women are stepping fully and unapologetically into their authority as educational leaders.
Through candid dialogue and intergenerational wisdom, panelists will examine how identity can be leveraged as strength, how influence is built with intention across generations, and what it takes to move from representation to true decision-making power. Because the bridge we are does not hold itself up — it is strengthened by clarity, sustained by commitment, and widened every time one of us reaches back and pulls the next leader forward.
Attendees will leave not only inspired but equipped with actionable strategies to lead with confidence and authority in every room they enter, to build meaningful influence, and to shape communities in ways that honor where we came from while boldly defining where we are going. We did not arrive here alone. And we will not leave without making the path clearer for those who follow.

Speakers
avatar for Dr. Rachel Monarrez

Dr. Rachel Monarrez

Superintendent of Schools, Orange Unified School District
avatar for Dr. Teresa López Alonzo

Dr. Teresa López Alonzo

Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Salinas Union High School District
Dr. Teresa López Alonzo is a transformative educational leader with over three decades of experience advancing equity and excellence in California's K-12 schools. Currently serving as Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services at Salinas Union High School District—California's... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Zandra Jo Galván

Dr. Zandra Jo Galván

Superintendent, Salinas Union High School District
Dr. Zandra Jo Galván is a respected bilingual Superintendent with over 30 years of service as an educator, leader, and innovator in California public education. A proud Central Coast native, she earned an A.A. from Hartnell College, a B.A. and teaching credential from CSU Fresno... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Lorraine M. Perez

Dr. Lorraine M. Perez

Superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District

avatar for Yolanda Valdez

Yolanda Valdez

Superintendent, Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District
Yolanda Valdez is a seasoned educational leader with more than 35 years of experience spanning classroom instruction, school administration, and district leadership. She has served as the Superintendent of the Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District in Tulare County, California... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Live Oak 2

3:15pm PDT

CALSA Professional Advisory Network (PAN) - So You Want to Be a Superintendent?
Thursday June 25, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
What does it really take to become a superintendent?
Join an inspiring and candid conversation with accomplished educational leaders who have navigated the journey to the superintendency—each through a unique and powerful path. In this engaging breakout session, panelists will share the pivotal moments, personal reflections, challenges, and leadership lessons that shaped their careers and prepared them for one of education’s most influential roles.
Whether you are actively pursuing superintendency, exploring your next leadership move, or simply curious about the realities of the role, this session will offer authentic insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom from leaders who have walked the path before you.
Come hear:
  • The untold stories behind the title
  • Lessons learned along the way
  • Strategies for leading with courage and purpose
  • Honest reflections on balancing challenge, responsibility, and joy
  • Advice they wish someone had shared earlier in their careers
This is more than a panel discussion—it is an opportunity to be inspired, affirmed, and empowered to envision your own leadership future.
Your next leadership chapter may begin here.
Speakers
avatar for Juliana Stocking

Juliana Stocking

Superintendent, Merced City Schools
The Merced City School District is pleased to host the Merced County School Leaders Conference, where you will connect, learn, and grow with mentors and colleagues. The role of an educational leader, and especially a school principal, is pivotal in the success of a campus, staff... Read More →
avatar for Norma E. Martinez

Norma E. Martinez

Superintendent, Centralia Elementary School District
Ms. Norma E. Martinez has served the Centralia Elementary School District since 2010 and has been honored to lead as Superintendent since 2015. She oversees an award-winning district serving Anaheim, Buena Park, and La Palma, with schools recognized as National Blue Ribbon, California... Read More →
avatar for Ruben Aurelio

Ruben Aurelio

Superintendent, Vallejo City Unified School District
On July 1, 2024, Ruben Aurelio took over as superintendent of the Vallejo City Unified School District, bringing with him a wealth of educational experience and a track record of success. Aurelio's commitment to education is evident in his diverse roles and responsibilities across... Read More →
avatar for Ofelia Ceja-Lariviere

Ofelia Ceja-Lariviere

Professional Advisory Network - SoCal, CALSA

avatar for Patrick Sweeney

Patrick Sweeney

Professional Advisory Network - NorCal, CALSA
Thursday June 25, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
Live Oak 2
 
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