BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:calsasummerinstitute2026 X-WR-CALDESC:Event Calendar METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN PRODID:-//Sched.com CALSA's Summer Institute 2026//EN X-WR-TIMEZONE:UTC BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T143000Z DTEND:20260625T213000Z SUMMARY:Registration/Member Services Opens DESCRIPTION:Start your SI2026 experience by visiting the Registration and Member Services desk! Our CALSA team will be available to welcome attendees\, assist with check-in\, and answer any questions about sessions\, schedules\, or membership benefits. It’s the perfect time to connect with the CALSA familia\, update your membership information\, and prepare for an inspiring conference ahead. CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:10c94a75775788e395ad56ba61ce16b0 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/10c94a75775788e395ad56ba61ce16b0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T150000Z DTEND:20260625T160000Z SUMMARY:CALSA Orientation Table (Complimentary Coffee + Tea) DESCRIPTION:Join us as SI2026 kicks off with a light morning welcome featuring coffee\, tea\, and connection. Meet the CALSA Familia at the Orientation Table to discover how CALSA builds community and leadership through corazón\, culture\, and collaboration.\n\n CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:29db0fca8d15cb591e1c5126732cea71 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/29db0fca8d15cb591e1c5126732cea71 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T150000Z DTEND:20260625T160000Z SUMMARY:Professional Headshots (By Appointment Only) DESCRIPTION:Take advantage of this opportunity to update your professional headshot during SI2026. A professional photographer will be available onsite to capture high-quality headshots ideal for district profiles\, professional bios\, LinkedIn\, and conference materials. Appointments are required and space is limited.\n\n CATEGORIES: LOCATION:TBA\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:5ca7d087c47a183fd22fccfcbc7aa37b URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/5ca7d087c47a183fd22fccfcbc7aa37b END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T150000Z DTEND:20260625T230000Z SUMMARY:All-Day Meet & Mingle: CALSA Exhibitor Showcase (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) DESCRIPTION:Connect with CALSA’s valued partners and explore the innovative programs\, products\, and services they bring to our educational community. During this dedicated networking time\, attendees are encouraged to meet our exhibitors and discover new resources that support leadership development and student success. \;The exhibitor hall is open all day. CATEGORIES:NETWORKING LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:08d65165a93eba2e67fee6a4af5dc8b6 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/08d65165a93eba2e67fee6a4af5dc8b6 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T160000Z DTEND:20260625T170000Z SUMMARY:Bargaining Basics: Building a Strong Foundation for Negotiations DESCRIPTION: \;Successful negotiations begin with a solid understanding of the bargaining process. This session will introduce participants to the essential elements of collective bargaining\, including preparation strategies\, effective communication\, and common challenges. Attendees will gain practical tools and insights to approach negotiations with confidence and support positive labor relations outcomes for student success. \; CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:f929bf593ecbb5cf8c18779aa699db3f URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/f929bf593ecbb5cf8c18779aa699db3f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T160000Z DTEND:20260625T170000Z SUMMARY:Bridging Vision to Practice: A New District Leader’s Playbook for Change DESCRIPTION: \;In a first year as a district leader\, one of the most powerful levers for change is what we choose to notice—and how we act on it. This session highlights how instructional walkthroughs can move beyond isolated observations to become a systemwide strategy for coherence\, equity\, and continuous improvement. Grounded in real examples from secondary school visits\, participants will explore how to collect\, synthesize\, and act on classroom evidence in ways that honor site context while aligning toward a shared vision of high-quality Tier 1 instruction.\nParticipants will learn how to shift walkthroughs from compliance-driven practices to a unifying structure that bridges classrooms\, schools\, and leadership teams—ensuring that what is seen in one classroom informs learning across the entire system. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:5266b18c6538dfac08612df5def40db5 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/5266b18c6538dfac08612df5def40db5 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T160000Z DTEND:20260625T170000Z SUMMARY:Elevating the Frontline: Shared Leadership and Authentic Community-Building for Campus Supervisors DESCRIPTION:To advance opportunity and create lasting impact for California’s students\, we must empower the staff who interact with them most: our campus supervisors. This session offers a \;meaningful learning experience \;centered on a proven model that builds the capacity of campus safety personnel.\nRooted in the belief that \;authentic community-building \;begins with the staff\, we demonstrate how the cultural practice of \;sharing a meal \;creates the psychological safety necessary for honest dialogue and shared leadership. By "calendaring" regular meeting times and formalizing incident debriefs\, administrators can move beyond reactive management to a proactive system that addresses inequities and elevates and empowers support staff.\nParticipants will engage in planning high-leverage \;role-play scenarios \;and practice \;assertive\, PBIS-aligned redirection \;that balances authority with support. This session provides a scalable blueprint for building a unified team that "covers each other\," ensuring that every student feels safe\, seen\, and supported by a highly-skilled\, empowered supervision team. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 3\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:639e3e7bb81491385a2df29dbf002931 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/639e3e7bb81491385a2df29dbf002931 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T160000Z DTEND:20260625T170000Z SUMMARY:From Vision to Practice: A Superintendent's Blueprint for District-Wide AI Implementation DESCRIPTION:AI is arriving in our schools whether we are ready or not. For superintendents leading predominantly Latino communities\, the urgency is not just operational. It is personal. Our students deserve the same access to the tools shaping the future as any student anywhere in this country\, and it is our responsibility as leaders to make sure they get it.\n\n\nThis session presents a district-wide AI Leadership Blueprint developed and implemented inside West Covina Unified School District\, a San Gabriel Valley community of 7\,800 students\, where 73% of students are Latino\, and 83% are on Free and Reduced Lunch. Every element of this Blueprint was built from the ground up\, through deliberate\, strategic\, and personally led work that reached every corner of the district\, from the boardroom to the classroom\, from the front office to the family workshop.\n\n\nParticipants will explore the full arc of implementation: establishing board governance that gives AI work a legal and ethical foundation\, aligning cabinet and site leadership around a shared vision\, designing teacher professional learning that is self-directed and job-embedded\, engaging classified and support staff as full partners in the work\, reaching multilingual families with information that builds confidence rather than fear\, and developing student AI literacy as a matter of access and equity.\n\n\nThis is not a vendor presentation. There are no products being sold and no perfect district being showcased. This is an honest\, practical account of what it takes to lead this work with intention\, from a superintendent who believes that when educators have the right tools and conditions to thrive\, every student gains access to opportunities that can change the trajectory of their life.\n\n\nAttendees will leave with a replicable blueprint and a clear path forward. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:6e645ba6b24f0844617a9bbc014ca0b1 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/6e645ba6b24f0844617a9bbc014ca0b1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T160000Z DTEND:20260625T170000Z SUMMARY:From Vision to Velocity: Leading an Inside-Out AI Implementation for Systemwide Impact DESCRIPTION:This session examines how one school district strategically launched artificial intelligence through an inside-out leadership model—beginning with capacity-building for administrators\, alignment of governance\, and ethical guardrails before scaling to classrooms. Participants will explore a district-wide approach to AI implementation that builds coherence\, trust\, and sustainability by engaging leaders first\, establishing board-approved guidelines\, and developing site-based teacher leads supported by a structured professional learning calendar. The presentation offers a replicable roadmap for districts seeking to integrate AI responsibly while strengthening instructional practice and organizational capacity. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 4\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:f0e4095262eadd7fef44d6dc942cbc8f URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/f0e4095262eadd7fef44d6dc942cbc8f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T160000Z DTEND:20260625T170000Z SUMMARY:Nunca solas: Sisterhood and the Power of Sustaining Latine Leadership DESCRIPTION: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. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:787913a67ab9251f4d6d0bb742dca6e8 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/787913a67ab9251f4d6d0bb742dca6e8 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T171500Z DTEND:20260625T181500Z SUMMARY:Bridging Equity in Special Education: Rethinking Assessment Practices for Multilingual Learners DESCRIPTION:Disproportionate identification of multilingual learners in special education\, particularly within the category of Specific Learning Disability (SLD)\, continues to challenge school systems striving to ensure equitable access and opportunity for all students. Although federal law requires multidisciplinary teams to rule out exclusionary factors such as limited English proficiency\, lack of appropriate instruction\, and environmental influences\, these factors are not always consistently or systematically analyzed during the eligibility decision-making process.\nThis session focuses on how educational leaders can strengthen district and site-level systems that support more equitable referral and evaluation practices. Participants will explore common systemic patterns that contribute to disproportionality\, including inconsistent implementation of pre-referral intervention systems\, limited documentation of instructional opportunities\, and the absence of structured protocols for analyzing cultural\, linguistic\, and environmental context during evaluations.\nGrounded in research and leadership practice\, this session introduces culturally responsive tools designed to help multidisciplinary teams systematically analyze contextual factors prior to determining eligibility. Participants will explore practical implementation resources for districts\, including referral review protocols for administrators\, eligibility meeting facilitation guides for psychologists\, and structured reflection tools that support teams in examining instructional access\, language development\, and environmental influences.\nThrough discussion and applied examples\, participants will consider how leaders can align MTSS practices\, evaluation procedures\, and team decision-making processes to strengthen equity in assessment. Educational leaders will leave with practical strategies and tools to support multidisciplinary teams\, improve referral and eligibility systems\, and build structures that promote more equitable decision-making for multilingual learners and students from diverse backgrounds. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:11ea41512671047222049ddd4efb2b7a URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/11ea41512671047222049ddd4efb2b7a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T171500Z DTEND:20260625T181500Z SUMMARY:Co-Creating a Framework for the Future: How Salinas Union High School District Engaged Every Voice to Build a Portrait of a Graduate DESCRIPTION:What does it look like when a school district truly listens—to students\, families\, teachers\, principals\, and board trustees—before charting its future? This session tells that story.\nSalinas Union High School District (SUHSD)\, one of California's largest and most diverse high school districts\, embarked on a multi-year\, community-centered process to develop its Framework for the Future and Portrait of a Graduate. Serving over 15\,000 students in the heart of the Salinas Valley—where the children of farmworkers sit beside the children of engineers—SUHSD's work required a process as bold and inclusive as the community it serves.\nIn this session\, district leaders will share how they moved from aspiration to action: designing a co-creation process that centered student voice\, elevated family wisdom\, and built ownership across every layer of the organization. Attendees will leave with a replicable process\, practical tools\, and the inspiration to launch their own community-driven visioning work. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 4\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:065b5a47f6e00333de5712163f2156b0 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/065b5a47f6e00333de5712163f2156b0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T171500Z DTEND:20260625T181500Z SUMMARY:From Resource Access to Educational Ecosystems: How Family Resource Centers Strengthen Student\, Family\, and Community Partnerships DESCRIPTION:Caring for the whole child means caring for the whole family. Leaders from Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD)\, a diverse urban community\, will present on how the district expanded its comprehensive network of five Family Resource Centers (FRCs) to strengthen the entire educational ecosystem for students and their families. This initiative\, rooted in the Community Schools Framework and the California English Learner (EL) Roadmap\, showcases how schools can act as vital hubs of opportunity. In these hubs\, families\, students\, educators\, and community partners work together to eliminate barriers and increase access to academic and wellness supports. Through this focused collaboration\, GGUSD successfully created a coordinated system of care that provides expanded access to academic supports\, wellness resources\, and basic needs services\, ensuring students can fully engage in their education.\nPresenters will explain how the district's commitment to safe\, welcoming\, and inclusive schools is supported by the GGUSD Board of Education’s vision and Resolution 20\, which helped secure sustainable funding and strategic alignment for this work. Participants will see how the FRCs function as true hubs of partnership\, where schools and the community join forces to remove obstacles\, elevate family voice\, and cultivate environments where students and families feel valued\, supported\, and empowered.\nAttendees will gain practical strategies for developing partnership models that go beyond traditional family engagement. These models create integrated systems of support that build trust\, expand opportunities\, and establish families as essential\, active partners in student success. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:3ea2e892cb8b807570a41ed679c3a7cb URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/3ea2e892cb8b807570a41ed679c3a7cb END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T171500Z DTEND:20260625T181500Z SUMMARY:Rising Together: Leadership Lessons Earned Through a Principal–Superintendent CALSA Mentorship DESCRIPTION:In this session we will share real-world leadership lessons from a first-year principal and her superintendent mentor. Each lesson highlights a critical leadership move\, the mentor action that made it possible\, and a practical artifact participants can take back to their sites. While grounded in the experience of a new principal\, these lessons are applicable to leaders at any stage who are stepping into new roles or navigating new challenges.\nThe session also highlights how intentional mentorship accelerates leadership readiness through real-time coaching\, accountability\, and strategic guidance during critical decision-making moments. Participants will explore how a structured mentor–mentee partnership supports leaders in navigating complexity with confidence while also serving as a scalable model for building leadership capacity across a school or district. By strengthening systems of support\, this approach reduces the isolation often experienced by leaders in transition and creates pathways for developing future leaders through intentional\, relational practices. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4af8db3926deb765af689f64081bd3f9 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/4af8db3926deb765af689f64081bd3f9 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T171500Z DTEND:20260625T181500Z SUMMARY:The Principal Effect: Leading with Purpose\, Impact\, and Influence DESCRIPTION:This powerful and reflective presentation centers on one essential truth: principals matter\, deeply and measurably\, in the success of schools. Designed for educational leaders\, the session elevates the role of the principal from manager to transformative leader\, highlighting how their actions shape school culture\, teacher effectiveness\, and ultimately\, student outcomes.\nGrounded in research and real-world leadership experiences\, this session \;emphasizes that principals are second only to classroom instruction among school-based factors influencing student achievement . Participants will explore how effective principals can accelerate student learning by several months within a single school year and create conditions where both adults and students thrive .\nThrough engaging visuals\, stories\, and structured reflection\, the presentation examines the principal’s role in building a strong instructional focus\, fostering a positive school climate\, and developing collaborative\, high-performing teams. It also highlights how leadership decisions impact teacher retention\, professional growth\, and overall school improvement.\nParticipants will be invited to reflect on their own leadership practices and consider how they influence culture\, expectations\, and outcomes across their campuses. The session balances inspiration with practical application\, offering actionable strategies that leaders can immediately implement.\nThis presentation is both affirming and challenging—reminding leaders of the profound influence they hold and equipping them to lead with clarity\, purpose\, and impact in today’s complex educational landscape. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 3\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:62d2629635b88300a5711c9b0503ae73 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/62d2629635b88300a5711c9b0503ae73 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T181500Z DTEND:20260625T184500Z SUMMARY:Transition & Networking DESCRIPTION:Take this time to connect with fellow attendees while transitioning to the mainstage session.\n\n CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:fea8a2c86b25078322dcf7116cc17ae0 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/fea8a2c86b25078322dcf7116cc17ae0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T184500Z DTEND:20260625T204500Z SUMMARY:Opening Leadership Luncheon & Legacy Panel (Meal Included) DESCRIPTION:Join us for the opening Mainstage Luncheon featuring Opening Remarks from Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza and Dr. Fabi Bagula\, followed by CALSA’s Legacy Panel — a conversation with visionary leaders whose impact continues to shape the future of educational leadership. The session will conclude with the Mentoring Program Cohort #21 Commencement celebration.\n\nLegacy Panelists: \nModerator\nRoxanna Bautista Villaseñor\nDirector of School Leadership\, South San Francisco Unified School District\n\nFeatured Panelists\nDr. Carmella S. Franco\nRetired Superintendent & Governance Consultant\nSenior Associate\, Hazard\, Young\, Attea & Associates\n\nDr. Maria G. Ott\nIrving R. and Virginia A. Melbo Chair in Education Administration\nProfessor of Clinical Education\, USC Rossier School of Education\n\n Dr. Darline P. Robles\nAssociate Dean for the Office of Equity and Community Engagement\nProfessor of Clinical Education\, USC Rossier School of Education CATEGORIES:GENERAL SESSION LOCATION:Chula Vista Ballrom 4-6\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:dcfdd235a43f017ff7096742b394fc83 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/dcfdd235a43f017ff7096742b394fc83 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T210000Z DTEND:20260625T220000Z SUMMARY:"From Pathways to Power: Building Leadership Pipelines that Last" DESCRIPTION:In this session\, participants will explore the strategies and systems needed to develop strong\, equitable leadership across every level of education. Attendees will gain actionable insights to strengthen their leadership impact and build sustainable pipelines that prepare the next generation of school leaders.\n\n\nKey Learning Objectives:\nUnderstand organizational dynamics and leverage formal and informal structures. \;Cultivate influence through relationships\, credibility\, and equity-focused decision-making. \;Identify and develop emerging leaders through mentorship\, stretch opportunities\, and leadership pathways. \;Build systems and structures that sustain leadership beyond individual roles. \;Reflect on leadership legacy and actionable steps to grow the next generation. \;Format & Approach:\n \;Engaging keynote with sectioned slides\, actionable strategies\, reflection prompts\, and steps for immediate application. Includes tools for leadership reflection\, pipeline creation\, and long-term leadership growth. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 4\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:3b8c59602b90e512fa2c75883f71ae76 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/3b8c59602b90e512fa2c75883f71ae76 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T210000Z DTEND:20260625T220000Z SUMMARY:"Non-Traditional Pathways to CBO: A Generational Leadership Journey" DESCRIPTION:Join seasoned leaders Dr. Rafael Gaeta and Dr. Ruben L. Fernandez as they map out their non-traditional pathways to becoming Chief Business Officials (CBOs)\, showcasing the full arc of their professional journeys. This session will provide actionable strategies for navigating career transitions and building the confidence and tools needed to thrive. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on how diverse backgrounds and unconventional routes create new leadership pathways\, strengthening the profession through intentional mentorship and succession planning for the next generation of public education leaders. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 3\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:788d90962c6c5a062850bfb992b33bbf URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/788d90962c6c5a062850bfb992b33bbf END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T210000Z DTEND:20260625T220000Z SUMMARY:Co-Architecting the Bridge to Access: Transforming Special Education Through Family\, Student\, and Community Partnership DESCRIPTION: \;\nThis session centers on transforming special education systems into spaces of access\, empowerment\, and belonging by leveraging the collective power of families\, educators\, and community partners. Grounded in the belief that students and families are co-architects of their educational experiences\, participants will explore actionable strategies to better support students with diverse learning needs while equipping families\, particularly those from historically underserved communities\, with the knowledge and confidence to navigate complex special education processes.\n\n\nAligned to a collaborative\, community-driven approach\, this session highlights how educational leaders can serve as bridges between schools\, families\, and broader support systems by demystifying processes\, strengthening communication\, and fostering authentic partnerships. Participants will engage with practical tools that not only support individualized student success\, but also elevate family voice\, promote advocacy\, and create inclusive environments where students are empowered as active contributors to their learning journeys.\n\n\nThrough an equity lens\, the session will address common barriers families face\, including language access\, trust\, and systemic inequities\, while offering concrete\, partnership-driven solutions to remove those barriers. Emphasis will be placed on culturally grounded family engagement\, intergenerational collaboration\, and shared leadership between students and adults to shape school culture and practices.\n\n\nParticipants will leave with ready-to-implement strategies that expand access to resources\, strengthen home-school connections\, and build thriving\, inclusive educational ecosystems where every student and family feels seen\, valued\, and empowered to lead and transform their educational experience. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:a95749af4ac813ce51cf28d00bc50dbd URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/a95749af4ac813ce51cf28d00bc50dbd END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T210000Z DTEND:20260625T220000Z SUMMARY:Empower\, Inform\, Protect: A Countywide Response to Immigration Policy Impacts in Schools DESCRIPTION:This session highlights how the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) developed and implemented a countywide strategy to support school districts serving students and families impacted by changes in immigration policy. Central to this effort was the creation of a cross-division Immigration Taskforce\, which brought together leaders from student services\, mental health\, legal counsel\, and community partnerships to design a coordinated\, rapid-response system of support. The taskforce aligned messaging\, resources\, and training priorities to ensure consistency across all 80 school districts in Los Angeles County.\nThrough this structure\, LACOE launched a comprehensive training initiative delivered virtually and in community-based settings to educators\, families\, and community partners. Using tools such as \;Supporting School Staff: A Multi-Tiered Guide to Immigration-Related Stress and \;Legal Protections for Immigrant Students \, the county provided guidance on staff wellbeing\, student rights\, trauma-informed practices\, and school responsibilities under current laws. These trainings were intentionally designed to be accessible\, culturally responsive\, and grounded in real-time policy updates.\nThe strategy also centered student engagement and empowerment. Schools implemented student-facing lessons\, peer-led discussions\, and informational campaigns to ensure students understood their right to a public education regardless of immigration status and felt equipped to advocate for themselves and their families.\nBy leveraging cross-sector collaboration\, community partnerships\, and a multi-tiered system of supports\, LACOE created a scalable\, equity-centered model that strengthens school systems\, builds trust with families\, and ensures safe\, inclusive learning environments during times of uncertainty.\n\n\n CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:399d79d02234e95ecfd6af831af983ab URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/399d79d02234e95ecfd6af831af983ab END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T210000Z DTEND:20260625T220000Z SUMMARY:Inclusion by Design: Building Coherent Systems That Bridge Access\, Belonging\, and Achievement DESCRIPTION:This session explores how school systems can be intentionally designed to ensure that all students experience coherence\, access\, and belonging. In many districts\, curriculum and instruction\, special education\, and student services operate in parallel\, each addressing important aspects of the student experience but often without full alignment. This fragmentation can lead to inconsistent expectations\, reactive supports\, and gaps in how students experience school.\n\n\nParticipants will examine inclusion as a systems design challenge rather than a program or placement decision. The session centers on the idea that inclusion is created through the alignment of instruction\, behavior systems\, and student supports. When these elements are coordinated\, students experience predictable expectations\, consistent adult responses\, and access to high-quality learning across settings.\n\n\nUsing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) as an organizing framework\, the session highlights how academics\, behavior\, and wellness can be integrated into a unified system that supports both students and educators. Practical examples will illustrate how strengthening Tier 1 instruction\, aligning practices across departments\, and building leadership capacity can reduce fragmentation and improve outcomes.\n\n\nParticipants will engage in structured reflection to identify areas of misalignment within their own systems and consider actionable next steps. The session is designed for district and site leaders seeking to move from isolated initiatives to coherent\, sustainable systems that better support diverse learners and the adults who serve them. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:b46a2f0ac980318e6dd12ca1a2fe24c6 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/b46a2f0ac980318e6dd12ca1a2fe24c6 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T221500Z DTEND:20260625T231500Z SUMMARY:Artificial Intelligence in Education – Navigating New Technologies in Schools DESCRIPTION:Join us as we discuss current issues educational institutions face surrounding artificial intelligence\, including: (1) The intersection of artificial intelligence with the California Public Records Act\; (2) The use of AI-powered notetakers in meetings\; and (3) Wearable AI (smart glasses).  \;We will discuss how to prepare yourself to address these key developments in your agency. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 3\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:465552538678acdbae2346b7c63e9a05 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/465552538678acdbae2346b7c63e9a05 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T221500Z DTEND:20260625T231500Z SUMMARY:Restoring Comunidad: Where Belonging\, Safety\, and Care Drive Latino Student Success DESCRIPTION:The era of "punish and push out" is over. To meet the needs of today’s Latino students\, schools must pivot from reactive exclusion to responsive restoration\, positioning discipline as a vital component of wellness\, academic identity\, and student joy. This community schools approach is grounded in a healing-centered lens that moves beyond "managing behavior" to intentionally setting the conditions for radical belonging and psychological safety. By prioritizing "Other Means of Correction" and elevating student voice\, we transform discipline from a bureaucratic hurdle into a powerful bridge for connection\, ensuring schools are spaces where Latino students feel a deep sense of cultural pride and the fundamental right to thrive.\nThrough the collaborative perspectives of board members\, site principals\, and district leaders\, this session highlights lessons learned in interrupting bias and rebuilding trust with families historically impacted by exclusionary practices. You will leave with actionable strategies to implement a high-support\, high-accountability model that honors the cultural assets of our community. This is a call to co-create systems where discipline is no longer something done \;to \;a student\, but a process of growth and healing built \;with \;them. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:277f1d380a81d9964616f40119daba7a URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/277f1d380a81d9964616f40119daba7a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T221500Z DTEND:20260625T231500Z SUMMARY:SEEDS of Transformation: Advancing Equity Through the Community Schools Blueprint DESCRIPTION:What does it take to move from fragmented initiatives to a coherent\, equity-centered system that truly responds to students\, families\, and communities? This session introduces the Community Schools Blueprint through the SEEDS framework\, Sustainable Transformation\, Equity in Action\, Empowerment & Roots\, and Co-Created Innovation\, \;as a living\, adaptive approach to systems alignment and community-centered design.\nGrounded in an ecological lens\, the Blueprint recognizes schools as part of a broader\, interconnected system where students\, educators\, families\, and community partners co-construct the conditions for thriving. Participants will explore how the SEEDS domains serve as both anchors and drivers for continuous improvement\, supporting districts in aligning programs\, strengthening shared leadership\, and building coherence across initiatives.\nRather than presenting a one-size-fits-all model\, this session creates space for reflection and sense-making. Through examples and guided dialogue\, participants will examine how to leveraging data\, community voice\, and cross-sector collaboration to deepen impact and sustain meaningful change. The session will also highlight connections to key California frameworks\, including the California Community Schools Partnership Program and the CA English Learner Roadmap.\nParticipants will leave with practical tools\, reflection prompts\, and entry points to support their own community schools efforts\, whether initiating or refining\, while staying grounded in equity\, responsiveness\, and collective ownership. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 4\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:696e04c73854c9785017508f83747874 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/696e04c73854c9785017508f83747874 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T221500Z DTEND:20260625T231500Z SUMMARY:Supporting School Staff to Counteract Immigration-Related Stress DESCRIPTION:This session\, Supporting School Staff: A Multi-Tiered Guide to Immigration-Related Stress\, equips school and district leaders with practical strategies to address the growing impact of immigration-related stress on educators and school communities. Grounded in a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework\, the session highlights how immigration policy changes contribute to secondary trauma\, disrupted workplace trust\, and feelings of helplessness among staff\, ultimately affecting school climate and student support systems .\nParticipants will explore how administrators can proactively build a culture of collective wellness by embedding universal supports into daily practice\, such as structured check-ins\, community-building circles\, and micro-wellness strategies. The session also addresses targeted interventions\, including informational workshops and resilience-building opportunities that empower staff with knowledge and coping tools. For staff experiencing acute distress\, leaders will learn how to implement intensive supports\, including crisis response protocols and referral systems to professional mental health services.\nA key focus of the session is clarifying the administrator’s role in supporting staff wellbeing through the “notice\, normalize\, and refer” approach\, while maintaining professional boundaries and psychological safety. Through reflection and discussion\, participants will assess their current systems and identify opportunities to strengthen implementation within their school communities.\nUltimately\, this session provides actionable\, equity-centered strategies to help educational leaders sustain staff wellbeing\, foster resilience\, and maintain supportive school environments during times of sociopolitical stress. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:c78b8af15e8731c23c5cd0cb585b4f4b URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/c78b8af15e8731c23c5cd0cb585b4f4b END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260625T221500Z DTEND:20260625T231500Z SUMMARY:The Power of Alisal: Families + Students + Community = Transformation DESCRIPTION:What if families were not just participants\, but powerful partners? What if students were not just learners\, but leaders shaping the future of our schools?\nIn today’s evolving educational landscape\, schools must move beyond traditional family engagement models to cultivate authentic\, intergenerational ecosystems of leadership. This session highlights the transformative work of the Community Schools model and the Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) within Alisal Union School District\, where families\, students\, educators\, and community partners collaborate as co-architects of student success.\nParticipants will explore how culturally grounded practices and relationship-centered strategies shift engagement from participation to true partnership. Through real-world examples\, this session will showcase how authentic family connections drive meaningful engagement\, strengthen trust\, and expand access to academic\, social-emotional\, and wellness supports.\nThis presentation will also center student voice as a critical component of system transformation. Attendees will learn how students are empowered to lead\, share their experiences\, and influence school culture and decision-making alongside adults—creating a shared responsibility for educational innovation and equity.\nLearning Objectives:\nParticipants will:\nUnderstand the core components of Community Schools and the Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) as drivers of equitable systemsIdentify strategies to build authentic\, trust-based relationships with families that lead to sustained engagementExplore models of intergenerational leadership where students\, families\, and partners collaborate to shape school culture and outcomesLearn how to elevate student voice and leadership as essential to continuous improvement and innovationSession Format:\nThis session will showcase the \;wins\, challenges\, and adaptations from Alisal Union School District’s implementation of Community Schools and the Community Engagement Initiative (CEI). Presenters will share authentic examples from their journey\, highlighting lessons learned\, barriers encountered\, and the responsive strategies used to deepen engagement and partnership. Participants will engage in reflection and dialogue to consider how these insights can inform and strengthen their own practices.\nTarget Audience:\nSchool leaders\, district administrators\, community school coordinators\, family engagement leaders\, and community-based partners\nImpact:\nThis session will inspire educators and leaders to reimagine engagement as a shared leadership model—one that honors the voices of families and students\, strengthens community partnerships\, and builds sustainable systems where all stakeholders are empowered to lead. By highlighting the Alisal experience\, participants will leave with practical tools and a renewed vision for creating inclusive\, community-driven schools that respond to the needs and strengths of their communities.\n\n\n\n\n CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:ae8f26b35f687c047f4ee2d43bfe4546 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/ae8f26b35f687c047f4ee2d43bfe4546 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T010000Z DTEND:20260626T030000Z SUMMARY:Evening Partner & Sponsor Networking DESCRIPTION:Details coming soon. Join us for an evening of connection at the hotel\, bringing together attendees\, partners\, and sponsors to build relationships and strengthen our collective impact.\n\n CATEGORIES:EVENING CELEBRATION LOCATION:TBA\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:a3a23550162e83abb298f99388e641d4 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/a3a23550162e83abb298f99388e641d4 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T020000Z DTEND:20260626T040000Z SUMMARY:Evening Dinner On Your Own DESCRIPTION:Dinner on Your OwnTake the evening to explore nearby dining and connect with colleagues. CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:859666191c6a3bc1113e9604910bc285 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/859666191c6a3bc1113e9604910bc285 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T143000Z DTEND:20260626T213000Z SUMMARY:Registration/Member Services Opens DESCRIPTION:Start your SI2026 experience by visiting the Registration and Member Services desk! Our CALSA team will be available to welcome attendees\, assist with check-in\, and answer any questions about sessions\, schedules\, or membership benefits. It’s the perfect time to connect with the CALSA familia\, update your membership information\, and prepare for an inspiring conference ahead. CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:37ca56ea22a8f048eacd0ba082175b1f URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/37ca56ea22a8f048eacd0ba082175b1f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T150000Z DTEND:20260626T160000Z SUMMARY:Complimentary Coffee + Tea DESCRIPTION:Join us as SI2026 kicks off with a light morning welcome featuring coffee\, tea\, and connection. CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:fdacc4e4139de4c6e8cfdbf6fa026885 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/fdacc4e4139de4c6e8cfdbf6fa026885 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T150000Z DTEND:20260626T160000Z SUMMARY:Professional Headshots (By Appointment Only) DESCRIPTION:Take advantage of this opportunity to update your professional headshot during SI2026. A professional photographer will be available onsite to capture high-quality headshots ideal for district profiles\, professional bios\, LinkedIn\, and conference materials. Appointments are required and space is limited.\n\n CATEGORIES: LOCATION:TBA\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:0a180906217bf4ec58296cc53e65a4b0 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/0a180906217bf4ec58296cc53e65a4b0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T150000Z DTEND:20260626T230000Z SUMMARY:All-Day Meet & Mingle: CALSA Exhibitor Showcase (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) DESCRIPTION:Connect with CALSA’s valued partners and explore the innovative programs\, products\, and services they bring to our educational community. During this dedicated networking time\, attendees are encouraged to meet our exhibitors and discover new resources that support leadership development and student success. \;The exhibitor hall is open all day. CATEGORIES:NETWORKING LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:e85d563ff124a3fbd48b750103ef2fae URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/e85d563ff124a3fbd48b750103ef2fae END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T160000Z DTEND:20260626T170000Z SUMMARY:Bridges\, Not Barriers: Master Scheduling As An Equity Imperative DESCRIPTION:Equity does not live in mission statements—it lives in systems.\nEach year\, schools make critical decisions about course offerings\, placement\, staffing\, and instructional time. Too often\, these decisions are treated as operational rather than instructional. In reality\, the master schedule is one of the most powerful systems determining who has access to rigorous learning—and who does not.\nAligned to Somos el Puente entre Generaciones\, this session challenges leaders to confront a persistent truth: inequities endure not only through bias\, but through systems we have inherited and maintained. Master schedules\, in particular\, often reproduce patterns of tracking and limited access—quietly and predictably.\nParticipants will engage in analysis of real scheduling artifacts and data to:\nIdentify where master schedules restrict access for multilingual learners\, students with disabilities\, and historically marginalized groupsExamine how placement\, sequencing\, and staffing decisions shape opportunityApply protocols to uncover inequities embedded in routine practicesParticipants will leave with:\nValidation in your beliefs and frustrations in the existence of systemic barriersPractical strategies to align staffing\, course offerings\, and student placement with equity goalsImmediate next steps to redesign systems that expand access to rigorous learning for all studentsThis session centers master scheduling as a critical lever for systems transformation—moving from compliance to intentional design\, and from tradition to access. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 4\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:0c21a05af872c135e43ff81d224f688a URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/0c21a05af872c135e43ff81d224f688a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T160000Z DTEND:20260626T170000Z SUMMARY:Bridging the Next Step: Advancing Leadership Across Generations DESCRIPTION:As educational leaders\, we are called to be the bridge between generations—honoring the legacy of those before us while preparing to lead the future. This interactive workshop is designed for aspiring and current leaders ready to take the next step in their professional journey\, whether transitioning from Principal to Director\, Director to Assistant Superintendent\, or Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent.\n\n\nParticipants will explore what it truly means to be “ready” for the next level by examining the evolving expectations of leadership across generational contexts. A key focus of this session will include an overview of understanding your individual leadership style and how to intentionally leverage it as a strategic advantage when pursuing advancement. Attendees will reflect on their strengths\, identify areas for growth\, and learn how to align their leadership approach with the demands of higher-level roles.\n\n\nThe session will also highlight practical strategies for strengthening leadership capacity\, cultivating influential networks\, and positioning oneself for advancement in an increasingly complex educational landscape. Through guided reflection and collaborative dialogue\, participants will develop a personalized action plan aligned to their career goals.\n\n\nGrounded in the conference theme\, “We are the Bridge in between Generations\,” this session will empower leaders to embrace their role as connectors—linking vision\, experience\, and innovation. Both presenters will draw upon over 30 years of experience in education each\, culminating in two superintendencies in diverse urban school districts\, offering real-world insights and lessons learned.\n\n\nParticipants will leave with actionable tools\, renewed clarity\, and the confidence to navigate their leadership journey with purpose and impact. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 3\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:0592079d00722047c1eb7562ae8c387b URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/0592079d00722047c1eb7562ae8c387b END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T160000Z DTEND:20260626T170000Z SUMMARY:Coherence Under Pressure: Leading Schools Through Fiscal Crisis with Transparency and Trust DESCRIPTION:Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) faced a compounding crisis marked by deep budget reductions\, staff layoffs\, school closures\, and stagnant student achievement data. During this period of heightened anxiety for staff\, students\, and families\, district leadership made a deliberate and consequential choice: to lead with radical transparency rather than minimize or obscure the challenges.\n\n\nIn this session\, the Superintendent and Director of Communications will share how VCUSD stabilized and reshaped its organizational culture during systemic disruption by pairing honest communication with a clear\, student-centered decision-making framework. Central to this approach was the introduction of “Think VCUSD First”—not as a slogan\, but as a system-wide lens guiding leadership\, management\, and daily practice.\n\n\nPresenters will highlight how\, through aligned leadership and intentional messaging\, accountability was reframed from a top-down mandate into a shared responsibility rooted in student outcomes. This shift enabled the district to move from a culture of fear and scarcity toward one of collective commitment and purpose.\n\n\nAttendees will leave with practical strategies for leading through fiscal crisis\, aligning middle management\, and maintaining community trust—while keeping students at the center of every decision. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:f487cb04ec1da1b346df4a6d83a909d3 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/f487cb04ec1da1b346df4a6d83a909d3 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T160000Z DTEND:20260626T170000Z SUMMARY:From Insight to Action: Leveraging Student Well-Being Data in Community Schools DESCRIPTION:In this session\, participants will explore how leveraging student well-being data can support school districts in increasing attendance and promoting positive behavior in elementary (K–5) settings. By integrating gamification strategies with neuroscience-informed practices\, this approach delivers targeted psychoeducation\, equips students with practical self-regulation tools\, and generates meaningful\, real-time data to inform decision-making.\nAttendees will learn how \;Calexico Unified School District \;partners with community-based organizations such as \;Me & Mine \;to collect and analyze daily well-being data. This collaborative effort allows the district to intentionally group students\, tailor supports\, and proactively respond to student needs.\nThrough the lens of Community Schools initiatives\, this session will highlight how aligning data\, partnerships\, and whole-child practices leads to improved student outcomes\, stronger engagement\, and a more responsive system of support for all learners. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8ae56f5c1c5824ba40610adc3cfca031 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/8ae56f5c1c5824ba40610adc3cfca031 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T160000Z DTEND:20260626T170000Z SUMMARY:What Works: Inside a Golden Bell Award-Winning Attendance Transformation Grounded in Harvard’s Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships DESCRIPTION:This session highlights Centralia Elementary School District (CESD)'s CSBA Golden Bell Award-winning program\, \;Student Attendance Support Re-imagined: A Restorative SARB to Re-engage Students\, which reduced chronic absenteeism by \;nearly 50% \;in just one year.\nChronic absenteeism is often treated as a compliance issue\, but at CESD\, it became an opportunity to redesign systems around relationships\, equity\, and community. Following a significant post-pandemic rise in absenteeism\, CESD shifted from punitive approaches to a restorative\, family-centered model that addresses the root causes of student absence. Grounded in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and informed by Harvard’s Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships\, the program emphasizes early identification through real-time data\, culturally responsive family engagement\, and cross-sector collaboration with community partners\, health providers\, and social services.\nParticipants will learn how CESD built an integrated system that removes barriers such as housing instability\, mental health needs\, transportation challenges\, and access to basic resources. Innovative strategies—including multilingual outreach\, home visits\, a District Neighborhood Resource Center\, and creative solutions like the “Rain or Shine” toolkit—demonstrate \;how small\, intentional actions can lead to significant impact.\nThis session will also elevate the voices of families and community partners\, illustrating how trust\, empathy\, and collaboration lead to improved attendance\, student well-being\, and academic outcomes. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and a replicable framework to transform attendance systems into inclusive\, community-driven supports that ensure every student is present\, engaged\, and thriving. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4a486262a1cbe11235bf7bfc451cb809 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/4a486262a1cbe11235bf7bfc451cb809 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T171500Z DTEND:20260626T181500Z SUMMARY:Advancing Equity\, Innovation\, and Community Engagement through Expanded Learning Programs (ELO-P) DESCRIPTION:This session invites school administrators and their educational partners to explore how policy\, governance\, and system-level decision-making shape powerful Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs (ELO-P). Grounded in a whole-child approach\, participants will examine how ELO-P can be strategically aligned with Early Learning\, Multilingual Learners (MLL)\, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)\, Community Schools\, and Special Education (SPED) to better serve culturally and linguistically diverse students.\nAttendees will unpack key compliance components\, including alignment to LCAP\, SPSA\, and ELO-P requirements\, while centering student engagement\, belonging\, and equitable access. The session will also provide timely updates on legislation\, fiscal policies\, and funding structures\, offering practical strategies for navigating budget constraints without compromising program quality or student outcomes.\nThrough a spotlight on a local LEA\, participants will see how continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices and cross-functional collaboration can drive coherence across systems and improve outcomes for unduplicated pupils (UPPs).\nParticipants will leave with actionable insights to strengthen organizational alignment\, advocate for sustainable programming\, and lead with a systems-level lens that honors the assets\, identities\, and needs of Latino students and their communities. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8241d555c86e06d4bae7a96c9a841886 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/8241d555c86e06d4bae7a96c9a841886 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T171500Z DTEND:20260626T181500Z SUMMARY:Bridging Generations: Leading with Connection\, Clarity and Emotional Intelligence DESCRIPTION:Educational leadership today spans multiple generations of educators\, each bringing different perspectives on stress\, work-life balance\, communication\, and self-care. For Latino leaders in particular\, these dynamics are often layered with cultural expectations around service\, sacrifice\, and community responsibility. These differences often surface in workplace conflict\, leadership challenges\, and varying expectations about professional boundaries and self-care.\nFrom an HR and organizational leadership perspective\, many of these challenges often reflect differences in emotional regulation\, interpersonal communication\, and stress management that emerge when multiple generations work together in the same workplace.\nIn this session\, we will share how educational leaders can better understand and navigate generational differences in workplace stress and mental health. Using the framework of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)\, participants will focus on four core skill areas 1) mindfulness\, 2) distress tolerance\, 3) emotion regulation\, and 4) interpersonal effectiveness\, and apply them to real leadership challenges in schools.\nThrough the combined perspectives of educational leadership and clinical mental health practice\, participants will learn how DBT-informed strategies can strengthen leadership resilience\, improve workplace relationships\, and create healthier school environments.\nParticipants will leave with practical tools they can immediately apply to support staff well-being\, navigate generational differences\, and build more emotionally sustainable leadership practices. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 3\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:f44cb1981bc972e7fc386c6d16fda7bb URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/f44cb1981bc972e7fc386c6d16fda7bb END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T171500Z DTEND:20260626T181500Z SUMMARY:El Puente entre Generaciones: Activating Student Agency to Close the Equity Gap DESCRIPTION:If previous generations fought for access to the classroom and to be represented in the classroom\, this work is about equipping the next generation of students with the agency to lead their classrooms and campuses in ways that best meet their needs. In the traditional school model\, interventions are often things that are "assigned to" students\, rather than "developed with" them. For students experiencing inequities\, top-down approaches can inadvertently reinforce inequities and feelings of disenfranchisement. This session chronicles the shift that progressed Thurgood Marshall Secondary School (6-12) in Pasadena from compliance-based\, adult-driven intervention systems to systems born from student agency. We will explore how the power of student agency can combat inequities students experience.\nStudent-driven equity initiatives at Marshall include:\n1. Student-Driven PBIS (Positive Behavior\, Interventions and Supports)\nTraditional PBIS often fails when adults impose behavior expectations upon students. When students are trusted to define and place value on their own positive behaviors and then teach those behaviors to one another\, engagement and buy-in increase\, while challenging behaviors diminish.\n2. Student-Led SEL Lessons\nSocial-Emotional Learning (SEL) can feel clinical when delivered solely by adults. We demonstrate a model where students are trained to facilitate and then record SEL mini-lessons for their peers. This approach ensures that the language\, examples\, and scenarios used are culturally appropriate \;and authentic\, reducing the "relevance gap" that often plagues standard SEL curricula.\n3. Peer Mediation and Restorative Justice\nTo close the equity gap as it relates to student discipline\, we must move away from punitive measures that disproportionately affect students of color. When trained student leaders facilitate conflict resolution\, they are reinforcing skills taught through PBIS and SEL lessons to help their classmates reflect\, repair relationships and resolve conflicts\, which reduces suspension rates\, keeps students in the classroom and frees up time for administrators to engage in coaching teachers in culturally responsive teaching.\n4. Whole-Class Data Chats\nEquity thrives in transparency. When teachers relinquish the data analysis to students through classroom data-chats\, classroom community is strengthened as students see one another as partners in learning and skills development. "Whole-Class Data Chats" allow students to analyze and reflect on their own data in community and then write goals to monitor their own progress and hold each-other accountable. This practice demystifies "the system" and empowers students to foster a classroom community that emphasizes shared accountability \;over individualized shame.\n\n\nBy the end of this presentation\, participants \;will be able to:\nIdentify specific points in their current intervention framework where student voice can be integrated.Understand how to and why student agency is vital to closing the equity gapAnticipate the impact of student agency on school climate and long-term equity outcomes on their campuses.Envision a path to student-led initiatives at their schools. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 4\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:0d31ce624f9792059b5f22795cdfa665 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/0d31ce624f9792059b5f22795cdfa665 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T171500Z DTEND:20260626T181500Z SUMMARY:Juntas Hacia la Luz - Part 2: The Courage to Grow — CAREfrontation\, Confidence\, and Collective Uplift DESCRIPTION:As Latina leaders\, we often carry the weight of expectations\, cultural narratives\, and internalized beliefs that shape how we show up in leadership spaces. While mentorship opens doors\, true transformation requires the courage to confront growth edges with compassion\, clarity\, and intention.\nIn this powerful continuation of Juntas Hacia la Luz- \;Part \;1\, Dr. Sonia Rodarte Llamas and Dr. Teresa Alonzo are joined by their protégés\, Dr. Monica Luther\, Dr. Alma Ulloa and Cecilia Story to model what it means to lead across generations through trust\, honesty\, and collective care.\n\n\nGrounded in a strengths-based and healing-centered approach\, this session introduces CAREfrontation\, \;a framework that blends care and accountability to support growth without diminishing identity or voice. Drawing from leadership practice and clinical insight\, participants will explore how self-perception\, imposter feelings\, and fear-based narratives can become barriers to leadership effectiveness and how to move beyond them.\n\n\nThrough storytelling\, reflection\, and interactive dialogue\, attendees will learn how to:\nGive and receive feedback that strengthens rather than diminishesReframe internal narratives that limit leadership growthBuild cultures of trust\, affirmation\, and courageous conversationsUplift one another through intentional mentorship and sponsorship CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:a279dcddee771a05076a50053d63a45f URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/a279dcddee771a05076a50053d63a45f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T171500Z DTEND:20260626T181500Z SUMMARY:Latina Leadership at the Intersections: The Path to the Superintendency-Real Talk. Real Barriers. Real Power. DESCRIPTION:Latinas are highly represented across the educational workforce\, yet remain strikingly underrepresented in the superintendency. This gap is often framed as a pipeline issue. This session challenges that narrative and invites a deeper examination of how leadership pathways are actually experienced.\n\n\nGrounded in a narrative inquiry study of Latina superintendents in California\, this session centers the lived experiences of leaders who have successfully navigated the path to executive leadership. Their stories reveal a more complex reality\, one shaped not simply by preparation but by access\, visibility\, systemic barriers\, and the critical role of mentorship\, sponsorship\, and community.\n\n\nThrough an interactive presentation grounded in research and real-world experiences\, participants will engage in structured reflection and peer dialogue to examine how leadership pathways are constructed and who is positioned as “ready.” Attendees will be invited to reflect on their own leadership journeys while gaining practical\, actionable strategies to build networks\, expand influence\, and intentionally create more equitable pathways for emerging leaders.\n\n\nThis session is both a mirror and a call to action. Participants will leave not only with a deeper understanding of the realities shaping leadership advancement but with concrete tools to disrupt inequitable systems and strengthen leadership pipelines. Together\, we will explore how to ensure the next generation of leaders is not only prepared but seen\, supported\, and selected.\n\n\n CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:6ae1f2d431309c6ea8bc65439c635d0a URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/6ae1f2d431309c6ea8bc65439c635d0a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T171500Z DTEND:20260626T181500Z SUMMARY:Strategic Attendance Recovery: Data-Driven Solutions for Chronic Absenteeism Reduction DESCRIPTION:This session will describe \;a strategic framework for reducing chronic absenteeism\, which resulted in a \;31% reduction in chronic absenteeism at the elementary level of a Central Valley school district within 18 months. \;Utilized in a second Central Valley School district\, chronic absenteeism was reduced in the 2025-26 school year to 7%. \;These districts implemented a proactive\, data-driven approach that combines actionable attendance data\, early warning indicators\, and targeted intervention strategies designed to identify and address barriers to student attendance.\nThis session will also highlight how districts can leverage \;real-time attendance data systems such as Ed-Link\, \;to identify students at risk for chronic absenteeism and deploy timely interventions. Data dashboards allow school teams to monitor attendance patterns\, identify trends\, and implement targeted recovery strategies before absenteeism becomes entrenched.\nParticipants will also explore \;flexible attendance recovery strategies \;that districts can implement to support students in recovering lost instructional time\, including:\nOne-Day Independent Study (IS)\n\n\nShort-Term Independent Study\n\n\nAttendance recovery opportunities through before- and after-school programs\n\n\nSaturday academies designed to provide additional instructional time and engagement\n\n CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:bcae060c5918c404c441a3806afce097 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/bcae060c5918c404c441a3806afce097 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T181500Z DTEND:20260626T184500Z SUMMARY:Transition & Networking DESCRIPTION:Take this time to connect with fellow attendees while transitioning to the mainstage session.\n\n CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:b5d1a30b73d39919428efc40480f60aa URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/b5d1a30b73d39919428efc40480f60aa END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T190000Z DTEND:20260626T204500Z SUMMARY:Keynote Address with Pedro Antonio Noguera\, Ph.D. & Honoring Our Own Celebration (Meal Included) DESCRIPTION:Join us for a featured Mainstage Session with keynote remarks from Pedro Antonio Noguera\, Ph.D.\, Dean of the USC Rossier School of Education\, followed by CALSA’s 2025–2026 Honoring Our Own Awards recognizing leaders whose work reflects the heart of our CALSA familia through service\, equity\, advocacy\, and community.\n This year’s honorees include:\n Rubén Aurelio\, Superintendent\, Vallejo City Unified School District Norma E. Martinez\, Superintendent\, Centralia Elementary School District Carlos Zaragoza\, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources\, Lynwood Unified School District Dr. Brenda Garcia Castro\, Assistant Principal\, Century Community Charter School\, Lennox School District Evita Tapia\, Chief Communications Officer\, Corona-Norco Unified School District Eva Tafoya-Tapp\, MTSS Instructional Coach\, Coachella Valley Unified School District The session will also include the presentation of CALSA’s Partner of the Year Award. Announcement coming soon. \; CATEGORIES:GENERAL SESSION LOCATION:Chula Vista Ballrom 4-6\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:3968f143cd7f48da1e9504a25c41f840 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/3968f143cd7f48da1e9504a25c41f840 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T210000Z DTEND:20260626T220000Z SUMMARY:CALSA Women's Leadership Network - Bridging the Gap: Diverse Pathways to Leadership and Impact DESCRIPTION:This dynamic panel\, presented on behalf of the Women Leadership Network\, highlights the diverse and inspiring journeys of women leaders across the educational landscape. Through personal narratives and professional insights\, panelists will explore the full arc of leadership—from early influences to executive roles—demonstrating how resilience\, mentorship\, and opportunity shape leadership pathways.\nPanelists will share unique experiences\, including the journey to becoming a superintendent\, the transformative experience of a former Freedom Writers student who successfully bridged into leadership and advocacy\, and a nontraditional pathway to leadership that challenges conventional norms. Each story reflects the power of perseverance\, representation\, and intentional support systems.\n\n\n CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:b5e76d4c1be48166ac1ec89645851829 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/b5e76d4c1be48166ac1ec89645851829 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T210000Z DTEND:20260626T220000Z SUMMARY:Community Schools Impact on Student Outcomes: Evidence From California DESCRIPTION:At a time when schools nationwide are grappling with unprecedented challenges\, including intensified chronic absence and widening achievement gaps\, many states are looking to community schools as an approach to improve student learning and well-being. California has responded with an historic $4.1 billion investment to transform schools into community hubs that support students and families through the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP).\n\n\nAdditionally\, the Governor has proposed one billion dollars in ongoing funding for Community Schools. \;\n\n\nThis session will provide an overview of LPI's report—Community Schools Impact on Student Outcomes: Evidence From California as well as discussion with policy experts regarding the proposed investments and rollout. \;\n\n\nIn just their first full year of implementation\, schools in the study that were either newly implementing or expanding community school approaches showed consistently positive impacts on student outcomes across multiple areas:\nImproved Test Scores\nReduced Chronic Absence\nReduced Suspension Rates\nLargest Gains Among Historically Underserved Students CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:7a54f95b0fe909d823ba5465b82eaacc URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/7a54f95b0fe909d823ba5465b82eaacc END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T210000Z DTEND:20260626T220000Z SUMMARY:From Compliance to Coherence: Leveraging AI to Transform Federal Program Monitoring Systems DESCRIPTION:Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) is often experienced as a high-stakes\, compliance-driven process that can overwhelm systems\, fragment ownership across departments\, and pull leaders away from instructional priorities. This session shares how one district reimagined its FPM approach by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) within a broader system of distributed leadership\, clear structures\, and cross-department collaboration. Participants will learn how AI was strategically leveraged to streamline evidence development\, draft responses to auditor feedback\, organize large volumes of documentation\, and increase efficiency without compromising accuracy or compliance. Beyond the tools themselves\, the session highlights the leadership moves that made this work sustainable\, including the development of centralized trackers\, defined roles and responsibilities\, structured communication cycles\, and ongoing support systems for site and district teams. Grounded in real examples from a completed FPM cycle\, this session will demonstrate how leaders can shift from reactive compliance to proactive system design—building coherence\, reducing operational burden\, and creating greater capacity to focus on student outcomes and equitable access. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:e3f880c3bfa89d827fd2bd8a899e8f29 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/e3f880c3bfa89d827fd2bd8a899e8f29 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T210000Z DTEND:20260626T220000Z SUMMARY:Making Equity Observable: Building Bridges Through Instructional Rounds and Equity Walkthroughs to Align Policy\, Practice\, and Access DESCRIPTION:What does equity look like when it is truly embedded in classroom practice? \;For one district\, it meant moving beyond policy statements and compliance to co-create a district Equity Walkthrough Tool for leaders \;that makes equity visible in every classroom. This tool aligns instructional practices with a shared language of culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy. It provides a structure for instructional rounds\, data collection\, and collaborative calibration. \;District and site leaders first used the tool to develop a common understanding of what rigorous\, equitable instruction looks like.\nThe work did not stop at leadership\; administrators empowered teacher leaders to participate in reflective observations\, facilitating professional dialogue and building collective ownership of equity-focused instruction. By bridging policy\, pedagogy\, and practice\, the district is strengthening coherence across schools while ensuring that multi-lingual\, and other \;historically underserved student groups remain the focus of improvement efforts. Participants will see how systems level approaches—including instructional rounds and shared calibration—can transform both teaching and leadership to improve student outcomes. The session shares concrete strategies for empowering educators\, fostering collaboration\, and sustating cutlrually responice practices to at scale. \;\nAttendees will leave with a replicable framework for making equity actionable\, observable\, and sustainable. This session demonstrates how educational leaders can partner to build bridges acosss our education system to support leaders\, teachers and students\, caring forward the equity work to create meaning\, lasting impact in school communities. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 3\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:59df472ba2781c0ac720b142c9ae1ab0 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/59df472ba2781c0ac720b142c9ae1ab0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T210000Z DTEND:20260626T220000Z SUMMARY:Pa’ Nuestra Gente: Building Latine/x Affinity\, Belonging\, and Leadership DESCRIPTION:Affinity spaces play a meaningful role in helping Latine/x staff feel connected\, seen\, and supported within educational institutions. Grounded in the theme \;Somos el Puente entre Generaciones\, presenters will reflect on the origins of ACOE’s Latine/x affinity group\, lessons learned\, challenges\, ongoing growth and impact on participants and agency culture. This session will explore how affinity spaces can foster connection\, community\, mentorship\, and leadership across generations and roles. \;\n\n\nRather than presenting a best or model practice\, we will invite open and honest conversations about what it takes to build and sustain affinity spaces in our organizations. Participants will leave with ideas\, reflections\, and practical considerations for building or strengthening affinity spaces that honor identity\, foster belonging\, and support intergenerational connection and leadership. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 4\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:d07490a7d18b730f74a37458f462ff6f URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/d07490a7d18b730f74a37458f462ff6f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T210000Z DTEND:20260626T220000Z SUMMARY:The Time is Now: Building the Conditions for Multilingual Education for All DESCRIPTION:Multilingual Education for All is a statewide campaign designed to build the conditions\, policy commitments\, and public will needed to make multilingualism a defining feature of California’s P–12 education system. Rooted in a decade of progress and a growing body of research\, this campaign calls for a systems shift: one where multilingualism is affirmed\, developed\, and integrated into the educational experience of every student.  \;\nCalifornia is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. Nearly 200 languages are spoken in homes across the state\, and this diversity is one of California’s greatest assets—socially\, culturally\, and economically. Yet our education system does not fully reflect or nurture that richness.\nOver the past several decades\, California has charted a clear shift toward an assets-based\, research-aligned vision for language education\, reflected in milestones such as the State Seal of Biliteracy\, the passage of Proposition 58 repealing Proposition 227\, and the adoption of the California English Learner Roadmap and Global California 2030.\nYet despite this progress\, subtractive schooling patterns persist\, and only a minority of English learners have access to strong multilingual education programs. Is this the moment to push for Multilingual Education for All? We say YES.\nParticipants will gain access to tools\, resources\, and a campaign framework to assess local readiness and spark action. Let’s explore how this statewide movement can inspire a push for multiliteracy as a right\, not a privilege. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8a5363484b6c7f2d1a544cfc5018139a URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/8a5363484b6c7f2d1a544cfc5018139a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T221500Z DTEND:20260626T231500Z SUMMARY:Anatomy of Achievement How Cabinet Leaders Use Data\, Systems\, and Assessments to Drive Districtwide Success DESCRIPTION:District success is not driven by one department alone. It is the result of a cabinet that operates with shared purpose\, disciplined systems\, and a collective commitment to using data in ways that strengthen organizational performance and student outcomes. \;Anatomy of Achievement \;offers a rare inside look at how leaders across multiple divisions rely on data\, assessments\, and analytic systems to lead effectively within their own areas while contributing to a larger districtwide strategy.\n\n\nThis panel session will bring together voices from human resources\, educational services\, student services\, governance\, and executive leadership to explore how evidence informed decision making shapes staffing\, instruction\, intervention\, accountability\, operational planning\, and student support. Participants will gain insight into how departments use different forms of data while remaining aligned around a common mission: increasing academic achievement\, improving organizational effectiveness\, and addressing opportunity gaps through coherent and responsive systems. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:9db4b99e6ae64715ef983a437dc9004f URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/9db4b99e6ae64715ef983a437dc9004f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T221500Z DTEND:20260626T231500Z SUMMARY:BEACONS for Biliteracy: Designing Coherent\, Equity-Centered Literacy Systems for Multilingual Learners DESCRIPTION:This session introduces the BEACONS Comprehensive Biliteracy and English Literacy Professional Learning Model\, a research-based framework designed to strengthen literacy outcomes for multilingual learners through coherence\, equity\, and instructional precision. Grounded in the California ELA/ELD Framework\, the English Learner Roadmap\, and the California Dyslexia Guidelines\, BEACONS supports educators in translating research into high-impact classroom practice.\nParticipants will explore the BEACONS 6E instructional model (Engage\, Explore\, Explain\, Elaborate\, Evaluate\, Extend) and how it integrates foundational skills\, meaning-making\, language development\, effective expression\, and content knowledge within a unified literacy system. The session emphasizes how explicit and systematic foundational skills instruction can be meaning-centered and embedded within culturally and linguistically responsive learning experiences.\nThrough classroom examples and cross-linguistic applications\, participants will examine how to design instruction that leverages students’ full linguistic repertoires and supports biliteracy development across languages. The session also highlights the use of multiple data sources—such as decoding\, writing\, comprehension\, and language development—to inform responsive\, MTSS-aligned instruction.\nAligned to California’s Quality Professional Learning Standards\, this session equips educators with practical tools and a clear vision for advancing biliteracy as a pathway to equity and opportunity. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 4\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:03c8c256e061456b048b26d0612d8050 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/03c8c256e061456b048b26d0612d8050 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T221500Z DTEND:20260626T231500Z SUMMARY:From Awareness to Action: Empowering Youth to Lead\, Educate\, and Protect Their Rights DESCRIPTION:This session highlights a powerful student-centered approach to advancing awareness of educational rights through youth leadership and advocacy. Led by \;Fredy Ruiz\, Immigrant Relations Coordinator\, this initiative equips students with the knowledge\, skills\, and confidence to understand their rights and educate their peers—particularly in the context of changing immigration policies and their impact on school communities. Grounded in resources such as \;Legal Protections for Immigrant Students \, students engage in structured learning experiences that build their understanding of key laws\, protections\, and school responsibilities.\nThrough this model\, students are not only recipients of information but become leaders and advocates on their campuses. Participants will learn how students are trained to develop and deliver presentations on educational rights\, using accessible language and peer-to-peer strategies that increase engagement and trust. The session will also highlight how students design and implement advocacy projects tailored to their school communities—ranging from awareness campaigns and resource guides to student-led workshops and safe space initiatives.\nThis work centers student voice\, agency\, and culturally responsive leadership\, while also strengthening school climate and fostering a sense of belonging. By empowering students to lead this work\, schools create sustainable systems of peer education and advocacy that extend beyond traditional adult-led approaches.\nAttendees will leave with practical tools and replicable strategies to implement student empowerment models that build knowledge\, leadership\, and advocacy capacity among students\, particularly those from immigrant and mixed-status families. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 2\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:05c0a81cf66b2fa8c087184f463ff163 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/05c0a81cf66b2fa8c087184f463ff163 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T221500Z DTEND:20260626T231500Z SUMMARY:My Name. My Identity. DESCRIPTION:This interactive session\, My Name. My Identity\, empowers educators to recognize\, honor\, and celebrate the significance of each student’s name and identity as a cornerstone of an inclusive classroom. A student’s name is deeply connected to culture\, family\, history\, and personal identity. When educators intentionally create space to honor this\, they foster a learning environment where students feel seen\, heard\, and respected.\n\n\nParticipants will explore practical\, culturally responsive strategies that elevate student voice and build belonging. Through activities such as name storytelling\, identity mapping\, and reflective writing\, educators will learn how to integrate identity-centered practices into daily instruction. The session will also model ways to establish classroom norms that promote respect for diverse identities\, including correct name pronunciation\, inclusive language\, and opportunities for students to share their personal narratives.\n\n\nIn addition\, this module highlights the importance of connecting classroom practices to family and community. Educators will consider ways to invite families to share the meaning and history behind students’ names\, strengthening partnerships and creating a more holistic understanding of each learner.\n\n\nBy the end of the session\, participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies and tools that support social-emotional learning\, increase student engagement\, and promote equity. Ultimately\, this session equips educators to cultivate classroom environments where every student’s identity is valued as an asset\, laying the foundation for academic success and a strong sense of belonging. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Honey Locust 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:aae9639abff89e63b8d9908baaa22615 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/aae9639abff89e63b8d9908baaa22615 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T221500Z DTEND:20260626T231500Z SUMMARY:Somos el Puente entre Generaciones: Bridging Access for Multilingual Learners with Diverse Needs DESCRIPTION:As Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs continue to expand across California\, ensuring equitable access for multilingual learners with disabilities remains both an urgent challenge and a critical leadership responsibility. Too often\, students are excluded from DLI due to misconceptions about disability\, language development\, or program design - limiting access to bilingualism\, identity development\, and rigorous learning opportunities.\n\n\nThis interactive session\, grounded in IDEA\, Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)\, and the California English Learner Roadmap\, equips site and district leaders with the tools to make legally sound\, equity-driven decisions at the intersection of DLI and Special Education. Participants will engage in real-world case studies\, examine common leadership dilemmas\, and confront deficit-based assumptions that impact student placement and program access.\n\n\nUsing the 4 Bridges Framework - \;Belief\, Instruction\, Systems\, and Family Engagement - attendees will explore how to design inclusive programs where services follow the student\, not the program. The session emphasizes actionable leadership moves that elevate family voice in IEP and DLI decisions.\n\n\nFramed by the theme Somos el Puente entre Generaciones\, this session challenges leaders to honor students’ linguistic and cultural assets while building systems that support success across all abilities. Participants will leave with practical strategies\, a clear understanding of legal expectations\, and a concrete action step to strengthen alignment between DLI and Special Education at their site ensuring more inclusive\, sustainable pathways for the next generation of learners. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Live Oak 1\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:474ca0818597fd2f8a72acf9a6964152 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/474ca0818597fd2f8a72acf9a6964152 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260626T221500Z DTEND:20260626T231500Z SUMMARY:Stay Ahead of the Charge: Preventing Unfair Labor Practice Claims DESCRIPTION:This session aligns with Policy\, Advocacy\, and the Bridges That Shape the Future of Public Education by examining how labor relations practices directly reflect and influence district policy\, governance\, and organizational coherence. Preventing unfair labor practice claims is not only a legal responsibility but a leadership and systems-level function that impacts workplace culture\, employee trust\, and ultimately student outcomes.\n\n\nUnfair practice charges can arise quickly—but with the right strategies\, many can be prevented. This session will walk attendees through common scenarios that lead to claims and provide practical tools for avoiding missteps. Learn how to navigate challenging labor situations\, improve communication with employee organizations\, and take proactive steps to reduce risk. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:Fern Pine 3\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4839220a34071bbfde6953607a578a35 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/4839220a34071bbfde6953607a578a35 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260627T010000Z DTEND:20260627T030000Z SUMMARY:Evening Partner & Sponsor Networking DESCRIPTION:Details coming soon. Join us for an evening of connection at the hotel\, bringing together attendees\, partners\, and sponsors to build relationships and strengthen our collective impact.\n\n CATEGORIES:EVENING CELEBRATION LOCATION:TBA\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:c981a9b574e3f0d26835ec76139bc072 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/c981a9b574e3f0d26835ec76139bc072 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260627T020000Z DTEND:20260627T040000Z SUMMARY:Evening Dinner on Your Own DESCRIPTION:Dinner on Your Own\n Take the evening to explore nearby dining and connect with colleagues. CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:adfcf3c3d98839af23e7ac51b0a914d0 URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/adfcf3c3d98839af23e7ac51b0a914d0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260627T153000Z DTEND:20260627T200000Z SUMMARY:CALSA Classified Leadership Academy — Registered Participants Only DESCRIPTION:The CALSA Classified Leadership Academy is a year-long leadership development experience designed to support classified staff in building leadership habits\, strengthening skills\, and growing into expanded roles.\n \n Grounded in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People\, the program combines in-person and virtual learning to build confidence\, capacity\, and connection.\n \n If you’re interested in joining this cohort of 30 participants\, register by May 31\, 2026.\n Learn more: \;calsa.org/classifiedleaders\n\n CATEGORIES: LOCATION:TBA\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:395cf987614de9bb020593987b37b1bc URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/395cf987614de9bb020593987b37b1bc END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260520T225510Z DTSTART:20260627T153000Z DTEND:20260627T200000Z SUMMARY:CALSA Mentoring Program — Registered Participants Only DESCRIPTION:This year\, CALSA Mentoring Program brings together Cohort 22 and Cohort 23 for a two-year leadership journey rooted in comunidad\, mentorship\, and purposeful growth. Designed to strengthen the Latino/a leadership pipeline\, the program connects mentors and protégés to build capacity\, navigate career pathways\, and lead with impact.\n \n\n Learn more about the program: \;calsa.org/mentoring-program\n\n CATEGORIES: LOCATION:TBA\, Chula Vista\, CA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:b69b077a7fdaadb0e77d903e6dad82ec URL:http://calsasummerinstitute2026.sched.com/event/b69b077a7fdaadb0e77d903e6dad82ec END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR