CALSA Summer Institute 2026

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.

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

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

What does it really take to become a superintendent?
Join an inspiring and candid conversation with accomplished educational leaders who have navigated the journey to the superintendency—each through a unique and powerful path. In this engaging breakout session, panelists will share the pivotal moments, personal reflections, challenges, and leadership lessons that shaped their careers and prepared them for one of education’s most influential roles.
Whether you are actively pursuing superintendency, exploring your next leadership move, or simply curious about the realities of the role, this session will offer authentic insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom from leaders who have walked the path before you.
Come hear:

• The untold stories behind the title
• Lessons learned along the way
• Strategies for leading with courage and purpose
• Honest reflections on balancing challenge, responsibility, and joy
• Advice they wish someone had shared earlier in their careers

This is more than a panel discussion—it is an opportunity to be inspired, affirmed, and empowered to envision your own leadership future.
Your next leadership chapter may begin here.

Leaders, teachers and students face unique challenges every day, which is why it is so important to create a campus environment that fosters safety, connection, and well-being at all levels. By Leading with Heart, administrators and teachers create safe and welcoming environments where students are relationally connected and eager to learn. 
 
We believe, “if you have a child’s heart, you have a child’s mind.” If teachers create a relational connection to students, or “Capture Kids’ Hearts®,” performance accelerates, and behaviors greatly improve because kids want to be in school. The same can be said of leadership and all staff who face challenges. When school culture is built on relationships that tend to overall well-being, it is proven that campuses, districts, and entire communities can be transformed.

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.
In 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.


Grounded 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.


Through storytelling, reflection, and interactive dialogue, attendees will learn how to:

• Give and receive feedback that strengthens rather than diminishes
• Reframe internal narratives that limit leadership growth
• Build cultures of trust, affirmation, and courageous conversations
• Uplift one another through intentional mentorship and sponsorship

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.


This 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.