New Personnel Training for Principals, Administrators, and Outreach Consultants
Margarita Garcia, Education Programs Consultant, CSS Field Colleague, EAN Board Member, Comprehensive Student Support Program; Monica Nepomuceno, Education Programs Consultant, CSS Field Colleague, Comprehensive Student Support Program; Jennifer Carpenter, CSS Outreach Consultant/Field Colleague, Glenelder Elementary School; Renee Scott-Femenella, CSS Field Colleague, Principal, Northwood Elementary; Steve Garcia, Assistant Principal, CSS Field Colleague, South El Monte High School; Steve Berta, Faculty, SJSU, CSS Field Colleague; Sue Kaiser, Principal, Sierra Vista Middle School, CA

This overview of the CSS program is required for all principals and for those outreach consultants who have not completed the Dropout Prevention Specialist Certificate program. This presentation will feature a video presentation, interactive training by expert field colleagues and principals, and a clear understanding of what makes CSS such an effective academic and student support program.

Student Success Team (SST) & Response to Intervention (RTI) Training
Jim Anderson, Intervention Team Coordinator, CSS Field Colleague, Health & Human Services, LAUSD

This three-hour class will be a comprehensive training in the SST process and will discuss the overlap between the SST and RTI, and how best to utilize them both. Jim Anderson, LAUSD Multidisciplinary Team Support Coordinator, incorporates his experiences involving teaching children who are at-risk, incarcerated youth, and social work with his current efforts supporting schools to develop collaborative multidisciplinary teams. With 20 years experience in education and social work, he provides a unique perspective on working with children and young adults. Jim is a popular speaker frequently asked to present at the local, state, and national levels on topics such as dropout prevention, collaborative teaming, positive behavior support, and Response to Intervention (RTI).

Middle Grades Take Center Stage: Spotlighting Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap
Carol Abbott, Education Programs Consultant, CDE Middle and High School Improvement Office

Student achievement in middle grades is a critical link to success in high school, college, and career. Taking Center StageÑAct II (TCSII) contains research-based information, examples of real-world connections, and promising practices that engage young adolescents. Learn about strategies for making middle grades a place where students are inspired to become lifelong learners. This interactive session focuses on understanding the young adolescent and applying the 12 recommendations for success.

Closing the Achievement Gap Through Cultural Competency, Awareness, and Focus
Shadidi Sia-Maat, Education Programs Consultant; Miguel Cordova, Education Programs Consultant, PÐ16 Council, CDE: Executive Office, CA

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction has initiated a conversation concerning race and the achievement gap. While this is a difficult subject, it is critical that school sites consider how they can create an environment that is accepting and welcoming for all of our students and their families. What are some indicators that may help identify areas needing focused effort in creating an environment and developing staff that are culturally competent and aware of issues of difference? Come and engage!

Transforming Schools into Professional Learning Communities
Jose Hernandez, Director of School Services; Carlos Garibaldi, AP Elementary Instructional Support, Ellen Ochoa KÐ8 School, LAUSD Local District 6, CA

Educational leaders at all levels are being challenged to produce results in terms of improved teaching and learning for students and adults. To meet this end, we need to understand why change is so difficult in transforming the school culture. We need to understand and learn how to build the infrastructure to sustain the learning necessary to meet the needs of our 21st-century students.