OCTOBER 2023
From the directors
Dear friends and colleagues,
Our 21CSLA Fall Retreat in Berkeley last week brought together some 70 leaders from across California for two days focused on digitally mediated learning in the context of equity in education. We started the retreat with our origin story about how the pandemic fundamentally shifted our trajectory as news of the grant award coincided directly with the shutdown in March 2020. Like so many others, we were compelled to quickly pivot to an uncharted remote context.
And so, baked into the DNA of 21CSLA from day one was the question of how we support school leaders in using technology effectively and critically to increase access and learning.
As we begin 21CSLA’s next three years, our digitally mediated learning team is taking this work even further to embrace how young people are already using tech for communicating, storytelling, and learning in ways that educators might fear or discount. As one participant said: “As leaders, instead of just thinking about the deficits, we need to open our minds to all of the brilliance that we’re missing.”
We are continuously improving our approach to digitally mediated learning and equity with open and critical minds. Thank you for being with us on this journey.
Warmly,
Dr. Rebecca Cheung Director, 21CSLA State Center
Dr. Jabari Mahiri Chair, 21CSLA Leadership Board
Dr. Kim Wallace Associate Director, 21CSLA State Center
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21CSLA Research-Practice Webinar: How teacher diversity supports diverse students and families in early childhood education
Early educational experiences are essential for promoting children’s long term well-being, and these early experiences and interactions with educators may be of particular importance—particularly for children and families of color, or for children and families who speak a heritage language. Our next webinar, featuring Professor Anna Markowitz from the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies, will discuss how teachers contribute to child and family experiences in early childhood education, how teacher-child racial ethnic match may play a role in shaping these experiences, how policy shapes the diversity of the early education workforce, and how leaders can think about cultivating spaces that support diverse children and families. The webinar will be facilitated by Professor Jabari Mahiri, Berkeley School of Education, on Wednesday, November 1, 3:30–4:30 pm PDT. All webinars are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Register for the webinar.
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Inquiry Now
An equity-centered, research-based professional learning series
TK–12 instructional leaders are invited to sign up for upcoming Inquiry Now professional learning opportunities.
Read more about Inquiry Now.
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Equity-centered UTK trainings for California educators
Site, teacher, and central office leaders are invited to join us for these upcoming UTK leadership professional learning opportunities.
Read more about the 21CSLA UTK professional learning modules.
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Job announcements
The 21CSLA State Center is hiring a Director of Research and a Director of the Universal Transitional Kindergarten Initiative. Please help us spread the word.
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Regional Academy Spotlight
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Alameda Regional Academy
The Alameda Regional Academy launched a new local affinity group of Latino/x/a school leaders—the Latinx Leaders Network—at the beginning of Latinx Heritage Month, with a lecture by UC Berkeley Vice Provost and School of Education Professor Lisa García Bedolla. García Bedolla talked about bias and data: “If we do want to have transformational practices, we need to have equitable and innovative data,” she said. The Latinx Leaders Network, led by 21CSLA’s Richard Zapien and other Regional Academy colleagues, is intended to provide an ongoing space for participants to discuss their experiences as Latino/a/x educators and school leaders through monthly meetings. In combination with García Bedolla’s lecture, the Alameda Regional Academy gathered Cohort 2 Year 1 coaching clients and coaches together for our first-ever in-person coaching orientation. Coaching Coordinator Viet Nguyen led the group through an introduction to our coaching program, particularly focusing on coaching for equity. Coaching clients began the process of setting an equity-focused goal for the year, spent time in community, and shared takeaways from García Bedolla’s talk. Feedback from the morning indicates that more in-person coaching gatherings are welcome, and the ARA team is planning for at least one additional gathering in 2024.
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More on 21CSLA and leading for equity
The 21st Century California School Leadership Academy provides professional learning opportunities and support to help California’s educational leaders create equitable learning environments to improve instruction and achievement outcomes for underserved students. Headquartered at the UC Berkeley School of Education, 21CSLA is led in partnership with the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies, California Subject Matter Project, and seven Regional Academies throughout the state.
Find us at 21cslacenter.berkeley.edu. Connect with us on Twitter @21CSLA, on Instagram @21CSLA, and on LinkedIn at 21st Century California School Leadership Academy. Not a subscriber to 21CSLA News? Join us.
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