Tulare County Office of Education is excited to announce the 2026-27 Principals Academy. Whether you are new to the principalship or an aspiring leader, this series is designed to equip you with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to thrive in your leadership role. During these informative and interactive sessions, we’ll explore the core duties and expectations of a successful school leader in our county. You’ll learn about essential district policies, leadership best practices, and key operational responsibilities — from instructional leadership and staff management to school safety and community engagement. Our goal is to ensure that you feel confident, prepared, and welcomed as a vital member of our educational community. Facilitator: Vicky Armstrong With over 35 years of experience in education, Vicky Armstrong brings a deep understanding of school leadership, instructional systems, and organizational improvement to the Principals Academy. A former award-winning site principal, Armstrong led a school that went from being low performing school to one that earned the California Distinguished School Award and was recognized three times with the CBEE Award for Closing the Achievement Gap. To learn more about Armstrong visit https://bit.ly/4eGZt2Z.

MUSD PLC Leadership Academy with Maria Nielsen. Join us as Maria continues to support our PLC journey on how to respond to the evidence of learning - questions three and four.

YUSD PLC Leadership Academy with Maria Nielsen on Sept. 8 and Nicole Dimich on Dec. 1st. Join us with Maria and Nicole as she supports our expertise on building quality assessments.

GUIDING QUESTION: How does California’s UTK policy support principals and district leaders to expand TK and elevate classroom quality in order to reduce unfair disparities for children? LEARNING OUTCOME: District and school leaders know how California’s UTK initiative may narrow disparities in young children’s growth and development.

We are planning a COP that supports School Climate with a focus on Community School strategies to increase student engagement. We are planning to invite various district specialists, community partners, and caregivers to collaborate around best practices. We will be sharing ideas around how to best support students. Tentatively we are looking to have sessions that focus on the Behavior Intervention, Foster/Unstably Housed, IEP/SPED, Counseling Services, Attendance, Working with SEL Data, and a Community Partners Panel. We are also planning to also offer zoom options for some or all sessions.

The District Support Network provides an opportunity for educational leaders in Stanislaus County to connect with colleagues, share ideas, and collaborate on initiatives that enhance student success. The network offers opportunities to build relationships across districts and engage in professional development focused on current educational trends, best practices, and innovative strategies. Participants can expect District Spotlight Presentations highlighting successes and lessons learned, Professional Learning sessions led by content experts on selected Voice & Choice topics, Job‑Alike time to consult with peers on current priorities, and Team Time to work with their school teams on current initiatives.

This Community of Practice brings together 6th - 12th grade educators with a shared goal: to build lifelong writing skills in all students. Together, we will explore strategies that promote student autonomy, confidence, and growth in writing. Our work will focus on creating strong, sustainable classroom writing systems that support diverse learners and empower writers to see themselves as capable, independent communicators. Participants are encouraged to bring both ideas and questions to fuel collaborative inquiry, deepen our collective understanding, and learn from one another. Whether you're refining your current approach or building something new, this CoP will provide a space to reflect, explore, and grow alongside passionate colleagues.