The New Principals’ Academy initiative from the Tulare County Office of Education is designed as a sustained Community of Practice for site leaders and aspiring site leaders. Over six interactive, three-hour sessions held monthly, participants will explore the core duties, expectations, and best practices of successful school leadership in Tulare County. Each session will begin with a 30-minute dinner and networking period, followed by reflection on prior learning and progress on action steps. New content will then be introduced, paired with actionable strategies for implementation before the next session. This structure will promote accountability, collaboration, and real-time application of learning.

If you are an educational leader working with students in 4-12th grade and are interested in bringing AI into your teaching—especially for writing instruction—we invite you to join our AI Explorers Community of Practice (CoP). This paid initiative offers hands-on opportunities to explore tools like Clara, an AI writing assistant from Write the World that helps students brainstorm ideas, organize their thoughts, and revise their work while keeping their authentic voice. You’ll collaborate with peers, try out AI for activities like guided peer feedback, audience analysis, and research organization, and share your insights with schools across the county. No prior AI experience is required.

The English Learner Network provides the space for educators to collaborate and learn about strategies to support English Learners and improve learning outcomes. Information and updates from the California Department of Education (CDE) and U.S. Department of Education will be shared. Topics include: ✓ Initial, Alternate, Summative ELPAC ✓ ELPAC Interim Assessments ✓ English Language Development ✓ Parent Engagement ✓ Title III Updates ✓ Federal Program Monitoring EL Instrument

The Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Communities of Practice (CoPs) are funded through the 21CSLA Equity-Centered Leadership Grant, which supports professional learning that strengthens access, opportunity, and inclusion for historically underserved and marginalized learners. This grant prioritizes leadership and instructional practices that promote equitable outcomes across early learning systems. Through this grant-funded series, TK educators engage in collaborative professional learning focused on developmentally appropriate practice, play-based instruction, and intentional alignment with the California Preschool Learning Foundations and the P–3 continuum. Sessions emphasize reflective practice, peer collaboration, and practical strategies that can be immediately applied in TK classrooms. The TK CoPs are designed to build collective capacity, support equity-centered instructional decision-making, and strengthen TK’s role as a critical bridge between early education and the K–12 system.

GUIDING QUESTION How can equity-centered leaders support integration of the principles and practices of Universal Design for Learning strategies to increase access and inclusion for all students? LEARNING OUTCOME Leaders can identify principles and practices of the Universal Design for Learning strategies in order to increase access and inclusion for all students.

This event is open to select schools in Madera Unified (Adams, Parkwood, & Rose) Guiding Coalition teams and Yosemite Unified schools and to those district leaders.

Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) is more than an expansion—it’s a new foundation for student success. Join us for a day of learning to promote age-appropriate pedagogy, navigate operational shifts, and strengthen P–3 alignment to ensure your youngest learners have a high-quality, equitable start.