DECEMBER 2022 | DR. CHRISTINA KISHIMOTO
Dr. Roxane Fuentes has served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, principal, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, and Interim Superintendent, before becoming the first Latina Superintendent of the Berryessa Union School District in 2017. In 2019 she was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Women of Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
Dr. Kishimoto and Dr. Fuentes recently met online for a wide-ranging discussion on the superintendent career journey, leading for equity, and Dr. Fuentes’ work with the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.
Dr. Kishimoto:
Recently, I had the pleasure of bumping into you in San Diego at ACSA. How exciting! You were on a panel talking about equity and equity policy. And you had some powerful words. I was so excited to see you again. I’ve been tracking you for the last few years because you’re a peer and a woman leader that I have a lot of respect for. So for our audience, I want to just introduce you a bit. Dr. Roxanne Fuentes is a colleague and friend who has served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, principal, and assistant superintendent. And she’s now the first Latina superintendent coming into Berryessa Union School District. And she started five years ago.
So you have five years of staying power. Can’t wait to hear more about that. But here’s the thing that I just love about you on top of everything else is, you were named the 100 most influential women of Silicon Valley by Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2019. And I like that title. I want that, why not? Let’s just go back a little bit because I think it is good for the audience to kind of get to know you. You’re a first-generation college student to my understanding, so tell us how you got there.
Superintendent Fuentes:
Yes, I just have to say, of course, gratitude to my mom and dad for where I am today because both my parents were not college graduates. They hadn’t had that experience, but they definitely understood the importance of education and the value that would bring to not only their daughters. I’m the oldest of four girls. And certainly, as I’ve gone through each experience, and getting that first start into college and where I am now with my doctoral degree, it’s not just an accomplishment for me, it’s an accomplishment for my family. It’s an opportunity to model that work ethic for my sisters, for my nieces and nephews and so forth. But, my parents always emphasized the importance of education. And I tell our families now, my mom was a stay-at-home mom, and my dad was a truck driver but they found ways to incorporate our learning experiences. Every day my dad at the dinner table would ask, what did you learn at school today, tell me something new. And then, when report cards came, those report cards were not opened. They sat on the kitchen table until my dad came home and opened them. So there was a little pressure there, that you were going to do your studies and that you were going to do good work.
I have to also give a lot of credit to a fantastic high school counselor that I had, who really guided me through the application process and helped me at that entry point because you have so many forms and things to sign. And, I didn’t know how to navigate that, but had some good people around me, who supported me and my parents on how to do that and started my entry into college at USC, then went full circle going back to USC for my doctoral degree. It was a whole new world. But definitely, it was one that I appreciated from the very start, just from the value that was set forth by my parents, knowing that that was going to improve my life and improve what I could do for my family and for my community.
I think that concept of service and giving back to community certainly developed through my upbringing and the challenges that I faced knowing that I wanted to help other students like me also have that same trajectory, and be that resource if their parents hadn’t had the experience like mine. I’ve done it, and now I can support them. And, my sister right after me, after I had kind of learned the way. She’s a Stanford graduate, both undergrad and law school. So, you know, my parents did quite well.
Dr. Kishimoto:
I can hear your pride. It’s family pride. Well, you also have done quite well. So, just like your dad used to ask you, how was school today as a young person, now I’m going to ask you, how was school today as superintendent of Berryessa? What’s that experience like?
Superintendent Fuentes:
Oh, it’s amazing. Berryessa is such a wonderful community. We’re in the heart of Silicon Valley, and our district is preschool through grade eight. We have 7000 children. And one of the things that I love about Berryessa is our diversity. I grew up in Los Angeles, so I was very much in the Latino bubble until I went off to college. Here, of the 7000 students we serve, there are over 50 languages plus spoken in our community. And I just think that’s such a rich experience for our children. They don’t even know how fortunate they are to have friends from all over the world and to be able to learn about different cultures and to celebrate that. So that definitely has been a wonderful experience for me moving up here to San Jose, to be a part of that world and to really help elevate those experiences for our students.
I have a wonderful board, a very stable board that you mentioned. In applying for school districts to be superintendent, I looked for continuity. I looked for a community that valued education and learning experiences for children and for value of stable leadership and being able to give a superintendent the time to do that critical work to make an impact in the best interest for children. And I found that, and I count my blessings every day because I’ve had other experiences that weren’t so lovely and were much more challenging. Every district has its challenges. And I just tell people you just have to really know yourself, know your values, and know your strengths. Because wherever you go, there are going to be issues that need to be addressed. But you just hope that the issues that the districts facing are your strengths and that you can contribute towards those issues and have some positive contribution. That’s where I feel like, in Berryessa, I found my match.
Dr. Kishimoto:
Well, I think there are two things of the many things you shared. One is the stability of leadership, both at the superintendent and board level, that we know is so important to continuity and to be able to do longer term strategic planning that is focused on kids. And then there’s the other piece that you talked about, this celebration of the world through what kids bring themselves, to one another, to the learning environment, and to friendships, that I just so highly value, and I know you do as well. That’s what’s so beautiful about that community.
Superintendent Fuentes:
Absolutely. And, one of the first initiatives I was able to support when I first became superintendent was to launch dual immersion programming in our district. The first program was our dual immersion Mandarin program. This year, we have the full cycle, finally, from kindergarten through fifth grade. And we’re in the process of developing our middle school dual immersion Mandarin model. So, really excited to be able to do that. In our district, the Asian population is our highest population with Vietnamese, Chinese, and Filipino [students]. And so to really be able to respect each other’s heritage languages and find avenues for students to learn a language that they find interesting is a great opportunity here in Berryessa. It’s been a lot of fun to be able to develop those programs for our students.
Dr. Kishimoto:
That’s fantastic. Now you and I crossed paths at ALAS. We’ve both been involved with the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, a national association that is really focused on bringing together leaders who understand that there is work that has to be done to really help support and advance and close the achievement gap of Latino students and Latino based communities in this nation. And so, I would love to hear what your perspective is about the role of ALAS in your own pathway and your association with the organization.
Superintendent Fuentes:
Oh, absolutely. And it was a significant contributor to where I am. I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the superintendent’s Leadership Academy through ALAS. I’m cohort six.
Dr. Kishimoto:
I know there is a lot of pride in cohorts.
Superintendent Fuentes:
Yes, so very, very proud of that. And I’m still in communication with all of my cohort six family. We have a group text, and we cheer each other on. We wish each other well on holidays. And we support everyone’s accomplishments. And in our cohort, there are now, let’s see, six of us, and half of us are active superintendents right now. So a very powerful group, and I love having peers across the country to bounce ideas off of. I tell everyone, I’ve actually participated in many superintendent academies here in the state of California, nationally, and by far, our last Academy superseded all of my experiences, and there are a few reasons why. And one of them was the opportunity to travel across the country, looking at English learner policy and its impact on marginalized student populations across the country. And we looked at all different sizes of districts, large districts and small districts. I was assistant superintendent at the time going through that Academy, and it really let me see how the superintendency changes depending on the size of the district and the politics related to the community. So it helped me start thinking about the size district where I wanted to spend my time as a superintendent and what that experience would look like for me.
The other thing it also did was it let me see immediately how many places across the country really lacked diversity in leadership, not just in the superintendency, but even all the way down to the school site principal. We went to communities that had high Latinx populations, and not a single Latinx administrator. And that was very eye-opening for me because prior to coming to Berryessa, my previous 20-21 years of service were in my home district in Los Angeles. And I always felt that giving back to my own community was going to be the best contribution I could make, and it felt good. And I know I’ve left a legacy there in my home district, and I had special opportunities. I was principal at my own elementary school I went to, and those are very special things. But when I traveled with ALAS, I quickly saw, I don’t have to just be in my own home community to contribute and that there are so many places that I can go that also could utilize my assistance as a district leader. And so that really propelled me when it came time to be superintendent, to think more broadly. I didn’t leave California but going from Southern California to Northern California; they’re like two different states. And so I actually appreciate the mobility because I’ve learned how to navigate challenges in Southern California and navigate challenges in Northern California, Bay Area, specifically, which is very different. And, so, it really broadened my leadership skill set. And I really learned a lot. Now, I’m a huge advocate. I tell leaders all the time if you have the ability to be mobile, do it. I strongly encourage it. It’s a win-win.
The other piece, too, for ALAS, I really felt that going through SLA, not only was I learning about being a superintendent, but I was getting direct coaching on being a superintendent. And that was a key difference because in other academies, you’re learning the theory, you’re hearing stories from different superintendents about what they’ve navigated. With ALAS, we were also given the tools, we were given guidance.
I remember we were in Atlanta one month to visit Atlanta public schools, and we had the opportunity to get some training from UNIVISION and how to deal with the media in your district. We were put in front of cameras on the spot. So that’s an invaluable opportunity. And, while I was in SLA, I think my third month in, I became interim superintendent in my home district. My facilitator, who was Dr. Jose Leyba at the time, was my every Friday night phone call for the rest of that year, and he still answers the phone whenever I need him. But boy, was that an incredible blessing to have that opportunity while I was learning how to be interim superintendent, and just that level of support is amazing and so appreciative.
“You can’t stop looking at those issues. And if nothing else, it continues to provide the platform for people to say their peace and to push forward with the work that is in the best interest of all of our students.”
– Superintendent Dr. Roxanne Fuentes
So, it definitely not only helped me in that right time situation but also helped me think more broadly about what I wanted out of that superintendency and actually helped me make a very tough decision, which was leaving my home district and coming up to NorthSo, it definitely not only helped me in that right time situation but also helped me think more broadly about what I wanted out of that superintendency and actually helped me make a very tough decision, which was leaving my home district and coming up to Northern California for that superintendency experience.
Dr. Kishimoto:
There’s nothing more important in the leadership pathway than to have a strong network of confidants, of folks to learn from, to be a coach to others in a very natural network kind of environment. And also, you talked about being open to lead in other places. I think it’s also important, especially for our leaders of color to be seen in different environments, different types of districts, and different places around the US because that kind of inclusivity, that kind of representation also messages that we can lead anywhere and everywhere, and we need diversity.
Superintendent Fuentes:
Yes, absolutely. And you know, and I have to say, I didn’t know the impact that would have on a community until I did it. And even thinking about it, my eyes get welled up still because I am the first Latina superintendent in Berryessa. And my board was very intentional about that selection. And, you know, when I came up here, you’re driving around schools, you’re getting to know your new home, and I went to one school site, and as I pulled up, the custodian comes running out, and he comes looking for me. He says, I heard you were coming today, I wanted to come and be the first one to say hello. And he says, I was going to retire in June, and then I heard we hired our first Latina, and he’s Latino. And he said, I had to stay and work one more year so I could work with you.
Dr. Kishimoto:
That’s heartwarming!
Superintendent Fuentes:
I mean, that’s incredible. And, like I said, we have a diverse population. For Berryessa, we have about 23% of our students are Latino. And so we have a madres group. I went to the madres group to introduce myself and talk with them. The moms were in tears. I’ve not done anything in the district yet, I just arrived, but they were just so proud for our Latino community at large that I was in this position. And they were in tears, letting me know that they had spoken to their children. They had told their children when I come to the schools, they’re to introduce themselves to me, you know, just such pride. And that is when it really hit me how important that representation is. And of course, responsibility, you feel that, that weight on your shoulders. But, wow, it was really eye-opening for me because, in Los Angeles, there are lots of Latino leaders, but we’re very concentrated in that part of the state. And so across the state of California, that’s not necessarily true. And, so, that was a very powerful entry into superintendency, for me in terms of being Latina.
Dr. Kishimoto:
And actually related to ALAS is CALSA, the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators. And my understanding is congratulations are due. You are the president-elect of CALSA. So I’m excited about watching your leadership continue in that specific role as well, as you continue to lead and think about and work with the leadership in California.
Superintendent Fuentes:
Oh, thank you. I am super excited. I’ve been a member of CALSA ever since I became a school principal. So I’ve had a lot of years. And like ALAS, we have strong programming support for all of our aspiring and active administrators. And I really value the importance of mentorship so that we all can be successful as we go along our career paths. I’m really excited to be a part of the leadership at CALSA. I’m chairing our next event, which is in January. So looking forward to a great conference to focus on results in January.
Dr. Kishimoto:
Fantastic. So as we wrap up, we just went through the midterm elections. And I have to ask you this question as an education leader that has tremendous impact and say, and influence on Education Policy, based on the midterm elections are you feeling hopeful for this nation in terms of where we’re going with ed policy? Do you have worries about where we’re heading? How are you feeling?
Superintendent Fuentes:
Well, I have some mixed emotions about it. Certainly, every day, I feel blessed to live in the state of California. And for very specific reasons. We’re a much more progressive state. We’ve got strong Governor support in inequity work. Our state superintendent also has put a lot of effort into providing a space for equity initiatives across school districts. So we know we have that backing here in the state of California. It doesn’t mean we don’t have our critics; we certainly do. And I’m very fortunate I’ll continue to have a stable board coming into the post-November elections. We had three seats open, and our returning board members are coming back. So glad to still have that with one new member. But that’s not the same for all my colleagues. There are some new perspectives coming on to school board leadership. And it’s going to be a challenge for some. I think there are some sparks across the nation.
I know that there’s hope there that the path, especially coming out of the pandemic and all of the continued inequities that everyone continues to see, but became much more apparent publicly. Once that’s out there, you can’t take that away. You can’t stop looking at those issues. And if nothing else, it continues to provide the platform for people to say their peace and to push forward with the work that is in the best interest of all of our students.
Dr. Kishimoto:
Well, Roxanne, I’m really excited that you are leveraging your position to be part of the dialogue, be part of the discussion, be part of the education around the kind of policy agenda that’s needed to be highly inclusive and always inclusive, and always focused on students. So Dr. Roxanne Fuentes, so proud of you and very excited to have this time with you, and I wish you continued great success and joy in your work.
Superintendent Fuentes:
Thank you so much. I appreciate the opportunity to be with everyone today. And you know, I’m always available to lend support and advice to anyone who wants to just give me a call.
Dr. Kishimoto:
Thank you
