DR. CHRISTINA KISHIMOTO | APRIL 2023

Who doesn’t love the month of April! After a long winter, evidence of spring begins to show up bringing the hope of warmer weather, more sunshine and less storms. April is also my birthday month! Every year my birthday brings to mind the Duncan Hines yellow cake mix in a box and chocolate frosting tub of my childhood from the local supermarket in the Bronx. As kids, my siblings and I knew a birthday was coming up when my mother would buy that box of cake mix and it would sit in the cabinet waiting for that special day. On that afternoon of your birthday, the smell of the cake baking in the oven filled our apartment. We didn’t have big birthdays with the neighborhood kids, we had a special day at home in the housing projects with our siblings, parents, and my Abuela, and do you know, there is no sweeter memory!

This year on my birthday eve I was in San Francisco with a group of women who had just wrapped up the CALSA Women’s Leadership Network Conference. We were all waiting for our late flights back home and six of us decided to have dinner in Burlingame. During dinner I shared that the next day was my birthday, and in an instant, there was singing, two desserts in front of me, and lots of celebratory comments. As I flew home after dinner, I reflected on how when women get together, there is magic to the friendship and bonds that form.

This April newsletter highlights two women leaders that I met at the CALSA WLN conference this year. I was struck by each of their stories. One is Dr. Rebeca Andrade, Superintendent of Salinas City Elementary School District in California. The other is teacher Jessica Powell who told her story at one of the workshop sessions of running for school board election and put herself forth so honestly and vulnerably, that I needed to get to know her. I hope that you enjoy reading and listening to a part of their stories, and get to know them a bit yourself.

With less than 90 days to go, I am so fired up about the national When Women Lead education summit! It’s quickly coming up on June 19-21st in Vancouver, Washington. We have women leaders registered from all over the country! Don’t miss your chance to attend!

This summit will provide a beautiful riverfront space to network with other women leaders, to share and learn from one another, and to celebrate the strong, diverse voices of women who are leading for equity, empowerment, and inclusivity. Your chair is welcomed at this table!! Scroll down to learn more!

With gratitude,

Christina

APRIL 2023 | DR. CHRISTINA KISHIMOTO

I had the pleasure of welcoming in the month of April by participating in the CALSA Women’s Leadership Network convening in San Francisco. I knew that this convening would allow me to make new connections with inspirational leaders, and it certainly did! I had the pleasure to sit down with one incredible leader that I had not yet met, but that other women leaders had encouraged me to seek out in this impressive crowd.

Dr. Rebeca Andrade is the proud school superintendent of Salinas City Elementary School District in Monterey County, California. She is in her third year in the lead seat and is deeply enjoying her community. I remember Salinas as the birthplace of one of my favorite authors in high school, John Steinbeck. In his novels, Steinbeck often referred to the great agricultural lands of Salinas. Today, Salinas has a predominantly Latino population with more than 75% of residents, over 90% Latino student population, with a long history of contributions by the Mexican community that developed and maintained its fresh produce industry and vineyards that serve our tables. And just like all stories have a throughline in life, I want to share my introduction to a school leader leading in this special place, a place I first came to know in the novels East of Eden and Of Mice and Men.

Rebeca immigrated with her family from Mexico to Southern California at the formative age of fourteen, enrolling in eighth grade. She took ESL classes – English as a Second Language –  because she did not speak English. Thus began this grand adventure in the U.S. public school system. While she did not know what the future held for her, she did know that her parents had a deep appreciation for what it would take to move as a family through career opportunities successfully. Despite her parents’ educational attainment in Mexico, her parents believed that they could not be successful in the U.S. without a college degree from a U.S. institution of higher education. And so they started again from the beginning in their new community.

There is no surprise that Rebeca is deeply committed to the field of education, and this value comes from a family that took steps together to support one another through multiple degree attainment. Upon relocating from Mexico, her parents enrolled in their local community college and did not stop until both had attained doctorate degrees. This meant that her parents, her siblings, herself, and eventually the grandchildren, supported and celebrated one another as a familia –  an authentic example of life-long learning! Rebeca shared one photo of her parents, her siblings, herself and her youngest son in caps in gowns as she told her story from her parent’s perspective of the American dream.

After twenty years in education in Southern California, Rebeca moved to Salinas City for her current role as School Superintendent. She shared with me that while there is a lot of movement of educators within California, which leads to a collaborative network of teachers and leaders that know one another, she found that the density in Southern California provided richer conditions for recruitment and retention of staff than in her current school system in Salinas City. As an educator who understands the power and opportunities that come from a career in education, one of Rebeca’s immediate areas of focus has been to partner with local colleges and partner organizations including the The City of Salinas, Natividad Medical Center, Hartnell Community College, and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS), to build out the pipeline necessary to continuously recruit and retain a diverse and dynamic team to join the educator workforce in her community from her own community.

Rebeca not only values the empowerment of a community to lead its public school system, she is also a leader who understands the necessity of having a cohesive governance structure to advance the equity of access agenda for all students. At the CALSA WLN conference, I sat in on her session as she facilitated a conversation with two of her women board members currently serving in Salinas City, to talk about women in leadership, Trustee Jessica Powell and Trustee Angela Der Ramos.

They each shared their personal stories of grit, challenges, and voice as women of color. The workshop approach clearly showed that Rebeca has a style of bringing along others to share education leadership stories to inspire others to lead. Her take away to a room full of women educators? Everyone in the room can run for public office, everyone can pursue executive leadership, everyone has the power to solve the equity-based changes of today, and everyone should inspire others through networking and collective leadership.

Rebeca’s life story has been about the power of education on self, others and community. She is a superintendent to watch as her bold leadership and personal story continues to impact the field of education and others education leaders. La doctora Andrade es una voz por la equidad!

___________________________

Dr. Rebeca Andrade is the Superintendent of the Salinas City Elementary School District in Salinas, CA. She has over twenty-five years of public school experience that includes classroom teaching, early childhood, social emotional learning systems and three years as a School Superintendent. Dr. Andrade has served on the board of CALSA – the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators.

APRIL 2023 | Dr. Christina Kishimoto

Jessica Powell has been a trustee with the Salina City Elementary School District for three years and is a classroom teacher in a neighboring district. Watch the video and read the transcript as Dr. Kishimoto discusses taking the leap to serve in an elected role with this proud mom, educator, and board trustee.

Watch the conversation on YouTube here.

The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Christina

Jessica, it’s great to see you. So I’m so excited because I met you earlier while you were doing a session. You were telling your story, and you have an amazing story. One of the things I’m really excited about is the work that you’re doing as a board member. So I’d love for you to tell me a little bit about that.

Jessica

Yeah, so I’m in Salinas City Elementary School District. So right next to the Monterey area, and this is my third year. So I reran last year and got the position. So now I’m in for four years. And my biggest thing, this time around as a board member, is really focusing on the whole child. Academics are very important but also the social emotional well-being of a student. And sometimes, we can get lost in the data, the numbers of just academics, that we can overlook the importance of the social emotional work of what we do for our kids. So I would definitely say going into it again this year as a school board trustee; that is my primary focus. To make sure that we speak to the whole child and not just to one area.

Christina

Certainly very much needed, especially now post-pandemic, with everything happening in the world and kids and even adults trying to figure out exactly what’s going on and how to handle it. What’s your political experience? So before you decided to run as a board member, I’m sure you had a wealth of political experience.

Jessica

No political experience. None at all. Just somebody that worked in the community and worked with a lot of kids and underserved populations. But no political experience whatsoever. So this is my very first taste of it.

Christina 

So what was that entry like? Your first month, as this political figure now serving on a board representing the future and voices of community and students, what was that like?

Jessica

It was hard. It happened in December 2020. So we’re ending this weird year already with everything. And coming into a position and filling a board member who was very active in the community already and had been there for years. So for me, it was intimidating, if I’m being honest. I definitely doubted myself in the beginning, like, how am I going to do this, with everything else that I am doing, as an educator, a mom, and just in the community? I didn’t think it was possible. So that first month or two, I had a lot of self-doubt and questioning, wondering, was this the right thing to do? I wouldn’t say it became easier, but I started to learn more and started to adapt to that role in that position.

Christina

So you said as an educator and as a mom. So are you working in the field of education while serving on the board?

Jessica

I am, yes. Six years teaching as a high school teacher. So I’m actually in a sister district, to where I serve as a board member. So education full time, then serving on the board, and then also a parent to a teenager, a freshman in high school.

Christina

So I imagine education becomes your social life as well, at this point, when you’re doing so many roles. 

Jessica

It does, but I try not to let it. I let the work day be the work day. And then when I go home, I really do my best not to bring work home, especially to my son. And for those that I’m working with, I do my best not to mix in the things unless it’s for a good cause or events or partnerships that we’re doing. But I definitely try to keep everything where it needs to be.

Christina

So, now you have three years of experience in this public political service elected role, your first political experience. Does this mean you are going to run for a Senate position at some point? Do you see a future in politics?

Jessica
I know the battles that we’re facing with the education system. It’s a set system, and to fix something, you have to know the language of it, and you have to be able to dissect it.

So for me, personally, I wouldn’t want to pursue more politics. However, thinking about the next generations, I’m being led and drawn to something deeper and bigger than what I’m doing right now. That way, I can understand and know what’s going on, so I’m able to find different solutions and problem-solve based on what I want to target. So, politics is definitely in my future. And it’s something I’m looking forward to, but definitely through the lens of helping the next generation.

“So, politics is definitely in my future. And it’s something I’m looking forward to, but definitely through the lens of helping the next generation.”
-Jessica Powell

Christina

That’s music to my ears. Because you know me, I like to know that women are taking on these policy roles that are impacting community, our future, the future of our kids, and this nation. And certainly, as women of color, we need to be engaged in the policy world. And, so high school teacher, on the board, I was very interested in how you answer the fact that you’re letting this happen, you’re waiting to see how this unrolls for you. And so I’m wondering, that must be part of who you are as a person, how you grew up, this leaving yourself open. Is that right?

Jessica

It is, yes. I’m very much a planner. However, I know you can’t force things to happen. You have to let it take its course, and what will be, will be. So, maturing over the years, I have been more prone to let go and let whatever needs to happen happen. And don’t fight against it, and don’t try to force it to happen. But if it’s meant to be, it will pan out the way it needs to be.

Christina

So let me ask you the policy question. What do you see as the most important policy issues? Whether it’s something that you’re already grappling with as a board or something that you haven’t grappled with yet within the official role as a board member. What do you believe is an important policy issue relative to success and access for kids?

Jessica

Honestly, one of the things is the pay for teachers. The work of educators, the work that we do, doesn’t stop once you leave the worksite. So, just knowing there are so many funds going towards other things versus taking care of our teachers and educators who care for our kids. That’s one huge thing that doesn’t make sense to me. But I kind of know what’s going on. But I want to know how I can make a difference.

Another thing is the funding for many of our low social economic schools, counties, communities, and cities. I grew up in the Monterey Peninsula. So we had okay facilities, but I had the chance in middle school to go to a private school for two years. And seeing that difference within a five-minute drive makes you wonder why they have more than what we have. And so finding ways to address the funding issue for our schools, for our kids, and also for our educators.

Christina

I’d love to push you further back if you’re willing. Who was Jessica as a little girl? What things came across your path that made you passionate about education, go into teaching, and become a board member? Usually, in retrospect, we’re like, oh, some of these things started lining up for me. 

Jessica

If you had asked me if I was going to be in education, I would have said no (laughs). I was into sports. I wanted to be a physical therapist, athletic trainer. That was my background in college. But it wasn’t until I really started doing community work that I was in a position to empower young girls through my story. And it was through a club called PEARLS Status. And so it was through that program and then also remembering certain teachers growing up who actually cared about me and were there for me. Even in my shortcomings, they were there to help pick me up and say, you can still do it. Go pursue what you want to do. And so bridging those two things together influenced me to think about becoming a teacher.

When I say teaching fell into my lap, it literally fell into my lap to where I was approached with opportunity. I said why not, keeping an open mind like, okay, I have a chance to get my Master’s in athletic training, or I can become an educator. People will say, get your master’s in athletic training. Still, my heart knew that it was in education that I needed to be.

Christina 

That’s fantastic. I love the way you share your story. Another thing I want to ask you is your perspective on women of color serving on boards and what you would advise some of our colleagues about serving on a board and being perhaps intimidated by it. 

What would you tell them? What would you advise them?

Jessica

I would tell them to think about the girls or the kids that look like them, that they’re representing, whatever ethnic background they identify as. I am one of the first black females in this role as a school board member and the youngest one. It gives me a sense of good empowerment where now I want to go and help other young girls and say, you can make a difference. You can be in these leadership roles. It doesn’t have to be what we’re used to seeing. But why not shake the table a little bit and change the narrative.

And so it has given me some insight into representation and going out there. Because a lot of times, we can see people that look like us on the big screen, and they look untouchable, like, Oh, I could never get to that level, I could never be that. But when we’re able to use our power and position to meet our young kids where they’re at and help bring them up, that’s something I definitely want to continue to do. And that’s what I will say to other women out there, think of the ones you’re representing. Think of how they’re going to feel when they see you up there, how proud they’re going to be. But also think about how we can come back down and give them the tools and the things they can use to be in the position you’re in today.

Christina

I love it, rather than saying being at the table, shaking the table. I’m gonna have to use that. Let’s shake the table.

I am thrilled to know a little more about you and to watch your career. And I’m gonna watch closely because I imagine you taking more public political roles. And so I encourage you.

Jessica

Thank you.

Christina

Thank you. Take care.

TIANA HILL | April 2023

A regular yoga practice can help improve physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. Join me on the mat for this 25-minute total body yoga practice to release tension and cultivate relaxation.

See you there!
Tiana