DR. CHRISTINA KISHIMOTO | OCTOBER 2023

Welcome to the October edition of The Stories We Tell! This month there is so much I am excited to be sharing – from Hispanic Heritage Month, to a powerful conversation with Dr. Zandra Jo Galvan, and the opening of registration for When Women Lead 2024!

Let me start by introducing you to our feature, Dr. Zandra Jo Galvan, Superintendent of Greenfield Union, a K-8 school district in Bakersfield, California. If you are involved with professional organizations like ALAS, CALSA or AASA, it is more likely than not that you have met or heard Zandra speaking on panels, as a session participant or as a convener of a variety of affinity groups. Zandra is a passionate equity-oriented leader that constantly shares best practices, her learnings, and her wonderings. I sat down with Zandra to ask her specifically about how she is managing a competitive doctoral program at the University of Southern California while leading in the top seat in her district (among many other things like family, community engagement and professional associations!). You will learn in this interview how much more we covered in our conversation about leadership, remaining stubbornly student-centered, and the joy of networks that lead to deep friendships.

In this edition, I also share my perspective on Hispanic Heritage Month. While this celebratory opportunity to learn and share about the multifaceted contributions of Hispanic people to the United States is important, there are undercurrents of our nation’s history that cause us pause as we consider both our past and our way forward in honoring all people of this nation.

There are so many celebrations for Voice4Equity this month. Our inaugural board of advisors has been formed with ten Superintendents representing their region of the country and bringing important thought leadership to a by-women-for-women leadership organization. We also have our fall Women Superintendent Policy Leadership Academy (WSPLA) well underway, and coming together in person at the national ALAS conference in San Antonio – thank you to Dr. Maria Armstrong for this great partnership! Applications are open for our winter WSPLA, which starts in December!  And of course, we have just opened registrations for When Women Lead 2024 where 250 leading women dedicated to policy, equity and innovations will convene on the beautiful Vancouver, Washington waterfront from June 20-22, 2024. This is certainly a not-to-miss networking opportunity.

As this year’s Hispanic Heritage theme says, todos somos, somos unos. Voice4Equity is proud to celebrate and give voice to our Latinx family.

Abrazos!

Christina

More Than Just a COLORFUL Skirt

A few weeks into the school year, on September 15th, public schools, organizations and companies around the country celebrate the historical contributions of what is today the fastest growing ethnic group in our nation – Hispanics. Over 42% of the U.S. population today is nonWhite, and students of color are now the majority of public school students at 54%. Hispanics alone constitute 20% of the total U.S. population. Because of the pace of growth amongst Hispanic groups, we see market responses from businesses, to media and marketing campaigns, to schools, to politics. But do not be misled by the glossy, celebratory ads and Hispanic-centric goods increasing on shelves in stores. The Hispanic or Latinx accent, culture, food, arts and stories were once a thing of disdain in this country rather than a historical celebration, and there is a small vocal minority that would like to reinforce this bias.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration that honors the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States. The origins of this month-long celebration can be traced back to 1968 when President Lyndon B. Johnson first established Hispanic Heritage Week. This week included September 15th and 16th, which marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (although it ignores others). The initiative aimed to recognize and appreciate the rich diversity and contributions of Hispanic individuals in American society. In 1988, under President Ronald Reagan, Hispanic Heritage Week was expanded to a month-long celebration, starting on September 15th and ending on October 15th. I always thought that the straddling of two months was appropriately symbolic of how Hispanics have had to straddle a history of being part of two worlds in this one country.

Hispanics are a very diverse group of people. While Mexicans make up the largest group within the population of Hispanics, there are 27 other recognized Hispanic groups in the U.S. Therefore, as you look to celebrate culture and contributions, don’t forget to also tell the deeper stories of the Hispanic subgroups that are part of your community. Authentic stories and celebrations of contributions to science, technology, medicine, the arts, and other construction of knowledge and community creates the opportunity to get to know groups of people more authentically rather than in some easy-to-capture aggregate. Therefore, teach students to ask which Hispanic country is being represented by the lesson and encourage them to be curious about whether the people in their lesson are from a lineage of those who were part of the first nations in the U.S., “acquired” through territorial annexations, or newer arrivals like most of our nation. The real stories are found in understanding the throughlines of U.S. history.

As a Puerto Rican raised in the South Bronx, Hispanic Heritage celebrations were a point of personal and community pride, and more importantly were an extension of the lessons we received year round (not just in September) about diverse contributors to the economic and cultural history of the United States. In my elementary school, all students took a Latino History class and a Black History class. It was the highlight of fifth grade. We were all Black and Latino, so it makes sense right? Yet by today’s political standards, teachers back then would have been charged with criminal activity for being inclusive and teaching children of color that we had a rich history of contributions to be honored and told. Our students deserve to learn each other’s rich stories. We should not apologize for seeing the worth in all people that built this nation.

Dr. Zandra Jo Galván has been the Greenfield Union School District Superintendent since August 2017. She has worked in public education since 1993 and started her career as an elementary classroom teacher in the same district she now leads. Returning as Superintendent fulfilled her childhood dreams. Zandra is passionate about equity and shares best practices and her own experiences. She is currently completing a competitive doctoral program at the University of Southern California while also managing her role in the district, along with her family, community engagement, and professional associations. Sitting with Dr. Kishimoto, Zandra discusses her leadership approach, remaining focused on students, and the importance of building networks and sisterhood.

Watch the conversation with Dr. Kishimoto and Dr. Zandra Jo Galván on YouTube below.

Read the transcript of the interview with Dr. Christina Kishimoto and Dr. Zandra Jo Galván here.

Angela Moore is a Certified Financial Planner who helps people of all walks of life build a strong financial foundation. Angela will discuss subconscious fears about money and ideas to take charge and transform your financial life as you navigate the challenges of family and career. Join for the discussion and Q&A.

November 13 | 2pm CST
12 pm PST | 3pm EST

Open to members of The Flamboyan Network – Not a member? All education leaders in PK-12 public school systems can join at no cost.

Join the Flamboyan Network Here