The SAUSD joins the League of Innovative Schools, which focus on digital learning

Digital Promise Professional Services Launches the Leadership Coaching Program

Santa Ana Unified School District will participate in the first cohort of the Leadership Coaching Program

Santa Ana, CA | October 19, 2015 ¬– Santa Ana Unified School District is one of 22 school districts accepted today into the League of Innovative Schools, a national coalition of forward-thinking school districts organized by Digital Promise, an independent, bipartisan nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to accelerate innovation in education.

Santa Ana Unified School District was selected from a competitive and national pool of applicants based on its leadership, evidence of results, innovative vision for learning, and commitment to collaboration.

“We are pleased to join in this important work as school districts around the country move into the digital age to better prepare our students for leadership in the 21st century workplace and success in their college pathway of choice,” said Dr. Rick Miller, SAUSD Superintendent.

Santa Ana schools have dramatically expanded digital learning opportunities, including increasing the number of students who have access to technology at school and at home. It was this work and the supporting vision that led this unique opportunity with Digital Promise.

The League of Innovative Schools, launched in late 2011, accepts new members through an open application process once per year. With new members, the League now includes 73 school districts in 33 states, representing 3.2 million students. The full list of members can be found at digitalpromise.org/districts.

“The League’s goal is to find leaders pioneering bold, creative, and student-centric practices, connect them with each other, and amplify what they do best so others can learn,” said Sara Schapiro, Director of Digital Promise’s League of Innovative Schools. “With these new members, we add a wealth of insights, ideas, and energy to help our members effectively support teaching and learning through technology.”

League members are represented by their superintendent, who commits to:

• Attend biannual League meetings, which feature classroom visits, collaborative problem-solving, and relationship-building with peers and partners
• Join working groups on a broad range of topics relevant to the changing needs of school districts
• Engage with entrepreneurs to advance product development and meet district needs
• Support research that expands what we know about teaching and learning
• Participate in the League’s professional learning community by connecting with other members online, in person, and at each other’s school districts

In addition to superintendents’ participation, there are also opportunities for other school administrators, principals, and teachers to participate in League and Digital Promise initiatives.

The League will officially welcome new members at its fall 2015 meeting on Oct. 25-27 in Pittsburgh. The meeting will host about 175 national school leaders and prominent education experts, entrepreneurs, and officials, with the goal of addressing shared priorities and setting goals that district leaders will pursue throughout the year.

For more information on the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, visit: digitalpromise.org/league.

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Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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