Resource Category: Teacher

Open Door Session – From Vision to Practice: How Lompoc USD Built Momentum with UDL

Session Description

Join Open Access and Lompoc Unified School District for an Open Door session highlighting how one district moved from a shared vision for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to meaningful implementation in practice.

This webinar will explore the strategies, structures, and collaborative efforts that helped Lompoc USD build momentum for UDL across the district. Panelists will share how administrative support, instructional leadership, and intentional collaboration have helped sustain the work, support educators, and create more flexible and accessible learning experiences for students.

This resource page includes the archived webinar recording, presentation slides, and related tools to help LEAs adapt this tool.

Presenters

  • Channon Mitchell, Principal, Leonora Fillmore Elementary
  • Tina Wall, Director, Curriculum and Instruction, Lompoc Unified School District
  • Laurie Balsano Wright, Ed.D., Coordinator, Open Access
  • Leah Padilla, M.A. Ed., Coordinator, Open Access

Facilitator

  • Zach Smith, WestEd

About the Open Door Series

The Open Door series is hosted by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) to spotlight authentic stories, tools, and strategies from across the state that promote equitable student outcomes.

đź”— Explore All Open Door Sessions

SESSION MATERIALS

Slides

WEBINAR VIDEO RECORDING

Open Door Session – Ecosystem of Care Toolkit

Session Description

This Session dives into the new Ecosystem of Care Toolkit that was created in partnership with Santa Clara County Office of Education to guide cross agency teams through a step-by-step process designed to bring together schools, local agencies, and community partners to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. The Toolkit was created from information gathered through interviews with the field to offer tools and a process to help improve collaboration across child and youth serving systems. The Toolkit can be adapted to fit the unique needs of each county, school district, or region and is aligned to the Ecosystem Field Guide.

This resource page includes the archived webinar recording, presentation slides, and related tools to help LEAs adapt this tool.

Presenters

  • Kristin Brooks, Strategist, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence
  • Amanda Dickey, Executive Director, Complete Consulting California
  • Elizabeth Estes, Founder & Director, Breaking Barriers
  • Kristin Wright, Executive Director, Inclusive Practices and Support Services, Sacramento County Office of Education

About the Open Door Series

The Open Door series is hosted by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) to spotlight authentic stories, tools, and strategies from across the state that promote equitable student outcomes.

đź”— Explore All Open Door Sessions

SESSION MATERIALS

Slides

WEBINAR VIDEO RECORDING

Open Door Session – Intentional Systems for Creating Equitable Outcomes for Foster and Black Students

Session Description

This Session highlights how Victor Valley Union High School District designed intentional, sustainable systems to improve outcomes for foster youth and Black students. Recently exiting Direct Technical Assistance, the district shares how its THRIVE and Heritage models support A–G completion, student well-being, and college access through shared ownership, data-informed decision-making, and targeted supports.

This resource page includes the archived webinar recording, presentation slides, and related tools to help LEAs adapt these equity-centered practices to their own contexts.

Presenters

  • Dr. Ratmony Yee, Assistant Superintendent, Victor Valley Union High School District
  • Dr. Aleka Jackson, Heritage Coordinator, Victor Valley Union High School District
  • Dr. Ebony PurcellPrincipal, Victor Valley Union High School District
  • Tiffany Hampton, Director, Student Services, Victor Valley Union High School District
  • Jennifer Longueira, Thrive Coordinator, Victor Valley Union High School District
  • Diana Chapero, Counselor, Victor Valley Union High School District
  • Alycia Garcia, Thrive Coordinator, Victor Valley Union High School District

About the Open Door Series

The Open Door series is hosted by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) to spotlight authentic stories, tools, and strategies from across the state that promote equitable student outcomes.

đź”— Explore All Open Door Sessions

SESSION MATERIALS

SLIDES

WEBINAR VIDEO RECORDING

Connecting California Virtual 2025 Conference Recordings

Explore recordings from the Connecting California Virtual Conference, featuring insights, strategies, and examples from educators and partners across the state. These sessions highlight promising practices and reflect the collective work happening through California’s Statewide System of Support.

As districts and county offices continue planning for the remainder of the 2025–26 school year, these recordings offer valuable opportunities to:

  • Deepen understanding of supports and resources available through the Statewide System of Support
  • Inform planning, reflection, and implementation conversations
  • Begin laying thoughtful groundwork for 2026–27

We encourage you to explore these sessions and share them with your teams as you plan next steps for your educational community.

Conference MATERIALS:

Breakout Sessions

Opening Keynote RECORDING

Open Door Session – Morongo Unified’s Journey Through the Statewide System of Support

Session Description

Morongo Unified School District is demonstrating what’s possible when systems-level structures and classroom practices work in harmony. In this Open Door session, the district shares how it is leveraging the Statewide System of Support (SSOS) including Universal Design for Learning (UDL), instructional rounds, and data-informed reflection to strengthen teaching, learning, and equitable access for all students.

Through intentional goal setting, strategic use of UDL frameworks, and collaboration with partners such as Open Access, Morongo is building a sustainable approach that turns statewide resources into site-level action. This session highlights the district’s journey, key insights, and practical tools that other LEAs can apply right away.

Presenters

  • Leah Padilla, Coordinator, Open Access
  • Laurie Balsano Wright, Coordinator, Open Access
  • Eric Smith, SELPA Program Specialist, Morongo USD
  • Jennifer Smith, MTSS Coordinator, Morongo USD
  • Moderator: Zach Smith, WestEd

About the Open Door Series

The Open Door series is hosted by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) to spotlight authentic stories, tools, and strategies from across the state that promote equitable student outcomes.

đź”— Explore All Open Door Sessions

SESSION MATERIALS – Coming Soon!

SLIDES

WEBINAR VIDEO RECORDING

Additional RESOURCES

California Secondary School Redesign Pilot Program Informational Webinars

The Secondary School Redesign Pilot Program supports California middle and high schools in transforming traditional models into student-centered learning environments that cultivate strong relationships, promote deeper learning, and prepare students to apply knowledge to real-world challenges.

Led by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education (SBE), this statewide initiative invests in networks of schools already engaged in redesign efforts. These networks serve as demonstration sites, sharing what works, identifying barriers, and building capacity for sustainable change.

Below you will find informational webinars introducing the pilot and application process.

Upcoming Informational Webinars

CA Secondary School redesign: Eligibility and Pilot Overview

September 18 | 12pm

SESSION MATERIALS:

Session SLIDES
FAQS

WEBINAR VIDEO RECORDING

California Secondary School Redesign: Eligibility and Application Overview

October 9 | 12pm

SESSION MATERIALS:

Session slides

WEBINAR VIDEO RECORDING

Data Literacy & Leadership Resource Hub

The Data Literacy & Leadership Resource Hub is designed to support educators, leaders, and LEAs with practical tools to strengthen their use of data. This hub curates a collection of visualization, analytical, communication, and storytelling resources that can help transform data into meaningful insights for decision-making and student success.

What You will Find in the Hub

The resources are organized into three categories

  • Data Visualizing Tools: Explore tools that make it easier to create clear and impactful data visualizations.
  • Analytical Tools: Access dashboards and other analytical resources that can inform and inspire your work.
  • Communications & Storytelling: Discover strategies and tools that help you share data insights effectively with your community.

Share or Update a Resource

This hub is part of CCEE’s commitment to building data literacy and leadership capacity across California’s educational landscape.

Open Door Session – UDL in Motion: Leadership, Tools and Continuous Improvement

đź“„ About This Session

Join us for an inspiring and practical webinar highlighting how Carlsbad Unified School District is transforming teaching and learning through Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Featuring district leaders, site principals, and their professional development partner, this session will showcase the tools, strategies, and systems that supported their UDL implementation—along with the real-world impact on students and educators. Learn how the district built momentum through the CA Coalition for Inclusive Learning grant and discover how they plan to sustain and expand this work beyond the grant period. Whether you’re just beginning your UDL journey or looking to deepen your practice, this session offers valuable insights and resources for creating more inclusive, equitable learning environments.

🎙️ Featured Speakers

  • Emma Cobb, Principal, Jefferson Elementary
  • Nicki Rudden, MTSS Teacher, Jefferson Elementary
  • Karen Knudson, Assistant Principal, Carlsbad High School
  • Kimberly Fuentes, Director, Elementary Education, Carlsbad Unified
  • Mary Martin, Instructional Specialist, Carlsbad Unified
  • Michael Ecker, Student Services, Carlsbad Unified
  • Shamryn Coyle, CCIL Director, Placer County Office of Education
  • Moderator: Sehrish Anjum, Senior Program Specialist, CCEE

🧭 About the Open Door Series

The Open Door series is hosted by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) to spotlight authentic stories, tools, and strategies from across the state that promote equitable student outcomes.

đź”— Explore All Open Door Sessions

SESSION MATERIALS

SLIDES

WEBINAR VIDEO RECORDING

RESOURCES

California Statewide System of Support  

California Attendance Guide: Taking a Comprehensive Approach to Attendance and Engagement in California

We are excited to share the California Attendance Guide: Taking a Comprehensive Approach to Attendance and Engagement in California, Developed in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE) and Attendance Works. This guidance was highlighted during a press conference hosted by CDE at Williamson Elementary School in Folsom Cordova Unified.

The guide provides a comprehensive framework to help schools, districts, and county offices of education reduce chronic absenteeism, strengthen family engagement, and ensure students are connected to supportive learning environments. With chronic absence rates still well above pre-pandemic levels, this resource outlines California’s bold goal of reducing chronic absence to 12.5 percent by 2030.

By focusing on student health and safety, family partnerships, and student connectedness, the guidance supports local leaders in building sustainable, data-driven strategies to improve attendance and advance equitable outcomes.

Explore the Guidance

California Attendance Guide

Chronic Absenteeism Statewide Resources

Frontline Voices Blog

Event Highlight: California Attendance Guidance Press Conference

Frontline Voices

Frontline Voices is a CCEE blog series dedicated to sharing insights and innovations directly from the field. Each post spotlights emerging and promising practices, highlights CCEE staff presentations, and uplifts local stories that demonstrate real-time strategies in action.

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, Frontline Voices serves as a hub for practical takeaways, curated resources, and examples of what’s working across California’s schools. Posts are designed to help local educational agencies (LEAs) connect new ideas to their own context, supporting progress toward LCAP goals while advancing equity, access, and excellence for all learners.

Whether you are an educator, administrator, or partner, Frontline Voices offers a window into the innovative work happening statewide and a resource to inform and inspire your own efforts.

Explore the latest Frontline Voices issues