55th Annual JCCASAC Conference: Full Schedule

11:20am PDT

Courageous Conversations: Combating Inequities at your School Site and in the Classroom

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT

This one-hour interactive session is designed to engage school site administrators and staff in courageous, equity-centered dialogue. Participants will explore the difference between equity and equality, examine how systemic and implicit biases show up in school practices, and reflect on how everyday decisions can impact student access, inclusion, and outcomes.
Participants will engage in real-world scenarios, develop greater self-awareness, and identify practices that can shift their school culture toward greater equity. This session emphasizes reflection, collaboration, and action—empowering educators to lead with courage and commitment in the pursuit of educational justice.

Speakers

Tapau Osborne

Los Angeles County Office of Educat

I coordinate the school transition and aftercare process for students entering and exiting LA County Juvenile Halls, Probation Camps and Court Community Schools. This includes forming , training..and facilitating interagency collaborative meetings with various LA county agencies such... Read More →

Sterling Cox

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT
Hiro

Session Five

11:20am PDT

Creating a CTE Continuum in your Court & Community sites LIMITED

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT

Orchid

Alternative Education settings have many challenges when it comes to implementing a traditional CTE pathway, yet these are students who benefit most from hands-on, relevant CTE coursework. Learn how to implement a continuum of comparable courses across your Court & Community school sites to overcome traditional obstacles to CTE.

Speakers

Lance Brogden

Marianne Bland

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT
Orchid

Session Five

11:20am PDT

From Data to Action: Using Parsec to Amplify Unheard Student Voices LIMITED

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT

Mandarin A

Educators working with at-risk youth often face challenges in capturing authentic student experiences to drive meaningful change. This session explores how Parsec Real, an advanced qualitative data collection and analysis tool, can be leveraged to gather student-centered insights in alternative education settings. Participants will engage with real student narratives, explore identified themes, and understand how they were used to develop strategies for data-driven program improvement.

Speakers

Debra Brau

Margaret Ameel

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT
Mandarin A

Session Five

11:20am PDT

Immersive Learning with Class VR LIMITED

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT

Club

This presentation will explore the transformative potential of ClassVR in juvenile court schools. Attendees will learn how VR technology can be utilized to create immersive and engaging learning experiences for students in camps and halls. The session will cover practical applications, success stories, and strategies for integrating ClassVR into the curriculum to enhance student engagement, learning outcomes, and overall educational experience.

Speakers

Alvaro Brito

Alvaro Brito brings over 12 years of diverse experience in education, having served as a teacher, site coordinator, specialist, assistant principal, and district administrator. He has successfully managed District’s Innovation Labs, Robotics Programs, and acted as the General Manager... Read More →

Jose Ramirez

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT
Club

Session Five

11:20am PDT

Leading with Love and Belonging: Golden Hills Community School LIMITED

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT

Sierra Suite

This session will lead participants in exploring aspects of a County Community School that is implementing the CA Community School Partnership grant. We will share aspects of the Community Schools Forward CS Essentials Framework including: 1) empowering student and family engagement; 2) rigorous, community connected classroom instruction; 3) expanded, enriched learning opportunities; and 4) integrated systems of support. Perhaps even more important than these key practices we will focus on – WHAT we are offering students and families – and HOW we are working together to continuously improve in meaningful ways alongside students, families, and educational partners. Looking forward to sharing our journey and strategies that have been helpful along the way.

Speakers

Nicole Ruiz

Andrea Lemos Ed. D, Jas Bains Wright

Andrea Lemos, Ed.D., serves as Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services and Student Programs for Solano County Office of Education. Dr. Lemos has worked in preschool through 12th grade programs, as a special education teacher, site administrator, and a district leader in school... Read More →

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT
Sierra Suite

Session Five

11:20am PDT

Make Music Count: Increasing Math Engagement and Performance through integrating piano playing LIMITED

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT

Salon 6B

Come experience a hands on demonstration of the Make Music Count app where you'll feel exactly how students increase their engagement in mathematics through playing songs on the piano. We will breakdown the impact of our pilot with Los Padrinos and how your sites can see the same results.

Speakers

Marcus Blackwell Jr

Dr. Janice Phelps

Dr. Janice Phelps was born to be an educator. She began her teaching career at age 5 during all family holiday gatherings. She would “play school” and young cousins would gather around for exciting lessons and engaging story time. With that extensive background and preparation... Read More →

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT
Salon 6B

Session Five

11:20am PDT

New Graduation Options for Court School Students: Implementing Assembly Bill 2181 LIMITED

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT

Ballroom A

In this session, participants will hear about a new law that provides more flexibility to COEs regarding when they graduate court school students and more options for the students themselves regarding graduation timing. AB 2181 provides options for certain court school pupils to stay in high school longer to complete their graduation requirements, rather than have to graduate when they meet the state minimum graduation requirements of 130 credits. Alameda County Office of Education Presenterswill review the new statutory language, the benefits for COEs and students, and what the language means for changes to practice. Participants will have the opportunity to share their own approaches to implementation, to raise challenges, and to brainstorm with the presenters and other participants strategies for addressing those challenges.

Speakers

Lucy Salcido Carter

For 30+ years, Lucy Salcido Carter has advocated for better programs and services for children, youth, and families. She served as Child Welfare Program Officer for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, supporting best practices to address the co-occurrence of domestic violence... Read More →

Monica Vaughan

Monica Vaughan has devoted over 30 years to supporting students in alternative school settings, working as a teacher, site administrator, and central office administrator promoting educational options for our most vulnerable students. For the past 10 years, she has served as Senior... Read More →

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT
Ballroom A

Session Five

11:20am PDT

Reading with Relevance: Building Empathy and Literacy Skills in AltEd Youth LIMITED

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT

Salon 6A

Diverse books create powerful “mirrors and windows”--holding the power to build empathy across difference and advance social justice in our classrooms. Come learn how to leverage the instructional power of diverse books--integrating the academic, social, and emotional skills young people need to analyze and dismantle the systemic forces of oppression that impact their everyday lives.

Speakers

D. Lacy Asbill

Susan Connolly

Elana Metz

Chris Reyna

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT
Salon 6A

Session Five

11:20am PDT

Remaining Empathetic with Extreme Behaviors LIMITED

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT

Mandarin B

Some youth have behaviors that are designed to push people away or, at the very least, test your limits. From violence, suicidal behaviors, self-harm, destruction of property, substance use, theft, and sexual acting out, learn how to stay in a place of empathy while holding your boundaries. Emily Aihara has experience working with youth in Juvenile Hall and providing emergency psychiatric assessments to youth in the community. While no one has seen it all, she’s seen a lot and wants to engage you in a conversation about helping our youth with the most extreme presentations.

Speakers

Emily Aihara LMFT

Thursday May 8, 2025 11:20am - 12:20pm PDT
Mandarin B

Session Five