Black Educators Convene ‘Education Is A Civil Right’ Annual Conference’s Theme ounding the Alarm: Education Is A Civil Right,” is the urgent call around which the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) held their annual conference, February 22 through 24 at Sacramento’s Hilton Arden West Hotel. This year’s assembly, in collaboration with the California Department of Education (CDE), California Coalition of Black School Board Members (CCBSBM) and the California Legislative Black Caucus, featured panel discussions with noted educators, elected officials, and business and community leaders from throughout California. Concurrent workshops, designed to raise awareness of issues impacting African American educators, administrators and students were also held. “There is an urgent need to address the inequities faced by African American, K-12 students in public schools,” said Pamela Short-Powell,Ed.D.,CAAASA President “As educators and responsible community members, we must develop innovative strategies to improve academic achievement and student performance.” The conference included the “Salute To Excellence” Awards Gala, with keynote address by Dr. Melba Pattillo Bealsmember of the Little Rock Nine. Additional honorees included Darling-Hammond; Hardy Brown, Chairman of Brown Publishing Company and co-publisher, Black Voice News;Assemblyman Mike Davis; L.A. County Supervisor Mark RidleyThomas, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Jack O’Connell; Oakland Unified School District Superintendent, Anthony Smith, PhD; and Moreno Valley Unified School District Superintendent Judy White, Ed.D.
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Jack O'Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, received the Supreme Leadership Award during the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators gala held in Sacramento last week.
CAAASA president Dr. Pamela Short-Powell served as the event’s emcee.
Washington Union School Board member Hank Hendricks, left, received a standing ovation for his service.
Little Rock Nine pioneer Dr. Pattillo Beals served as the keynote speaker.
Honoree Superintendent Dr. Judy White, right, shares a moment with Regina BrownWilson, left, who received the Humanitarian Award on behalf of her father, Hardy Brown.
OBSERVER Photos by ROBERT MARYLAND
FEATURED THIS WEEK: ■ PAGE A-5 CITY Sports Arena: We’re In The ‘Big Leagues Now
■ PAGE B-1 EDUCATION Black Parallel School Board Meeting Announced
■ PAGE C-1 HISTORY Westmore Named Magistrate Judge For Oakland
■ PAGE E-2 ARTS National Artist Charles Bibbs To Exhibit Latest Works
It’s Oscar Time! Film star Octavia Spencer wins ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for ‘The Help’. Spencer is one of a half-dozen Black actors to receive the award. See Page E-3.