2026 ACSA Personnel Institute

This session equips school administrators with the knowledge and tools needed to legally and effectively document certificated employee misconduct. Participants will learn how to conduct personnel investigations, prepare meaningful performance evaluations, and implement progressive discipline in a manner that is fair, consistent, and defensible. The presentation will walk through best practices for identifying misconduct, selecting appropriate levels of discipline, and creating documentation that supports sound employment decisions. Administrators will leave with practical strategies to strengthen their documentation practices and reduce legal risk.

Building on Part One, this session provides a detailed roadmap of the certificated termination process from start to finish. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the statutory framework governing dismissal, including the filing of charges, Skelly rights, suspension procedures, and the formal hearing process before the Office of Administrative Hearings (“OAH”). The presentation will outline the roles of district administrators and witnesses, expected timelines, and the financial and operational considerations involved in pursuing dismissal. Attendees will leave with a comprehensive view of what certificated termination entails and how to prepare themselves and their teams for each stage effectively.

Now more than ever, school districts are faced with employees engaging in controversial speech occurring in and out of the classroom. When can employees criticize the administration or speak out about political events? Where does an employee’s expression of their views on a controversial topic cross the line and potentially impact their employment? This workshop will discuss the district’s need to balance a respect for employee viewpoints while ensuring that employee speech does not disrupt the workplace or violate the rights of others. This high-level workshop will equip attendees with a framework of legal considerations and supportive measures designed to collaboratively address sensitive topics.

Traditional recruitment strategies alone are no longer enough to meet today’s educator workforce demands. As districts navigate ongoing staffing shortages, turnover, and hard-to-fill positions, Human Resources leaders are increasingly exploring innovative “grow your own” solutions that create stronger pathways into the profession.
This session examines educator residency and registered apprenticeship programs as strategic staffing models that support long-term workforce development. Participants will learn how districts are partnering with higher education, labor, and community organizations to recruit and retain aspiring educators while creating paid pathways into teaching.
The session will highlight implementation models, funding considerations, workforce implications, and policy trends shaping residency and apprenticeship efforts across California. HR leaders will gain practical insights into how these approaches can support staffing stability, workforce diversification, and future-ready talent development systems.