2026 ACSA Personnel Institute

Join retired Superintendent/Chief of Human Resources, Dr. Rob Martinez, and Carrie Wells, Assistant Superintendent HR of Brentwood USD, as they shares some strategies and processes to prepare yourself for the times when employee misbehavior will occur. We will discuss ways to support your Administrators and Supervisors with evidence collection, capturing witness statements, and preparing for the potential long and involved process of employee dismissal.

Being a SMART communicator pays huge dividends as districts navigate negotiations, prepare for certificated and classified layoffs, and face the possibility of a strike. Participants will learn how these three integral processes require a SMART communication framework; clarity regarding who is on the communication team and what the key issues are, preparing key messaging points in advance, anticipating misinformation and escalation of issues, all while remaining clear, objective and empathetic to all audiences. Participants will not only leave with a solid communication framework, but will have time to interact with the principles preparing them to immediately be a SMART communicator in any and all situations.

Is your HR team spending too much time on paperwork and not enough on people? It’s time to refocus. This high-energy session identifies the four levers HR leaders must pull to drastically improve recruitment and retention outcomes. We’ll dive deep into Systems, Recruitment, Branding, and Retention, providing you with actionable frameworks to streamline your operations and amplify your culture. Whether you are a team of one or lead a large department, you’ll walk away with a practical roadmap to modernize your practices and prove HR’s value to the bottom line.