During the 2026 CSBA Counties Conference Sept. 25-27 at the Marina del Rey Marriott, county offices of education convened to share ideas and learn about initiatives taking place throughout the state, showcasing the leaders’ commitment to lifelong learning.
Welcoming more than 100 people in attendance, CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade recalled her site visits to COEs this year and the innovation she witnessed — complimenting how the agencies strive to act as well-informed guides for school districts and meet the field’s evolving demands. She noted how the conference would add to individuals’ knowledge base and capacity, strengthening governance practices and creating a stronger foundation for all California students, especially those with the greatest needs.
“Now more than ever, county boards play a critical role in maintaining stability and advancing progress in California public schools. This is a challenging time to serve as a county board of education trustee,” Schade said. “The job is growing increasingly complex, so we must be intentional about creating the legislative policy and financial conditions needed to strength schools, support student success and aid county boards and county offices of education in your work.”
Over the three-day period, breakout sessions and micro-trainings covered topics such as trends, challenges and innovative practices in special education; legislative and policy priorities; literacy; supporting high-quality mathematics instruction; artificial intelligence; career technical education; trauma-informed safety protocols for schools; workforce housing; charter authorizing, accountability and oversight; improving graduation rates for foster youth; and the state’s CalKIDS program.
Others explored subjects like reimaging schools through student voice, charter school oversight, using social media as a trustee, how to support students after the Supreme Court’s decisions in Mirabelli and Mahmoud, and the CSBA Policy Toolkit and new literacy resources published by the association’s research team.
CSBA Director of County Board Member Services Mike Walsh highlighted the not-so-invisible string that tied all the sessions together — the weight of acting with heart and intention and facilitating opportunities for others. “I have a belief that to lead people, you love them, and to save people, you serve them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being people who love and serve,” he said.
The weekend’s presenters included representatives from COEs spanning California, as well as various legal, state, higher education and nonprofit partners.
Additionally, there were ample opportunities for attendees to mingle and win prizes, including a regionally inspired gift basket made by their peers, a free registration for the Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip to Washington, D.C., and to the County Board Members’ Breakfast, which occurs at CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show (AEC).
Keynotes
During the first keynote address on Sept. 26, award-winning documentary filmmaker Shaun Kadlec and foster youth advocate and UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) student Alex Ballantyne discussed the powerful story behind the Emmy-winning documentary “Possible Selves” which was screened during the event and showcases the resilience of foster youth and the life-changing impact of caring adults.
Ballantyne is one of the young people profiled in the movie, which started production when he was 12 years old. In his childhood, Ballantyne witnessed substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health crises and incidents involving caretakers and law enforcement.
He explained that even with trusted adults, many foster youth are hesitant to share their tribulations and emphasized how childhood experiences can inform a young person’s development and worldview.
His powerful delivery, recalling his time in group homes, with foster families, bouncing between school districts, finding transitional housing, entering college, overcoming personal struggles and losing his home and belongings in the Eaton Fire, moved the audience.
Now, at age 26, Ballantyne is in his final year at UCSB and planning to apply to law school.
He remembered those adults who supported him during his journey — his grandmother, who was adamant he get a good education, an eighth-grade teacher he connected with, his aunt and uncle who he found a loving family dynamic with, and Kadlec, who stood by him through his adolescence. Overall, “children need somebody who will be there for them unconditionally,” Ballantyne said, whoever that individual may be.
Kadlec delved into the importance of authentic connection and sharing stories. “It’s easy for us to feel like we’re the ones with stuff to teach, we’re the one’s running things — but there is so much to learn from young people too … You can really only make informed decisions if you know the story,” he said.
On Sept. 27, best-selling author and criminal justice advocate Damon West delivered a keynote about his personal story of how he used his time in prison to educate others and how perspectives change with life experiences. Education has changed, West observed, and old systems and ways of thinking may not be effective in an evolving world.
“Sometimes we’re given information in life that was good for a time but it’s not applicable anymore … We have to change the way we see the obstacle in front of us because on the other side of the obstacle is the best version of us and the best version of what we’re trying to do,” he said.
Upcoming gatherings
COE governance team members who plan to attend AEC in San Diego Dec. 3-5 can register for the County Board Members’ Breakfast from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 4. School Services of California Director of Management Consulting Services Anjanette Pelletier will speak on this year’s theme for the breakfast, special education.
In 2026, AEC is featuring a special pathway designed for county board members with breakout sessions tailored specifically to their needs and interests.
Save the date for the CSBA Counties Governance Workshop, happening Feb. 25-26, 2027, in Sacramento, as well as the CSBA Counties Conference, taking place Sept. 24-26, 2027, in Monterey.
