Dozens of attendees gathered in San Diego March 11-12 for the CSBA Counties Governance Workshop where the focus of sessions and micro-trainings was a core responsibility of county boards — serving at-promise students such as foster youth.
CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade, a San Diego County local who serves as a trustee in Solana Beach School District, highlighted the critical part that COE governance teams play in California’s education landscape, and explained how their role stretches far beyond responsibilities related to oversight and compliance.
“County boards are guardians of accountability, champions for students with the greatest needs and trusted partners in school districts,” Schade said. “Through services such as professional development, specialized academic support, mental health resources, technology assistance and instructional coaching, county offices help ensure that every student, regardless of geography or circumstance, has the opportunity to reach their potential.”
Schade added that the support of COEs is especially important to small and/or rural school districts. She also detailed CSBA’s call for the creation of a state-level operations and support plan to better assist local educational agencies in closing achievement gaps.
“We are gathering at a moment when the urgency of closing achievement gaps is clearer than ever. Today, just over a third of California students are proficient in math, and this is a call to action,” Schade said. “Through CSBA’s [SOS for Student Achievement] initiative, we are emphasizing shared accountability with the state, stronger statewide leadership and planning, and the resources and support local educational agencies need to help every student succeed. County offices of education are essential partners in this effort — supporting districts, strengthening instruction and ensuring our most vulnerable students are not left behind.”
During his opening remarks, CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy reiterated CSBA’s ongoing commitment to supporting COE boards through legislative and budget advocacy, resources and high-quality training.
Throughout the workshop, COE leaders were able to strengthen their skills, gain new resources and knowledge, expand their network and solidify their role as advocates for students.
Sessions and micro-trainings
On day one, participants learned about Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP) from Program Director Michelle Lustig and Program Coordinator Mindy Corless. They spoke about the circumstances that lead to a minor being placed in foster care and the impact it has on them, identification, the rights of foster youth and their unique needs. They shared how to bolster positive academic and personal outcomes, the basics of their program, the importance of partnerships, and how COE governance teams can best engage with their FYSCP team. They also provided California Department of Education data on the number of students in foster care by county on Census Day in 2024–25.
Attendees heard from Alameda COE trustee Ken Berrick, who is the founder and CEO of Just Advocates and the founder and director of the consulting firm Rising Social Strategies, and Andre Chapman, president and CEO of Fostering Promise, about how education systems, child welfare and community partners can align to improve outcomes for foster youth.
Additional topics covered included how COE governance teams can understand students through research and their role in improving student outcomes. Demontea “Tae” Thompson, executive director of Together We Inspire, shared his journey as a foster youth, the importance of trusted adults and mentors and how his life experiences shaped him and his mission to empower marginalized young adults and foster youth.
Thompson authored a pair of briefs recently published by CSBA’s Research and Education Policy Development (REPD) Department; “Students in Focus: Foster youth in TK–12 education” and “Students in Focus: Foster youth in California’s TK–12 education system — promising practices and legislation.” REPD also published the accompanying fact sheet “Foster Youth in Focus: Policy recommendations for school boards and state policymakers.”
Representatives from the education law firm Dannis Woliver Kelley provided lessons on transfer and discipline appeals and CSBA staff offered an update on relevant legislative and budget advocacy.
That night, workshop attendees were treated to a special screening of the documentary “Possible Selves,” which follows two foster youth as they navigate high school and pursue college — an achievement reached by only 3 percent of adults who grow up in foster care.
The workshop’s second day covered Riverside COE’s Foster Youth Success Initiative, as Chief Academic Officer Amanda Corridan elaborated on inspiring strategies and successes centered on student voice and well-being, school stability and post-graduation preparedness, She explained invention of the COE’s FosterFerret platform that aims to address the disparities foster youth face by offering services like secure document storage, wellness check-ins and other resources.
Additionally, Britnay Anderson, a foster youth and champion for student well-being who was served under the initiative, shared a powerful testimonial. Anderson recalled longing for support, comfort and someone to be there for her, as many of her peers were, while being judged by some of the adults that should have been in her corner.
“That’s a reality that’s painted for a lot of foster youth — that we’re bad kids,” Anderson said. “It’s not that we’re bad kids, we’re kids that lack a lot of support in the areas where we wish we had [it].”
The concluding session, led by CSBA Director of County Board Member Services Mike Walsh, offered time to reflect on key insights from the workshop and how they can be implemented in their COEs.
Save the date for the CSBA Counties Conference, which will take place in Marina del Rey in Southern California Sept. 25-27. A MIG course for COEs will be offered as a pre-workshop opportunity on Sept. 24. CSBA understands county members’ preference to have the annual conference in Monterey, however, for 2026 doing so would have meant a higher cost for attendees due to demand in the area. A location in Monterey has been confirmed for 2027.
