Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Latino and Latina Leaders
Representation Matters: Empowering Latino and Latina Leaders in Education
As the Latino student population continues to grow, the need for Latino and Latina leaders in leadership has never been more urgent. Representation in the superintendent’s office is essential to creating equitable, culturally responsive schools that reflect the communities they serve.
The AASA Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Latino and Latina Leaders is your opportunity to answer the call! This academy will prepare you to lead with vision, creativity, and a steadfast commitment to equity and excellence.
The Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Latino and Latina Leaders will address critical issues of leadership designed to support Latino and Latina candidates aspiring to the superintendent role.
Academy Curriculum:
This academy's curriculum is tailored specifically to the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Latino/a leaders in their professional environments.
Core Curriculum Areas Include:
- Framing the Superintendent Role: Knowing Yourself and Your Leadership Strengths and Areas for Growth as a Future Latino and Latina Superintendent
- Leading for Equity with Urgency: Unique Challenges Facing Latino and Latina Superintendents in Confronting Bias, Limited Access and Opportunity, and Inherent Structural Inequities
- Understanding Governance: Building Effective Relationships While Confronting the Unique Challenges Faced by Latino and Latina Superintendents
- Building a Community of Support: Cultural Responsiveness and Leadership Strategies for Addressing the Unique Strengths and Challenges of Latino and Latina Students, Families, and Stakeholder Groups
- Balancing Leadership: Addressing Operations and Fiscal Management
- Leading Learning: The Role of the Latino and Latina Superintendent in Reinforcing Evidence-Based Practices in Curriculum and Assessment, Including Cultural and Linguistic Proficiency
Who Should Apply?
Anyone who aspires to be a superintendent is encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to principals and central office professionals.
Daniel A. Domenech Scholarship
This scholarship supports aspiring superintendents who, due to financial hardship, are unable to participate in the Aspiring Superintendents Academy®️ for Latino and Latina Leaders. This needs-based scholarship provides two recipients with up to $3,500 in financial support to enroll in the academy.
Are you interested in applying for scholarship funding? If so, please complete your academy application by May 5, 2025. Scholarship eligibility questions are part of the academy application.
In-Person Meeting Dates:
Virtual Meeting Dates:
The opportunity to obtain CEUs from the University of La Verne is provided as a service for educational leaders who are seeking a permanent record of their educational accomplishments. CEUs may be obtained up to six months after graduating from the program.
Did you recently graduate from this academy? Complete this form to begin your request!
Lead Teachers and Mentors
Never stop learning and working toward your goals as you can accomplish more than you realize. The extra effort that you put in at any level will then inspire the next generation of leaders.Gustavo Balderas
"In this cohort, I learned that only 1% of superintendents in the entire country are Latina. Considering that a quarter of students in our nation’s public schools are Latino/a, this disparity really struck me. The gap between representation and student population was something I could not ignore. Through the guest speakers and learning activities, I emerged ready to re-enter my research journey."
Mallory Umar
Details
July 9, 2025 to February 11, 2026
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available after successful completion of this program.
$4,500
Member Price
$4,800
Non-Member Price
Not a member? Join today.
Apply TodayContacts
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Gail Pletnick
Lead Superintendent
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Valerie Truesdale
Senior Assistant Executive Director, Leadership Network
AASA, The School Superintendents Association
703-774-6930
Daniel A. Domenech Scholarship
This scholarship supports two aspiring superintendents with financial assistance to participate in the Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Latino and Latina Leaders!
