African American Education Leaders Network

The African American Education Leaders Network (AAELN) is a community of practice designed to support site and system leaders across six Bay Area counties by providing a safe space to discuss challenges encountered by Black leaders, share stories of triumph and joy, and build community with other African American leaders across the greater Bay Area. 

African American Education Leaders Network: A Place to Come, Be, and Become

Participants will:

  • Develop a network where members support and uplift each other by sharing leadership experiences
  • Learn evidence-based leadership tools and strategies
  • Increase resilience and sustainability necessary for leadership work

Facilitators

Todd Irving, Principal, Pinole Valley High School, Pinole, CA
Mr. Irving has more than 30 years of administrative experience in education and served as the first UC Berkeley Principal Leadership Institute (PLI) Principal in Residence. He is currently principal of Pinole Valley High School in Pinole, CA.

Jerome Gourdine, Director of Targeted Strategies, Oakland Unified School District
Mr. Gourdine has served Oakland for more than 27 years, as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and program manager. Among his many accomplishments is receiving the 2007 MetLife Principal of the Year Award.

Soraya Sablo Sutton, Program Director, Principal Leadership Institute
Soraya Sablo Sutton is a continuing lecturer and the Program Director of the Principal Leadership Institute at UC Berkeley School of Education. Prior to joining PLI, Soraya Sablo Sutton worked in San Leandro Unified School District and Oakland Unified School District as a teacher, instructional coach, and elementary principal for over a decade.

Session calendar 

This localized professional learning series will be delivered in-person at Berkeley Way West from 9:00am–12:00pm on the following Saturdays:

  • September 28, 2024
  • October 19, 2024
  • November 2, 2024
  • February 1, 2025
  • April 12, 2025
  • March 15, 2025

Who should participate?

Site leaders, systems leaders working directly with school sites, counselors, school psycholgists, TOSAs

21CSLA programs are offered at no cost to participants employed in Title II districts and schools in six Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano. 

Click here to see a list of schools served by the 21CSLA grant. If you do not see your school, district, or charter system, please contact us at 21csla_bayarea@berkeley.edu.

Registration

Click here to register

Questions?

Contact us at 21csla_bayarea@berkeley.edu