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
Schedule
This localized professional learning series will be delivered in-person at Berkeley Way West from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on the following Saturdays:
- September 27, 2025
- November 8, 2025
- January 31, 2026
- March 14, 2026
- April 11, 2026
Facilitators
Alexandrea Creer Kahn is the Senior Director of Academic Programs at Alder Graduate School of Education. Over the course of her career focusing on educational equity, Alex has worked in several roles in K–12 and higher education including teacher, school coach, principal, and district leader, as well as lecturer for Stanford University. Recently, Alex co-authored the book Identity Safe Classrooms: Grades 6–12 Pathway to Belonging and Learning.
Todd Irving is the Principal of Pinole Valley High School. 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 Leadership Public Schools in Richmond, California.
Jerome Gourdine is the Director of Targeted Strategies for 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.
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
Questions?
Contact us at 21csla_bayarea@berkeley.edu