ORANGE, CA – March 19, 2019 – Each year, the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) statewide organization recognizes outstanding performance and achievement by individual administrators. This year Orange Unified School District is proud to announce two administrators have been recognized as administrators of the year for Orange County (Region 17): Elena Rodriguez and Kristine Nelson.
Elena Rodriguez is being recognized as 2019 ACSA Region 17 Central Office Administrator of the Year. Elena currently serves as the Executive Director of Accountability, Equity and School Support. She oversees compliance as well as accountability for and support of categorical programs, oversees the after school childcare programs and early learning programs, coordinates the LCAP process, but more importantly oversees and directly supports half of our elementary schools. Elena knows that success of our students rests on the ability to connect them to their school experience. She believes in knowing her students by name and by need, which proved successful during her 15 years as a principal. She currently serves on the Board of her local ACSA chapter as well as a member of the ACSA State Accountability Task Force.
Kristine Nelson is being recognized as 2019 ACSA Region 17 Student Services Administrator of the Year. She currently serves as the Coordinator for Foster Youth, McKinney-Vento, and At-Risk Youth working with some of the district’s most vulnerable youth. She believes in the power of connectedness and engagement for all students. Her vision from day one has been to cultivate positive relationships between students and adults on campus. Through developing mentor programs, building capacity with staff on the needs of trauma exposed youth, ensuring all students have equal access to education, and developing a thriving parent engagement group, Kristine has implemented programs that foster positive outcomes for disenfranchised youth throughout the district and county. She is an active member of ACSA.
Orange Unified congratulates these outstanding administrators who will be recognized at ACSA’s Celebration of Excellence, held at the Irvine Marriott on May 13, 2019.
ACSA was established in 1971 and is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the nation. More information about ACSA’s programs and awards is available online at http://www.acsa.org.
