ACSA Region 17

ACSA Region 17 celebrated the end of a phenomenal year with a Board of Directors breakfast this past week. Show this team some love for all they do for Orange County! 💙🍊

introduces our Members-at-Large who understand that strong organizations are built on human connection — not just systems. 🩵
Meet Dr. Christa Glembocki and Atikah Osman, Ed.D. Together, they bring 37 years of experience in education and a shared belief that the health of our teams and the wellbeing of our students are inseparable from the work of leadership.
Dr. Glembocki keeps post-its and coffee within reach and has been deeply shaped by The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt — a book that reminds her that our students are navigating a world unlike any before it, and that human interaction and collaboration will always be more powerful than screens. It is a read that has made her a better leader and a better mom. Dr. Osman shows up with a Sharpie, coffee in hand, and grounds her team-building philosophy in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team — because trust is not assumed, it is built.
Two Members-at-Large. One shared commitment: people first, always. ☕

continues with two leaders who remind us that the best work begins with curiosity and intention. 🩵
Meet our Director of Business Partnerships, Darlene Messinger, and our Director of Equity and Inclusion, Oralia Cordova. Together, they bring over 50 years of experience in education and a shared conviction that meaningful relationships — with partners, with colleagues, and with ourselves — are the foundation of everything we do.
Darlene keeps her computer at the ready, fuels her work with tea, and has been shaped by The Answer Is a Question by Ashley Timms — a reminder that the right question opens doors that assumptions keep closed. Oralia leads with her calendar visible and intentional, coffee in hand, and credits the Hidden Brain podcast for deepening how she thinks about human behavior, bias, and decision-making.
One builds bridges outward. The other builds understanding inward. Both are essential to a region that leads with purpose and heart.
We are so grateful for the work they do every day. ☕🍵

series continues, and today we are spotlighting two leaders who make sure our region’s story gets told with clarity, creativity, and purpose! 🩵
Meet our Vice President of Public Relations, Dr. Jennifer Sasai, and our Director of Social Media, Dr. Monica Luther. Between them, they bring 44 years of experience in education and the vision to ensure Region 17 shows up strong in every space.
Dr. Sasai keeps post-its for checklists within reach, a warm cup of tea nearby, and grounds her leadership in What Great Principals Do Differently by Todd Whitaker. Dr. Luther keeps really large post-its on deck, coffee flowing, and her practice anchored in Collective Leader Efficacy by Peter DeWitt.
These two are the voices and vision behind what you see from Region 17 — and we are so grateful they are at the table. 📣☕🍵

The ACSA Region 17 series continues, and today we are celebrating the leaders who make sure every member of our region feels seen, supported, and valued! 🩵
Meet Mary O’Neill Grace, ACSA Member Recruitment, Michelle Scheiber, Director of Scholarships and Member Benefits, and Victoria Webber, Director of Classified Leaders. Together, they bring over 81 years of experience in education and a shared mission: ensuring that every leader in Region 17 has access to the resources, recognition, and community they deserve.
Mary keeps water and coffee on her desk, fuels her work with even more coffee, and turns to Adam Grant — Hidden Potential and Think Again — as reminders that growth is always possible. Michelle sets the tone with music playing in the background, tea in hand, and Compassionate Leadership by Hougard and Carter anchoring her approach to member care. Victoria runs her world across three monitors, powered by coffee and the bold wisdom of How Women Rise.
From recruitment to scholarships to classified leadership, these three ensure that belonging is not just a value we name — it is one we practice every day. We are grateful for all they do. ☕🍵

The ACSA Region 17 series continues with two leaders who bring decades of wisdom, advocacy, and balance to everything they do! ☕
Meet our State Board Member-at-Large, Dr. Julie Hatchel, and our VP of Legislative Action Day, Steve McLaughlin, Ed.D. Together, they bring 64 years of experience in education and a shared commitment to showing up fully for the educators and communities they serve.
Dr. Hatchel keeps a water bottle on her desk, fuels her days with coffee, and reminds us all that balance matters — she decompresses with true crime mysteries because great leaders know when to step away and recharge. Steve works best at his stand-up desk, coffee close by, and returns often to The Advantage by Lencioni as a foundation for building healthy, high-functioning organizations.
We are proud to have these two representing Region 17 at the state level and beyond. 🩵

The ACSA Region 17 series continues, and today we are celebrating three leaders who keep our region connected, organized, and thriving! ☕
Meet our Membership Director, Dr. David Appling, our Director of Student Charters, Jamie Goodwyn, and our Director of Charter Presidents, Committee Chairs, and Council Presidents, Mona Montgomery, Ed.D. Together, they bring over 84 years of experience in education and a collective dedication to building community across our region.
Dr. Appling keeps family photos on his desk as a daily reminder of what matters most, fuels his work with coffee, and turns to Getting Past No by William Ury when navigating the complexities of leadership. Jamie stays focused with a checklist of must-dos, coffee in hand, and The Principled Principal by Jeffrey Zoul and Anthony McConnell as a cornerstone of his practice. Dr. Montgomery grounds herself with aromatherapy, a strong cup of coffee, and the bold wisdom found in Dare to Lead.
Three leaders, one shared commitment to the educators and students of Region 17. We are grateful for each of them. 🩵

Our ACSA Region 17 series continues, and we are thrilled to introduce the leaders driving our programs forward! 🍵
Meet our Vice President of Programs, Dr. Rebecca Pianta, and our Vice President of Programs-Elect, Dr. Danielle Phillips. Between them, they bring 42 years of experience in education and a shared commitment to intentional, heart-centered leadership.
Dr. Pianta starts every day with a clear, written priority list and a warm cup of tea, grounding her work in the principles of Lead from the Heart. Dr. Phillips keeps her Pentel RSVP pens close and her practice informed by Visible Learning and the Science of How We Learn by John Hattie and Gregory Yates. Two leaders, one shared mission: programming that elevates every educator in our region.
We are honored to have them at the table. Stay tuned for more introductions! 🩵

ACSA Region 17 is excited for you to get to know our fearless leaders! 🩵
Meet our President, Kari Adams, and our President-Elect, Stephanie Shumate. Together, they bring nearly four decades of experience in education and a shared commitment to leading with purpose, passion, and a whole lot of heart.
Kari keeps lined sticky notes on her desk, coffee close by, and her practice grounded in resources like The Education Podcast, Think Inclusive, and Sold a Story. Stephanie fuels her leadership with iced tea, more iced tea, and the inspiration she finds in The Rachel Hollis Podcast.
We are beyond grateful for the dedication, wisdom, and vision these two bring to our region. This is only the beginning of our Meet the Team series — follow along as we celebrate the leaders shaping ACSA Region 17.