Transforming the Sunnyside Unified School District from good to great!
Dr. Isquierdo was selected in December 2009 as one of the nation’s 10 Tech-Savvy Superintendents of the Year by eSchool News, an online resource for technology news for today’s K-20 educator. Winners were selected based on their ability to demonstrate exemplary vision for the use of technology to improve all facets of education and outstanding leadership in working to make this vision a reality. The award will be presented Feb. 11, 2010 at the national conference of the American Association of School Administrators in Phoenix, where the Sunnyside District is one of 18 districts in the nation selected to present in a District and School Showcase.
When asked what this award means for the Sunnyside District, Dr. Isquierdo said, “This award is bigger than one person. This award means that Sunnyside is a tech-savvy district.”
Project Graduation: The Digital Advantage
The beginning of the district’s transformation through technology began in the fall of 2007 when Dr. Isquierdo created Project Graduation. Significant improvements in the number of graduates, attendance and student achievement were realized as early as May 2008. Dr. Isquierdo created The Digital Advantage to motivate and support students; the program was implemented in the 2008-09 school year.
The Digital Advantage awards laptops for achievement of the Four A’s: Attendance, Achievement, extracurricular Activity and Attitude (no out-of-school suspensions). Dr. Isquierdo is leading the expansion of Digital Advantage for students K-12 and their parents.
- The Digital Advantage was the recipient of the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education’s 2009 Pathways to Higher Education Award in November 2009.
- In May 2009, the Sunnyside District won the ASPRA*tions Award for Excellence with a Specific Program from the Arizona School Public Relations Association.
- Dr. Isquierdo’s personal involvement in fund-raising has resulted in commitments of $1.1 million in six months.
- 505 freshmen received laptops in January 2009, and 339 sophomores, juniors and seniors received laptops in April 2009. This translates to 22 percent of SUSD high school students having laptops.
- New initiatives in 2009-10 include Digital Advantage 8th Grade Scholars, Digital Advantage Parents, 1:1 Computing for Teachers and for Fifth-Grade Students, Online Learning and Extended-Day Learning.
- Also new in 2009-10 is a comprehensive Dropout Recovery initiative and an innovative Economic Development Plan that forges new partnerships between the school district and local businesses in the Sunnyside community.
Gaining national attention
Dr. Isquierdo represents the Sunnyside District at local, state and national levels.
- Dr. Isquierdo has been appointed to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Education Commission.
- The Sunnyside District hosted a summit for the national America’s Promise Alliance.
- The Sunnyside District hosted a Parent Advocacy Training presented by the national LULAC.
- Dr. Isquierdo presented at the LULAC Legislative Session Conference session of the Campaign for High School Equity in February 2009.
- Dr. Isquierdo participated in a Digital Learning Environments Webinar in October 2009
- Dr. Isquierdo presented at the National Dropout Prevention Network Conference, “Illuminating the Path to the Future” in San Antonio, Texas in October 2009
- Dr. Isquierdo will lead the Sunnyside District’s presentation at the National Conference on Education to be held in Phoenix in February 2010. Sunnyside is one of 18 districts to participate in the District and School Showcase.
Transforming the Sunnyside District
The Governing Board selected Dr. Isquierdo as superintendent to improve the graduation rate, decrease the dropout rate, address the challenges of corrective action, and respect the importance of relationships in the process. Since joining Sunnyside in July 2007, he has launched a number of initiatives to meet the challenges and expectations that the Governing Board identified.
Dr. Isquierdo has led the Sunnyside District by:
- Establishing a process of assessment and planning to achieve organizational efficiency.
- New staffing and sectioning procedures have brought equity and efficiency to SUSD schools.
- The Human Resources Department was reorganized for improved efficiency and service.
- Developing a new structure of school improvement to meet the requirements of Corrective Action.
- Having a comprehensive curriculum audit conducted to focus on reading and math.
- Establishing a program to meet the state’s mandates for English Language Development.
- Dr. Isquierdo actively engaged in dialogues with state political and education leaders to advocate for Sunnyside District students and families.
- Leading a systemwide parent engagement initiative.
- Dr. Isquierdo has led the expansion of District Parent Council and the implementation of technology training for parents.
Dr. Isquierdo has led the Sunnyside professional learning community in dialogues based on three books:
- Shaping Corporate Culture to focus on what is important and on organizational efficiency
- Good to Great to “face the brutal facts” and plan to move a good system to be a great one.
- Failure is NOT an Option to embrace the moral purpose of not accepting failure as an option for any child.
