Superintendents convened to strengthen leadership pipelines and shape the future of learning

USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera, joined Associate Dean Darline Robles PhD ’94 and Program Administrator Fal Asrani EdD ’10, hosted a convening in San Jose on April 17. With support from Roxanne Fuentes EdD ’15, superintendent of the Berryessa Union School District, the event brought together 22 superintendents and district leaders. Dean Noguera shared the current state of public education, the importance of building strong district leadership pipelines, and addressed the evolving landscape of teaching and learning in the age of AI, the theme of the upcoming Breakthrough Leadership Institute, scheduled for July 12–15, at the USC Hotel.

“Public education is navigating a period of profound change,” said Noguera. “Strong, adaptive leadership has never been more essential. Convenings like this allow us to learn directly from superintendents while working together to build the pipelines and partnerships our schools need to thrive.”

The USC Rossier Office of Professional Learning (OPL) has been reimagining how school districts connect, collaborate and innovate, and, over the past several months, OPL has hosted a series of thoughtfully designed convenings that foster meaningful dialogue and encourage forward-looking partnerships among education leaders.

The series began in August 2025, with a meeting with Superintendents in the Antelope Valley, followed by another in October 2025 in San Jose, hosted by Antoine Hawkins EdD, superintendent of the Evergreen School District. Both gatherings established a foundation for open collaboration and shared problem-solving. Building on that momentum, the third meeting on April 17, hosted by Fuentes, expanded participation and deepened engagement.

The planning and design of these collaboratives, led by Robles and Asrani, is a new initiative that reflects a strategic effort to expand USC Rossier’s presence across California. Together, they focused on increasing the reach of OPL’s programs and services, which are designed to strengthen school systems and develop future-ready leaders.

“These convenings are about more than connection,” said Robles. “They are about co-creating solutions with district leaders who are facing complex challenges every day. By strengthening relationships and expanding access to high-quality leadership development, we are helping districts build the capacity they need for the future.”

Each convening is intentionally designed to inform and inspire. Both the August and October sessions emphasized the need for sustained, high-quality professional development for both current educators and aspiring leaders. The April gathering showcased OPL’s existing offerings while introducing new programs on the horizon.

These sessions also serve as an important feedback loop, giving district leaders the opportunity to share insights, identify emerging needs, and help shape future partnerships with USC. The result is a growing collaborative network grounded in shared leadership, innovation, and a collective commitment to advancing educational excellence.