Patricia Brent-Sanco likes to practice what she calls distributed leadership.
As principal at Mark Keppel School in the Paramount Unified School District, the second-year EdD student has expanded leadership opportunities for her teachers, modeling her approach after the work of one of her mentors, David Verdugo EdD ’05, who was her former superintendent before he retired a couple of years ago.
“Dr. Verdugo was a capacity builder,” said Brent-Sanco. “His strengths were motivating people, maintaining relationships and having a vision of where he wanted the district to go.”
Brent-Sanco acknowledged the support of Verdugo in January, when she accepted a scholarship award from the Dean’s Superintendents Advisory Group (DSAG) at the DSAG Awards Dinner in Monterey.
In reflecting on her career path, she makes the connection between the support she has received—from her parents (Dr. and Mrs. William Brent), mentors and teachers—and the obligation she feels as a mentor in her own right.
“Being part of Rossier has given me a theoretical, research-based understanding into instructional practices that work and an understanding of why they work,” said Brent-Sanco.
“Someone noticed something in me,” she said, thinking back to earlier milestones as well as her most recent recognition, “and so to pay it forward I try to be purposeful in creating leadership opportunities for my staff and students.”
For example, Brent-Sanco successfully established teacher leaders at each grade level that support her school’s implementation of Common Core standards. Over 40 students in grades 4 and 5 represent the student body as student council board members and senators. Both groups are part of the “Puma Buddies” program that peer-tutor lower grade students each morning. This year selected students participated in the Keppel Puma’s Leadership Academy, which provides mentoring and motivational supports to students. She gives credit to her dedicated staff members for the success of these programs.
Since arriving in USC Rossier’s EdD program, Brent-Sanco has refined her approach to leadership.
“Being part of USC Rossier has given me a theoretical, research-based understanding into instructional practices that work and an understanding of why they work,” said Brent-Sanco.
A class on diversity taught by Professor of Clinical Education Sylvia Rousseau helped her dig deeper than ever before.
“Dr. Rouseau provided us with an opportunity to frame who we are going to be as newly graduated doctoral students,” she said, “and how we are going to be institutional agents for children.”
One by one, Brent-Sanco can look back on her coursework and highlight a takeaway from each professor. Michael Escalante tells his students to step up and lead; be a leader who is wise and willing to work hard. Artineh Samkian demonstrated the purpose of research. Christine Mendoza taught Brent-Sanco about learning, motivation and problem-solving frameworks.
“From Dr. Laurie Love, I learned how accountability fits into various systems and the job of the principal or superintendent in terms of instructional leadership,” continued Brent-Sanco, “and from Patricia Burch, I learned about the policy ramifications in education and how important it is to be policy and politically savvy.”
“And Dr. Alan Green taught us always to look for the counter-narrative and be open to multiple viewpoints.”
As she approaches her last year at USC Rossier, Brent-Sanco says she will leave with the knowledge of how to build a structural organization that will promote student success.
“I am going to lead with the notion that, yes, together we can change the system. I can work with others to change the system so that it works better for kids and families.”
Annual gifts can be made to the DSAG Endowed Scholarship Fund to support future EdD students aspiring to become superintendents. Every gift counts toward the Campaign for the USC Rossier School of Education and helps grow the endowment.
To make a gift, visit rossier.usc.edu/giving.
