 Isaac Huang, Ed.D
Dr. Huang has extensive experience in meeting the academic, social emotional, and physical well-being of the whole child for the past 20 years. His passion and work in the field of education have spanned the entire continuum- ranging from infants to adult learners.
Dr. Huang is a firm believer in growth mindsets and building a culture of active learners rather than passive students. In addition to this, he is focused on equity and diversity and previously served on the Conejo Valley Unified School District’s Inaugural Equity Task Force. Furthermore, Dr. Huang is an advocate in the power of mentorship and supports others to become the best version of themselves. A graduate of the CALSA Mentoring Program- Cohort 12, Dr. Huang dedicates his free time serving others through his work on the CALSA Mentoring Committee and worked with fellow Asian administrators in the formal development of CAAPLE (California Association of Asian Pacific Leaders in Education). He started his career teaching toddlers and preschool-aged children before becoming an elementary school teacher and then TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) focused on curriculum and second language acquisition. Dr. Huang has also spent time teaching learners at Rose City Continuation High School in Pasadena and Post Secondary candidates in the MAT Program at the University of Southern California as an Adjunct Professor.
 
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 Shana Henry, Ed.D
Dr. Shana Henry is an educational leader grounded in her core values of equity, access and excellence. She currently serves as a Continuous Improvement Support Leader in the Elk Grove Unified School District where she coaches site leaders in systems thinking, eliminating achievement gaps and creating spaces of inclusion and belonging. Dr. Henry has 23 years of experience in public education, including 18 years of leadership as a principal at elementary, middle and high school levels. Her work has always been to serve high poverty, diverse communities where she has been instrumental in school turnaround. She believes every student and family should have access to high quality academic and enrichment opportunities regardless of zip code and race. Among her accomplishments, Dr. Henry was named the 2019 California Middle School Principal of the Year for the Association of California School Administrators. She’s had the opportunity to speak at state and national conferences on quality teaching and learning practices, school reform strategies, and women’s leadership.In addition to her site and district leadership, Dr. Henry is passionate about leadership development and supporting, mentoring and highlighting female leaders. Dr. Henry is currently the President-Elect for ACSA Region 3 where she created and leads a cadre for aspiring and new administrators and chairs the Women’s Leadership Network.
In addition, she hosts and produces a podcast featuring the stories and success of female school leaders from across the country called Principals of Success. In 2020, Dr. Henry co-founded CAAPLE, the California Association of Asian and Pacific Leaders in education with the mission of advocacy, alliance and advancement for AAPI educators throughout California.
 
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 Patrick Gittisriboongul, Ed.D
Dr. Patrick Gittisriboongul has been involved in information and educational technology throughout his career as an educator and professional for over 20 years. He is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Technology & Innovation for Lynwood Unified School District and previously served as the Assistant Superintendent of Innovation for the San Diego County Office of Education where he led county-wide efforts around career technical education, educational technology, professional learning and data science. In Lynwood, he has been responsible for setting the vision and course for Lynwood Unified’s Digital Equity Roadmap and providing leadership and expertise regarding digital learning and information technology systems within the district.
Patrick has also served as the Director of Educational Technology and Information Services with the Huntington Beach Union High School District in Orange County and has held executive and administrative positions with the Montebello Unified School District. Patrick is a credentialed administrator and teacher and began his career teaching mathematics at the secondary level. Patrick also has experience working in the private sector as a web and software developer, project manager, and programmer. Patrick received his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California in 2013 and has additional degrees from Cal State Los Angeles and Cal Poly Pomona.
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Diann Kitamura, Ed.D.
Diann Kitamura served as superintendent of the Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) district since February 2016 and has worked in public education for the past 39 years. She continues this work in her retirement as a lecturer in the Leaders for Equity and Democracy (LEAD) doctoral program at U.C. Berkeley, the 21CLSA AAPI Affinity Group Lead for the Bay Area, and as a mentor/coach for Next Level Client Services (F3 Law).
Superintendent Kitamura made the decision to become a teacher to ensure all children have access to quality education and an opportunity to learn and grow into purposeful and thoughtful individuals. She was inspired by her undocumented and immigrant grandparents who travel to the United States to ensure the same for her. Dr. Kitamura’s mother was interned with her parents and four siblings during World War II at the Amache Internment Camp for Japanese American Citizens. After being released from Amache, her mother endured prejudice, abuse, and isolation when she re-entered public school. This was a major influence on Diann’s decision to become a public educator.
Among her accomplishments, Diann was awarded the Association of California School Administrator 2020 Ferd Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Award. This is the highest award ACSA presents to a California administrator. She was appointed to the Fiscal Crisis Management Team (FCMAT) in 2020, the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence Advisory Council in 2019, and the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Superintendents Advisory Council (2nd two-year term).
In 2016, Dr. Kitamura was awarded a Brandman University Doctoral Fellowship and earned her doctorate degree in 2019. The U.S. Army Award of Excellence was presented to Dr. Kitamura in 2018, and she was named a Hometown Hero by Travis Air Force Base in 2019. She was recognized as the Sonoma County Assistant Superintendent of the Year for 2015 and named the KRCB (NPR) American Graduate Champion 2015
SRCS received the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Award in 2014 and 2016. She serves the Santa Rosa community as a member of several steering committees and task forces.
Diann is committed to serving students and their families by ensuring that quality educational opportunities are provided equitably for all students. She believes sense making learning experiences and support systems embrace our students’ assets, engages and inspires, and empowers them to dream big, find purpose, and thrive.
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Jose "Joey" Mata, Ed.D.
Jose "Joey" Mata is an educational leader and advocate for equity and social justice. He currently serves as assistant principal at Estancia High School of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Costa Mesa, California and has previous experience at Los Angeles Leadership Academy in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles and Duarte High School in Duarte, California. Before his work as a K-12 educator, Joey worked as a fellow and instructor in the Indiana University system, with a focus on the sociology of childhood/adolescence, social psychology, and the social roots of mental health. He holds degrees from Pitzer College and Indiana University and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Leadership at California State University, Fullerton. His current research examines issues of teacher workforce diversity and the impact of managerial representation on the job satisfaction of BIPOC teachers. Joey is passionate about engaging and empowering young people and school communities and believes strongly in the power of organizational culture and collaboration. Engage him in these and other topics on Twitter @APJoeyMata.
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Eveline Huh, Ed.D.
Dr. Eveline Huh’s professional career has spanned over 20 years in education in the ABC Unified School District, and currently serves as the Director of Child Development and Special Programs. Dr. Huh has also served as principal, assistant principal, and teacher in ABC. Dr. Huh’s personal mission is rooted in her commitment to pursuing excellence and equity for all students. Her leadership has been defined by her focus on building relationships, developing leadership capacity in others, and leading with passion and purpose. Her visionary leadership has helped to bring the AVID System to several ABC elementary schools to mobilize school communities to set high expectations for student learning and create a culture that promotes college and career readiness for all.
Developing leadership in others and collaborating with other education leaders is a passion for Dr. Huh. She currently mentors and coaches students in the University of La Verne doctoral program and serves on dissertation committees. Dr. Huh also facilitates professional learning for AVID for site and district leaders and has written professional learning strands about principal leadership and leading change for educational equity. As the current past president of ACSA’s Elementary Education Council and former ACSA’s state representative and liaison to NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals), Dr. Huh has engaged in legislative advocacy work and collaborates with educational leaders from across the state and country to advance educational initiatives.
In 2019, Dr. Huh was named ACSA’s Region 14 Elementary Principal of the Year. Most recently, in May 2022, Dr. Huh was recognized as NAESP’s National Distinguished Principal for California. Dr. Huh holds a doctorate from University of La Verne, a masters from Cal State Fullerton, and bachelors from UC San Diego.
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Steve Kong, Ed.D.
Dr. Kong currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Assessment for Instructional Services in RUSD. In his 17 years he has served as a teacher, Staff Development Specialist, Instructional Services Specialist, Coordinator, and Interim Principal. He is a certified Google Innovator, Education Trainer, and grant award winner for the Google CS4HS grant. He provides professional development for Code.org and was appointed by the California Department of Education to serve on the California Computer Science Standards Advisory Committee to help develop statewide K-12 Computer Science Content Standards. Dr. Kong has presented nationally at CUE, iNACOL, CETPA, ISTE, and CSforALL. He believes instructional technology can be a powerful lever to provide equitable learning opportunities for all students to close achievement gaps.
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David Yang
David Yang serves as the Assistant Principal for a continuation high school Rialto Unified School District in Rialto, CA. RUSD serves over 25,000 students and 28 schools. An educator for fourteen years, his roles have spanned from high school Math/AVID teacher, head boys and girls basketball coach, head boys and girls golf coach, department chair to a teacher on special assignment. He earned his Teaching credential and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton; and a Masters of Arts in Educational Administration from Concordia University. David is currently in a Doctoral program at California State University, Fullerton.
David advocates for all students, particularly those that are a disadvantage. Having grown up as an undocumented immigrant of 15 years, his passion and moral imperative for immigrant families, in particular, the Asian American student population is a common thread for his work in and out of schools. He is one of the founding members of the California Association of Asian Pacific Leaders of Education (CAAPLE), a non-profit organization that supports AAPI+ students across the state of California and the school and district leaders who serve our students. You can connect on Twitter @DavidShenhan
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