ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
We are pleased to announce the 2024 California Schools JPA Annual Conference, once again, will be held at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® and Spa! Registration is now officially open! This year’s theme is, “INSPIRED TO LEAD” as in tackling some of the most important challenges we face in providing access to healthcare and resources in education, as well as inspiring leaders to make a difference in their scope of influence. This year’s event promises to be uplifting and every bit as dynamic as last year’s. Please join us at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa on November 3-5, 2024.
THE VENUE
Escape reality at a hotel that defines grandeur at every turn—from premium accommodations and Craftsman-style elegance to Disney’s® impeccable service and renowned attention to detail. Hotel Guests can enjoy impressive amenities and rich dining experiences as well as utilize the convenient proximity* to Disney California Adventure Park. It’s the ultimate way to enjoy thrill-filled days at the parks!
DOWNLOAD THE CSEBA APP
Whether you're at home or on the go, the California Schools JPA Employee Benefits app gives you a simple, secure way to find your healthcare provider information — all in one place. With the California Schools JPA Employee Benefits app, you can easily:
• Find medical, dental, eye, mental health, and wellness appointment information and contact information.
• Have direct access to schedule, view, and cancel appointments
• Find services that are readily available to you!
• Get care in a way that works for you — online, by phone, or in-person
To get started, download the app!
IF YOU HESITATE, IT WILL BE TOO LATE
REGISTER NOWOUR 2024 SPEAKERS
We are thrilled to announce a dynamic group of keynote speakers at the 2024 California Schools JPA Annual Conference.
As lead solo pilot for the renowned Blue Angels flight team, John “Gucci” Foley soared among the elite, showcasing exceptional skills and leadership.Now his keynotes inspire and equip leaders and their teams to dare to achieve elite performance in their own industries. With an unwavering commitment to exceptional performance, John knows firsthand what it takes to reach and sustain the highest levels of achievement, performing at a level of excellence few people have ever experienced.
Dr. Powell has been instrumental in the development of several exemplary programs for at-risk youth. Dr. Powell has served as an advisor to a number of task forces and working committees addressing the needs of at-risk youth and has made numerous conference presentations on the subject. He has been honored as the Special Education Administrator of the Year, the recipient of the Lifetime Advocate award by the Child Abuse Prevention Council and received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Mental Health Advocates for Children and Youth.
KEYNOTE - john "gucci" foley
John Foley has had an extraordinary journey from the cockpit of a Blue Angel jet to the podium of the world’s most high-performing organizations, exemplifying leadership and the power of a positive mindset. Since stepping into the spotlight as a speaker in 2015, John has rapidly become one of the top 10 most in-demand voices, sharing his insights with a global audience.
John's background as a Lead Solo pilot for the Blue Angels is not just a testament to his skill and courage but forms the backbone of his message on cultivating trust, leadership, and teamwork in challenging environments. He is an electrifying storyteller who shares a valuable perspective, encouraging audiences to embrace a "Glad To Be Here®" mindset. This philosophy not only inspires high performance and gratitude but has also led John to found the Glad To Be Here® Foundation, through which he donates 10% of his speaking fees to charities worldwide, impacting thousands of lives across 47 countries.
Beyond his aerial achievement, his life’s work and diverse experiences make him a uniquely compelling speaker who inspires transformational change and fosters a sense of purpose that transcends individual ambitions.
www.johnfoleyinc.com
KEYNOTE 2 - dr. ronald powell
Dr. Ron Powell has devoted his career to public education and the relentless pursuit of ways to make the promise of education available to all children. As a teacher, administrator, researcher, adjunct faculty at the University of California, and consultant, Dr. Powell has distinguished himself as the developer of creative and innovative solutions to address the complex emotional and behavioral health needs of children.
He is a published author, an accomplished public speaker, and a recognized expert in the emotional, mental, and behavioral health needs of children. In acknowledgement of these contributions, Dr. Powell has received statewide recognition and has been honored by numerous awards including the 2023 Distinguished Service Award for San Bernardino County and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Mental Health Advocates for Children and Youth.
www.rjpowellconsultants.com
kenote 3 - jerry almendarez
Jerry Almendarez is a dedicated and innovative education leader with over 30 years of experience in public education. As the Superintendent of Santa Ana Unified School District, he oversees 41,500 students and more than 5,000 staff members, managing a budget of $890.6 million. His career is marked by progressive leadership, a commitment to student success, and the integration of technology in education. Jerry's journey in education began in the classroom, where firsthand experiences shaped his understanding of the diverse needs of students and the critical role of educators in nurturing their potential. This foundational period laid the groundwork for his rise through various roles of increasing responsibility, from school administrator to district leader.
featured speaker - Paul markovich
Paul Markovich the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Shield of California, a nonprofit health plan with $24 billion in annual revenue serving 4.8 million members in the state's commercial, individual, and government markets. Markovich has launched and led numerous initiatives to drive innovation and help re-imagine healthcare, including funding support for a statewide provider directory to make it easier for Californians to find physicians and facilities in their plan; supporting development of a statewide health information network for patients’ records, enabling more seamless and holistic care; and investing in a partnership with the California Medical Association to help physicians pilot new care delivery models and leverage technology.
dR. ashley zucker
Ashley Zucker, MD is the Assistant Area Medical Director for Mental Health and Wellness for the San Bernardino County Area for Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Zucker graduated from medical school at the University of Vermont and completed her residency in Adult Psychiatry and her fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. In addition to her role as Assistant Area Medical Director, Dr. Zucker is a core faculty member for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship and Adult Residency Programs at Kaiser Permanente, the regional lead for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and she serves on the SCPMG Board of Directors.
mark lenoir
Mark LeNoir has served in public schools for thirty-two years. He started his career as a science and physical education teacher at both the middle and high school levels. Mark has administrated at the high school, county office and district office levels and has achieved local, state, and national recognition for various school related programs. He also has helped create the nationally recognized Riverside County Education Collaborative (RCEC). He currently serves as the Deputy Superintendent of Education Services for the Val Verde Unified School District.
dr. alexis forbes, ph.d
Alexis Forbes is a Senior Litigation Consultant for Magna Legal Services. received a Ph.D. in Psychology & Law from the Graduate Center at the City University of New York (CUNY), and a B.S. in Psychology at Georgia State University. Her education involved extensive research, training, and coursework in decision making, statistics, and research methodology. Dr. Forbes taught Undergraduate Research Methods in Psychology to hundreds of students during her five years as an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.Dr. Forbes’ research has focused on bias against ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities. She has several publications in the area of bias against people who identify as LGBTQ+.
kate ferrante
Kate Ferrante is the Vice President of California Strategic Accounts at Kaiser Permanente, representing over 2 million members and $16B in revenue. She leads a multi-faceted team that provides account management for many of Kaiser Permanente's largest and most complex customers in California. Kate is accountable for driving sustainable growth results and delivering value added solutions to address business needs for Kaiser Permanente customers.
marilyn dekeyzer
Marilyn DeKeyzer joined Blue Shield in 2017 and has over 35 years of experience in health insurance sales, account management, and consulting. Marilyn’s strengths include leadership of diverse teams that drive sales and retention results, developing and maintaining strategic business partnerships, and collaboration on key business initiatives. Marilyn was promoted to Senior Director of Account Management, Premier Accounts, in 2021.
dr. mark dundee
Dr. Mark Dundee is a senior vice president and public sector practice leader in Aon’s Health Solutions practice in Los Angeles. In his role, he is responsible for collaborating with clients on health & benefit policy issues that help clients mitigate rising healthcare costs and improve employee health and wellbeing. Mark has worked closely with a variety of large public, private, and non-profit sector organizations in the areas of health, retirement, and ancillary employee benefits. He focuses on benefit strategy, carrier negotiations, compliance, audit, governance, strategic planning, labor contract negotiations, fiduciary responsibilities, plan administration, and data privacy and cybersecurity.
lisa baltierra
Lisa Baltierra brings over 26 years of teaching experience within the Cucamonga School District, encompassing both general and special education. Currently serving as Cucamonga School District's Literacy Coach for K-8, Lisa holds the title of Level 5 Master Instructor at the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education. In this role, she provides training and support to educators in evidence-based structured literacy methodologies including Phonemic Awareness, Orton Gillingham Comprehensive+, and Morphology instruction. Lisa's passion lies in empowering students to excel as proficient readers and writers.
raymond dolEn
Raymond Dolen specializes in the representation of public entities. He has handled dangerous condition cases, employment and civil rights matters, and cases alleging a breach of mandatory duties, particularly those relating to foster homes. He has handled over 200 SAM (Sexual Abuse of Minors) cases for public entities and the Catholic Church. His practice has focused on SAM cases ever since the passage of AB 218 which revived previously barred SAM cases. He even represented Cardinal Bernard Law when he was sued in California.
lynn garcia
Lynn Garcia has held the position of Chief Litigation Officer at Schools Excess Liability Fund since February, 2024. As SELF’s CLO, she provides guidance and advice in defending complex liability claims made against SELF members; assisting in assigning and managing defense counsel and developing, in collaboration with the primary layer adjusting team and counsel, the resources, litigation and settlement strategies to bring cases to the most favorable resolution possible.
dr. la tanYa hines
La Tanya Hines, MD, FACOG, is a board certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist currently practicing at Kaiser Permanente’s West Los Angeles Medical Center. In this role, she provides care to an array of high-risk obstetrical patients in addition to her expertise as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of clinical sciences for the new Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. Dr. Hines also currently serves as the Assistant Physician in Charge of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Medical office building in South Los Angeles, one of the largest medical office buildings in the United States. Dr. Hines joined the Southern California Permanente Medical Group in 2012 and has been a dynamic asset to the Permanente team ever since.
dr. douglass moss
Dr. Douglass Moss has a passion for learning. He has a life-long appreciation for culture, communication and public education. Dr. Moss was raised in Northern California, Oregon and Austria. He attended San Francisco State University where he received degrees in German Language and Linguistics, History and Business Administration. He attended graduate and post graduate studies at Saint Cloud State University, Azusa Pacific University and Victoria University as well as academies in Mexico and Chile. He focused his graduate studies on communication sciences, socio-linguistics and neuroscience.
rob young
Rob Young was hired with KSL Inc, after a 19-year law enforcement career. Rob served his last seven years in law enforcement as a police sergeant in Northern California. During his career, he served in different functions including patrol, hostage/crisis negotiation team, crime scene investigator, school resource officer, crisis intervention instructor, active shooter response instructor, canine supervisor, and field training supervisor. Rob has earned his Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificates.
anthony (tony) escobar
Anthony (Tony) Escobar retired from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in June 2017 and joined KSL in July 2017. Tony worked as an officer for the CHP in San Jose and in the Central Valley for just shy of 30 years. After retirement, he realized he still had a passion and drive to serve his community. Once Tony started working with Knowledge Saves Lives (KSL) and became familiar with the curriculum, he realized he had found a great match to continue contributing to his community.
dr. fredrick kuo
Dr. Kuo supports the Premier and ASO clients at Blue Shield of CA by providing clinical oversight and population health management across multiple functional domains. His primary responsibilities include ensuring high value-based care is being delivered to BSC clients, providing clinical insights and guidance on emerging products, trends, & concerns, providing education and engaging with client members, resolving any escalated issues, and participating in client meetings & presentations.
Prior to joining Blue Shield of CA, Dr. Kuo spent seven years at UnitedHealthcare, where he most recently served as the Chief Medical Officer for UHC’s California Commercial Health Plan. In that capacity, he successfully led the health plan to grow and retain critical clients, while achieving substantial clinical affordability savings and quality targets.
roger tiao
Roger Tiao is a Principal Pharmacist at Blue Shield and supports the Southern California Commercial Core and Premier Large Group accounts and sales activities. He has over 10 years of provider and payer experience covering medical and pharmacy drug benefits, population health, quality programs and employer healthcare. Roger earned his pharmacy degree from Midwestern University and completed his residency training in Managed Care at University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. He has served as adjunct faculty at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and University of the Pacific (UOP) pharmacy schools.
gregory fromm
Gregory Fromm, a former principal in the Fontana Unified School District, has been named the new assistant superintendent of business services in the Colton Joint Unified School District. Fromm was recently named the 2022 CBO of the year for Los Angeles County. He began his career as a football coach and PE teacher. In addition to serving five years as a principal in Fontana, he also has 11 years of experience as an assistant superintendent. Back in his days of attending college, he played football at the University of Buffalo.
christian jackson
Christian Jackson is an entrepreneur and speaker known for his innovative approach to problem-solving across industries. His business, Edapt, is making AI both practical and comfortable for school leadership, "future-proofing" districts in the process. A Loyola Marymount University Valedictorian, Christian transitioned from college directly into founding his own ventures. He focuses on applying existing technologies to new areas, streamlining processes for his clients. Christian's work reflects his commitment to social impact, earning him recognition from the UN with the International Award for Excellence in SDG Impact. His background in entrepreneurship and systems design allows him to communicate complex business and technical concepts.
rachel shaw
Rachel Shaw is the president and principal consultant of Shaw HR Consulting, Incorporated. With 20 years of executive-level Human Resources experience, Rachel is recognized nationwide as a leader in helping public and private sector employers manage their most challenging personnel issues. Rachel and her team provide comprehensive solutions to employers on how to successfully manage the interconnected roles of human resources, workers’ compensation, and disability compliance to successfully reduce litigation, the costs of claims and improve employee-employer relations throughout the process. Rachel is known as the authority on how to implement and manage the FEHA/ADA Disability Interactive Process for candidates and employees.
dr. john rott
Dr. John Rott is a Regional Assistant Medical Director and Board-Certified Pediatrician currently practicing with Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Dr. Rott received his training at Princeton, Oxford, the University of Texas, Stanford, and Baylor College of Medicine. He holds a Master’s in public health focusing on chronic disease management. Dr. Rott has served in administrative roles with Kaiser Permanente in Primary Care Operations, Membership Retention, and Customer Engagement. In his leisure time, he enjoys camping, playing the violin, and teaching mindfulness mediation.
dr. stephen bucheli bayne, ed.d
Dr. Stephen Bucheli Bayne spent the last 35 years in California K-12 public education. The first sixteen (16) of those years as a school police officer, canine officer, corporal, sergeant, and captain. For the past nineteen (19) years, Dr. Bayne has served as a K-12 risk manager and emergency manager - focusing on emergency and safety planning. Dr. Bayne is passionate about creating safe, supportive, and resilient learning environments for students, staff, and families. He is committed to advancing the field of school safety and emergency management through research, advocacy, and collaboration.
In 2014, Dr. Bayne founded the Emergency Preparedness Interagency Collaborative (EPIC) in the Irvine Unified School District, a joint partnership between public safety agencies and public and private education institutions in the Greater Irvine area. Irvine Unified School District recognized early on, while evaluating their emergency management program, that effective planning and development should not be done in isolation and that it was critical for the District to participate regularly in high-level discussions with community partners regarding emergency planning.
jamie leafstone
Jamie Leafstone is a respected educator and speaker within the special education community. Currently serving as a Program Specialist with West End SELPA (Special Education Local Planning Area), she provides professional development, planning, and consultation to enhance special education programs across San Bernardino County. In addition to her administrative role, Jamie is an adjunct professor at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where she shares her practical insights with future educators.
Passionate about the integration of educational technology and artificial intelligence, Jamie is dedicated to promoting inclusive, student-centered learning. She strives to inspire educators to create lasting, positive changes in their communities through innovative and inclusive practices.
dr. sonal patel
Dr. Sonal Patel is a Program Manager for Digital Learning and Computer Science Education at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. She facilitates the design, development, and implementation of equitable educational technology, artificial intelligence, and Computer Science programs. In 2023, Dr. Patel completed her doctorate in Leadership for Educational Justice at the University of Redlands, researching the collective impact approach to broadening computer science access, participation, and experience of K-12 students of color. Dr. Patel's dedication to the advancement of educational technology and her deep commitment to fostering inclusivity have resulted in a remarkable impact on the educational landscape in San Bernardino County and beyond.
Passionate about the integration of educational technology and artificial intelligence, Jamie is dedicated to promoting inclusive, student-centered learning. She strives to inspire educators to create lasting, positive changes in their communities through innovative and inclusive practices.
cheryl newman-tarwater
Cheryl Newman-Tarwater leads Chaffey College Police Department's mental health threat assessment team, known as the Higher Education Assessment Team (HEAT). She served as Interim Police Chief at Chaffey College from August 1, 2021, to March 4, 2024, during which time she secured two grants to fund the department’s mental health threat assessment initiatives. Before joining Chaffey College, Cheryl retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as a Commander after 32 years of service, culminating on January 30, 2020. As an LASD Captain, she oversaw the College Bureau for 2.5 years, providing policing services for the Los Angeles Community College District. Cheryl is a POST certified instructor, currently teaching Mental Health Decision Making and Principled Policing classes at Long Beach State's Center for Criminal Justice.
dr. maria luz martinez
Dr. Martinez is a clinical psychologist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, supervising the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health School Threat Assessment Response Team (START). This team focuses on threat assessment, intervention, and risk management for students at risk of targeted school violence. START has been nationally recognized, receiving accolades such as the Harvard Innovative Ideas Award, the National Association of Counties (NACO) Award for Excellence, and the Mental Illness and Extra Mile (MILES) Award. Dr. Martinez's work in threat assessment has earned her numerous awards, including the Outstanding Achievement in Contribution in the Field of Threat Assessment from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the Special Recognition Award for Advancing Campus Safety from Biola University, and the Humanitarian Award for Community Safety from the Stepping In Conference.
richard munoz
Richard Munoz is an Associate Clinical Social Worker committed to public safety and community outreach. At Chaffey College, Richard has supported the development and implementation of the Higher Education Assessment Team, conducting research, creating protocols, assisting in grant writing, and providing training on threat identification and response. Richard holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, where he received the MSW Scholarship, Gary Sinise Endowed Scholarship, and MSW Full-time stipend. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UCLA, receiving the Dean's Award and the Steinmetz Family Veteran Award.
ryan schmidt
Ryan Schmidt, PharmD, provides valuable consultation to clients and market-facing teams regarding clinical market trends and cost saving solutions. In his role, he works cross-functionally between clinical and business partners to cultivate insights and inform value-driving initiatives. His responsibilities include serving as the clinical representative on Navitus’ Data Governance Committee and championing the development of Navitus’ annual Drug Trend Report. Previously, Ryan managed Formulary Services at Navitus, where he led analyses of clinical, claims, and pricing data to expand formulary offerings.
imke scheepers
Imke Scheepers, PharmD, monitors drug trends to communicate to clients the story behind medication use and spending. As a member of the Business Insights team, Imke works across departments to identify cost savings solutions and increase understanding of trends across the industry. Prior to her current role, Imke worked as a clinical account executive at EpiphanyRx, a subsidiary of Navitus, supporting client needs through clinical education and guidance. Prior to joining Navitus, Imke completed a managed care pharmacy residency and received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at The University of Rhode Island. She is a licensed pharmacist in California.
rich de nava
Rich De Nava has been serving the educational community since 2003 in various roles in the business environment to include directors of purchasing, child nutrition services and internal business. Mr. De Nava is currently serving as the Chief Business Officer at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and previously served as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at San Jacinto Unified School District.
Prior to his work in education, Mr. De Nava was commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Army immediately following completion of his undergraduate studies at the United States Military Academy, West Point.
brian breslin
Brian Breslin has been a California Teachers Association (CTA) staff member since 2013. During his tenure, Brian has worked with local CTA chapters in all aspects of their operations and has spent the past six years as a member of the Center for Organizing and Bargaining. He currently consults with the CTA’s retirement committee, including supporting the CTA leader's work with CalSTRS. Brian also provides retirement training to both CTA members and staff that includes CalSTRS, CalPERS, Medicare, and Social Security.
CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
COUNTDOWN TO THE CONFERENCE!
A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENTS
FEEDBACK FROM LAST YEAR
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
We want to take a moment to thank our California Schools JPA Conference Sponsors, without whom none of this would be possible. Thank you for being committed to supporting the vision of both JPAs; your sponsorship of this event is vital to our ability to serve our JPA membership.
Your generosity in supporting this event will contribute to the overall success of the conference!
OUR SPONSORS
CONNECT AND SOCIALIZE WITH US!
@CaSchoolsJPA
OUR MEMBERS
It is you, our members who we created this conference for. Our goal is to provide all of our members with important and current information about trends, topics and current events affecting your life, environment and workplace. We are proud and honored to service and partner with these amazing members.
CSJPA CONFERENCE APP
We are excited to announce the mobile app for the 2024 California Schools JPA Annual Conference.
With the Guidebook app, you’ll have instant access to the latest information about the California Schools JPA 2024 Annual Conference, including networking tools, notifications, schedules, speaker information, the welcome reception, and more.
