Who we are
APT (Authentic Preparation Today, formerly PACCCRAS) is a statewide work group consisting of education thought leaders who support a broader definition of student success that results from educating the whole child.
We have been partnering with the California Department of Education (CDE) to support the State Seal of Civic Engagement since 2018 because we believe the State Seal presents an important step toward realizing more holistic and equitable outcomes for students.
Our members include:
Thomas AdamsTrusteeDavis Joint Unified School District Michelle AlasPolicy Director, GENupRegion 4 President, CA Association of Student Councils Mandi BillingeExecutive DirectorKids for the Bay
Kristen BoroskiCTE DirectorFresno Unified School District Brian BradyPresidentMikva Challenge
Mary BriggsDirector, Research and Education Policy DevelopmentCalifornia School Boards Association
Carolina C. CardenasDirector, Academic Preparation, Policies and ProgramsCSU Office of the Chancellor
Fran Chadwick, Ed.D.Director, Literacy and the LawCalifornia State University, San Marcos Young Whan ChoiManager of Performance AssessmentsOakland Unified School District
Zulmara Cline, Ph.D.Statewide Director, CA Academic Partnership Program (CAPP)CSU Office of the Chancellor R. Tolteka CuauhtinEthnic Studies, Equity, and Social Justice Educational LeaderBoard of Directors, Education Chair Pukúu Native American Cultural Community Services
Brian DennertTeacher, Royal High SchoolSimi Valley Unified School District John DowneyTeacher, Royal High SchoolSimi Valley Unified School District Jennifer Elemen, Ed.D.Educational Administrator, Monterey County Office of EducationCentral Area Vice President, California Council for the Social Studies
Karla Estrada, Ed.D.Deputy Executive Director, Systems Improvement and InnovationCalifornia Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE)
Angela FanDirector of Community Engagement and California Chapter Director, LexGen
Marlene FongProject CoordinatorCalifornia Teachers Association Anna FontusSenior Program DirectorCapitol Impact Mark GomezSocial Studies Curriculum Specialist, Salinas Union High School DistrictAdjunct Faculty, CSU Monterey Bay
David W. GordonSuperintendent of SchoolsSacramento County Office of Education Sherry GriffithExecutive DirectorCalifornia Parent Teacher Association
Matthew HayesHistory-Social Science CoordinatorSan Diego County Office of Education
Kristen BoroskiCTE DirectorFresno Unified School District Brian BradyPresidentMikva Challenge
Mary BriggsDirector, Research and Education Policy DevelopmentCalifornia School Boards Association
Carolina C. CardenasDirector, Academic Preparation, Policies and ProgramsCSU Office of the Chancellor
Fran Chadwick, Ed.D.Director, Literacy and the LawCalifornia State University, San Marcos Young Whan ChoiManager of Performance AssessmentsOakland Unified School District
Zulmara Cline, Ph.D.Statewide Director, CA Academic Partnership Program (CAPP)CSU Office of the Chancellor R. Tolteka CuauhtinEthnic Studies, Equity, and Social Justice Educational LeaderBoard of Directors, Education Chair Pukúu Native American Cultural Community Services
Brian DennertTeacher, Royal High SchoolSimi Valley Unified School District John DowneyTeacher, Royal High SchoolSimi Valley Unified School District Jennifer Elemen, Ed.D.Educational Administrator, Monterey County Office of EducationCentral Area Vice President, California Council for the Social Studies
Karla Estrada, Ed.D.Deputy Executive Director, Systems Improvement and InnovationCalifornia Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE)
Angela FanDirector of Community Engagement and California Chapter Director, LexGen
Marlene FongProject CoordinatorCalifornia Teachers Association Anna FontusSenior Program DirectorCapitol Impact Mark GomezSocial Studies Curriculum Specialist, Salinas Union High School DistrictAdjunct Faculty, CSU Monterey Bay
David W. GordonSuperintendent of SchoolsSacramento County Office of Education Sherry GriffithExecutive DirectorCalifornia Parent Teacher Association
Matthew HayesHistory-Social Science CoordinatorSan Diego County Office of Education
Michelle M. Herczog, Ed.D.Past President, California Council for the Social StudiesPast President, National Council for the Social Studies
Devin HessAcademic & Civic Engagement CoordinatorUC Berkeley History-Social Science Project
Erica HodginCo-Director, Civic Engagement Research GroupUC Riverside
Bill HonigFormer State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elaine K. Ikeda, Ph.D.Executive Director,California Campus Compact Michael KadishaFounder and CEOTreedom Inc. Joseph KahneDutton Presidential Professor of Educational Policy and PoliticsCo-Director, Civic Engagement Research Group, UC Riverside John KaupVice Principal Fresno High SchoolFresno Unified School District Kelly KazmirchukEducation Program CoordinatorResource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains
Sally Kingston, PhDChief Officer of Research and DevelopmentPBL Works Dr. Mayra LaraAssociate Director of Educator EngagementEd Trust West Nancy LeSpecialist, CTE-Linked Learning OfficeLos Angeles Unified School District Alvin LeeExecutive DirectorGENup
Hueling M. Lee, Ed.L.D.Executive Director, APT Work GroupExecutive Director, AdaptEd Partners
Bina LefkovitzTrusteeSacramento County Office of Education Robyn LittTeacher on Special AssignmentCivics Teacher LeaderEncinitas Union School District David LollarChair, Assessment and TestingCalifornia Teachers Association Jason MacCannellSpecial Assistant to the DirectorCalifornia Department of Parks and Recreation Adonai MackSenior Director of Equity ServicesAssociation of California School Administrators Marika Manos, Ed. D.History/Social Science/Civics CoordinatorOrange County Department of Education
Daisy Martin, PhDFounding Director, The History & Civics ProjectUC Santa Cruz
Michael MatsudaSuperintendentAnaheim Union High School District
Devin HessAcademic & Civic Engagement CoordinatorUC Berkeley History-Social Science Project
Erica HodginCo-Director, Civic Engagement Research GroupUC Riverside
Bill HonigFormer State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elaine K. Ikeda, Ph.D.Executive Director,California Campus Compact Michael KadishaFounder and CEOTreedom Inc. Joseph KahneDutton Presidential Professor of Educational Policy and PoliticsCo-Director, Civic Engagement Research Group, UC Riverside John KaupVice Principal Fresno High SchoolFresno Unified School District Kelly KazmirchukEducation Program CoordinatorResource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains
Sally Kingston, PhDChief Officer of Research and DevelopmentPBL Works Dr. Mayra LaraAssociate Director of Educator EngagementEd Trust West Nancy LeSpecialist, CTE-Linked Learning OfficeLos Angeles Unified School District Alvin LeeExecutive DirectorGENup
Hueling M. Lee, Ed.L.D.Executive Director, APT Work GroupExecutive Director, AdaptEd Partners
Bina LefkovitzTrusteeSacramento County Office of Education Robyn LittTeacher on Special AssignmentCivics Teacher LeaderEncinitas Union School District David LollarChair, Assessment and TestingCalifornia Teachers Association Jason MacCannellSpecial Assistant to the DirectorCalifornia Department of Parks and Recreation Adonai MackSenior Director of Equity ServicesAssociation of California School Administrators Marika Manos, Ed. D.History/Social Science/Civics CoordinatorOrange County Department of Education
Daisy Martin, PhDFounding Director, The History & Civics ProjectUC Santa Cruz
Michael MatsudaSuperintendentAnaheim Union High School District
Deborah McKoy, PhDExecutive Director, Center for Cities + SchoolsUC Berkeley
Robin MencherExecutive DirectorKQED Education
Alicia Montgomery, Ed.D.Executive DirectorCenter for Powerful Public Schools Edith Navarro Curriculum, Instruction, & Professional Learning AdministratorFresno Unified School District
Robert G. Nelson, Ed.D.SuperintendentFresno Unified School District Jennifer O’DayChair, CA Collaborative on District ReformFellow, American Institutes for Research Kyle PackhamAdvocacy and Public Affairs DirectorCalifornia Special Districts Association Michael Roe, Ed.D.Executive DirectorRiverside County Office of Education Stephen RuizK-12 History-Social Science/Civic Learning ManagerFresno Unified School District
Iish RyaruSenior DirectorLinked Learning Alliance Karn SaetangPolicy and Alliance DirectorCalifornians for Justice Olivia SantillanCoordinator- HSS & Civic EngagementSanta Clara County Office of Education Anne StantonPresidentLinked Learning Alliance Roman StearnsFounder & Executive DirectorScaling Student Success
Randi Kay StephensProgram ManagerInstitute for Local Government Charlie ThompsonResearch and Policy AssociateLearning Policy InstituteCalifornia Performance Assessment Collaborative June E. Thompson, Ph.D.Executive DirectorNational Leadership Institute Samantha TranSenior Managing Director, EducationChildren Now John TrasviñaCalifornia Executive DirectorGeneration Citizen Diana VuLegislative AdvocateAssociation of California School Administrators Justin WellsExecutive DirectorEnvision Learning Partners Jocelyn YowPolicy ManagerIGNITE National
Robin MencherExecutive DirectorKQED Education
Alicia Montgomery, Ed.D.Executive DirectorCenter for Powerful Public Schools Edith Navarro Curriculum, Instruction, & Professional Learning AdministratorFresno Unified School District
Robert G. Nelson, Ed.D.SuperintendentFresno Unified School District Jennifer O’DayChair, CA Collaborative on District ReformFellow, American Institutes for Research Kyle PackhamAdvocacy and Public Affairs DirectorCalifornia Special Districts Association Michael Roe, Ed.D.Executive DirectorRiverside County Office of Education Stephen RuizK-12 History-Social Science/Civic Learning ManagerFresno Unified School District
Iish RyaruSenior DirectorLinked Learning Alliance Karn SaetangPolicy and Alliance DirectorCalifornians for Justice Olivia SantillanCoordinator- HSS & Civic EngagementSanta Clara County Office of Education Anne StantonPresidentLinked Learning Alliance Roman StearnsFounder & Executive DirectorScaling Student Success
Randi Kay StephensProgram ManagerInstitute for Local Government Charlie ThompsonResearch and Policy AssociateLearning Policy InstituteCalifornia Performance Assessment Collaborative June E. Thompson, Ph.D.Executive DirectorNational Leadership Institute Samantha TranSenior Managing Director, EducationChildren Now John TrasviñaCalifornia Executive DirectorGeneration Citizen Diana VuLegislative AdvocateAssociation of California School Administrators Justin WellsExecutive DirectorEnvision Learning Partners Jocelyn YowPolicy ManagerIGNITE National