September 13, 2026
To ACSA Region Representatives and Members
It is with tremendous enthusiasm and complete confidence that I offer my strongest support for Dr. Leisa Winston's candidacy for ACSA Vice President. Leisa represents the very best of educational leadership: integrity, courage, compassion, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to students and the professionals who serve them. She possesses the experience, character, and statewide perspective necessary to help lead ACSA into its next chapter.
Leisa's candidacy is especially compelling because her leadership is grounded in the classroom and strengthened by a career of increasingly consequential service. She began as an elementary special education teacher, working directly with students and families and developing a deep understanding of the importance of access, belonging, and individualized support. She went on to serve as a program specialist, director, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent of human resources and instructional services before becoming Superintendent of the Huntington Beach City School District.
This professional journey has given Leisa a comprehensive understanding of California public education. She knows the instructional, operational, personnel, fiscal, governance, and community dimensions of district leadership. More importantly, she has never lost sight of the people behind the systems. Whether supporting a student, developing an employee, advising a colleague, partnering with a governing board, or leading an entire organization, Leisa approaches the work with empathy, clarity, sound judgment, and purpose.
Her record of service within ACSA is equally distinguished. Leisa has contributed meaningfully through charter and Region 17 leadership, represented her region on ACSA's State Board of Directors, served as a statewide Director-at-Large, and was selected as an at-large member of ACSA's Executive Committee. She has also participated in important statewide committee work, helping strengthen ACSA's organizational structures and ensuring that its councils and committees remain responsive to members throughout California.
Across these responsibilities, Leisa has been more than a participant—she has been a trusted voice, thoughtful collaborator, mentor, and advocate. Her advocacy is informed by practical experience and grounded in what is best for students, educators, administrators, and communities. She understands the challenges confronting educational leaders because she has led through them. She also understands that effective advocacy requires listening carefully, building coalitions, communicating with credibility, and ensuring that the diverse voices of ACSA's regions and members are represented in statewide decisions.
I have had the privilege of experiencing Leisa's leadership personally through our collaboration and partnership in ACSA. During my service as ACSA State President, I made self-care, wellness, and mental health for administrators, educators, and students a central focus of my leadership. Leisa was a fierce and steadfast advocate for that work. She supported me in every facet of advancing and implementing this priority and consistently used her voice, influence, and leadership to reinforce its importance throughout our organization.
Leisa understood that wellness could not simply be a theme or temporary initiative. She recognized it as an essential leadership responsibility and a necessary condition for creating healthy schools and sustainable educational systems. She stood beside me as a genuine partner encouraging the work, strengthening its message, and helping others understand that leaders cannot effectively care for their students and employees if they are not also supported in caring for themselves.
Her advocacy reflected both compassion and conviction. Leisa was willing to speak clearly about the pressures educational leaders carry and the need to confront burnout, isolation, stress, and mental health challenges openly and without stigma. She understood that supporting administrator and educator wellness ultimately strengthens classrooms, improves organizational culture, and creates better conditions for students to thrive.
That experience revealed to me one of Leisa's greatest strengths: she does not simply express support for an important cause—she commits herself to it. When she believes something is right for students and those who serve them, she brings her full voice, influence, and determination to the work. She remains present, follows through, and helps move ideas into meaningful action.
Leisa brings precisely the qualities ACSA needs in its Vice President:
- She leads with integrity and consistently places service above recognition.
- She listens to understand and welcomes perspectives different from her own.
- She builds authentic relationships across roles, regions, and professional backgrounds.
- She makes principled decisions, even when circumstances are complex or difficult.
- She combines strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into meaningful action.
- She recognizes, develops, and encourages emerging leaders.
- She advocates courageously for educational equity, public education, mental health, and the well-being of students and educators.
- She brings people together around a shared purpose while honoring the unique needs of every region.
Leisa's leadership is both highly accomplished and deeply human. She understands that titles alone do not inspire people—trust, authenticity, consistency, and service do. She is the kind of leader who makes others feel seen, valued, and capable of contributing. Her presence strengthens a team, her perspective improves decisions, and her example inspires others to lead with greater courage and compassion.
ACSA and our educational communities need leaders with strong convictions, leaders who know what they stand for, have the courage to articulate it, and are willing to act when the well-being of students and educators is at stake. Leisa is that kind of leader. Her convictions are grounded in service, informed by experience, and expressed through thoughtful, decisive action. She possesses the rare ability to be both resolute in her values and collaborative in her approach.
At this important moment for public education, ACSA needs leaders who can unite our membership, elevate the administrator voice, strengthen advocacy, and keep students at the center of every decision. Leisa has demonstrated that she can do all of these things. She understands ACSA from the charter and regional levels to its statewide governance and advocacy work, and she is prepared to represent every region with fairness, humility, energy, and conviction.
Dr. Leisa Winston is not simply prepared to serve as ACSA Vice President—she is exceptionally well suited to help shape ACSA's future. Her experience gives her credibility, her character earns trust, and her commitment to others inspires action. I wholeheartedly and without reservation urge you to support her candidacy.
ACSA and California's educational leaders will be extraordinarily well served by Leisa's leadership. I am proud to offer her my strongest possible endorsement.
Respectfully,
Rafael Plascencia
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Redondo Beach Unified School District
Past President, Association of California School Administrators
