Developing a Superintendent Pipeline ~ Circa 1991

San Francisco, CA

It was a cold brisk morning in December, 1991 when Mrs. Pacheco and I arrived at the San Francisco Marriott (down the street from the Moscone Convention Center), the Host Hotel for the 1991 CSBA Annual Conference.

I was a newly minted school board member, not yet sworn in, when we arrived at the conference. But I was already a "Man with a Mission..."

During the previous 4 years I had served in Sacramento as a Policy Advisor to the CDE on Hispanic Affairs. (Dr. Bill Honig was then State Superintendent of Public Instruction.) and I had served as an elected Member of the Rio Hondo Community College Board of Trustees. K-12 education was not a foreign subject to me.

Upon arriving in San Francisco, I set out to unfold my plan; check in our "Hospitality Suite" at the CSBA Conference Hotel Headquarters, contact my sponsor for the Reception ETS, Educational Testing Services, contact my good friend, the CSBA Conference Chairperson Ms. Louisa Perez, ensure she would be coming to our Hospitality Suite / Reception. And, then proceed to put out the word at the conference that in 48 hours we would be having a "Special Reception" for Prospective School Administrators aspiring to be "Superintendents." Therein laid the plan, establish the "Pipeline" for these school administrators seeking an opportunity to gather together with a group of school board members (decision makers), to introduce themselves to these decision makers, and "Make an Impression" for future (hiring) consideration.

The scene was set, the players arrived, Dr. Frank Alderette, President of the Los Angeles County COE Board of Trustees, Tony Trujillo, then Executive Director of the (forerunner of CALSA) Mexican American Superintendents & Administrators Association, Louisa Perez CSBA Conference Chair, the representatives from ETS... Numerous School Board members present. Along with several "would-be" Superintendents put on display in a casual and friendly setting.

You know when something is part of your "DNA" part of your make-up. What makes you tick. For Ralph Pacheco it has always been about, "Promoting your people... creating opportunities to advance careers, establishing the 'Pipeline,' putting a 'face' to a 'name' ... these types of encounters do not necessarily happen by themselves, it requires a facilitator who has the vision to 'create' your next opportunity, wherever and whenever that may come... Always watchful Always prayerful... Always looking out for his people. Many of the Administrators present at the Hospitality Suite at the SF Marriott back in the Winter of 1991, are now well-known distinguished Superintendents who are providing leadership on a statewide level and working collaboratively in keeping that All Important "Pipeline" open for the next generation of Educational Leaders in the state of California.

Coaching & Mentoring -- Contact Dr. Ralph Pacheco, Toll Free Business Line: 1-888-545-2008,
E-mail: profresnet@aol.com