Last week at Goshen Elementary, Osiel Garcia Cervantes greeted students arriving by car. The new assistant principal stood on the curb of the drop-off lane, giving fist bumps and high fives, helping little ones put on their backpacks, and assisting older students get musical instruments from the trunks of their parents’ cars. With a big smile, he told each student to have a good day, or “I’m glad you’re here.”  

Just as traffic thinned and the first bell rang, Garcia Cervantes received a message from the office over the school’s radio system. The staff in the cafeteria wanted to see him.

In the cafeteria, Garcia Cervantes listened intently as a staff member described a recurring problem – how to feed students who are often late to school and may not have had breakfast at home. Garcia Cervantes pledged to help solve the problem, noting that these students need the nutrition to be able to focus on morning instruction.

From the cafeteria, the new administrator immediately began checking on teachers in each classroom, moving room to room. “This role is quite a bit different than being responsible for my own class,” he smiled.

To prepare for the varied and fast-paced responsibilities of a school administrator, Garcia Cervantes recently completed his Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC) through TCOE’s New Teacher & Leadership Development (NTLD) program. The assistant principal position at Goshen Elementary is his first administrative role.

The PASC and the subsequent Clear Administrative Services Credential (CASC) are offered by NTLD’s iLead Program. “The program emphasized real-world application through courses focused on instructional leadership, equity, data-driven decision-making, and building positive school culture,” Garcia Cervantes said. “In addition, the iLead Program paired each candidate with an experienced administrator mentor. Working alongside my mentor gave me authentic insight into the daily responsibilities of principals, assistant principals, and other school leaders. This hands-on experience helped me develop the skills, confidence, and perspective needed to effectively support students, staff, and families in my current administrative role.”

Garcia Cervantes is no stranger to the NTLD credentialing programs, having earned his preliminary teaching credential through the IMPACT Intern Program. He worked as an instructional aide at Houston Elementary, a college and career ambassador at El Diamante High School, and an eighth-grade teacher at Ivanhoe Elementary. Most recently, he served as the student success teacher, also known as a reading specialist, at Goshen Elementary.

“One of the greatest advantages of the iLead Program is that nearly all instructors are current administrators in local schools who bring years of practical leadership experience to their teaching,” Garcia Cervantes said. “This allows candidates to learn directly from professionals who understand the real-world challenges and demands of educational leadership. Additionally, the program fosters networking opportunities with instructors, guest presenters, and fellow candidates, creating a strong professional community that extends beyond the classroom. The iLead PASC Program is also relatively short and affordable compared to other credential programs, making it accessible to educators who are ready to take the next step in their leadership journey.”

As Garcia Cervantes’ administrative journey begins, the program that helped him get his start is expanding its enrollment options. The iLead Program is preparing to introduce a fully virtual version of its PASC program. Future administrators who join the PASC program beginning Fall 2026 will have the convenience of completing the credential virtually or in the current hybrid format. A cohort for Spring 2026 is also available in the hybrid format.

To learn more about the new virtual option, attend one of the upcoming information meetings on November 13, December 2, January 13, or February 10. More information and registration links can be found at tcoe.org/NTLD/iLead/Prelim. 

On October 29, the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) hosted the 2025 Mathematics Instructional Materials Toolkit Training, bringing together nearly 60 educators from 12 districts across the area.

During the session, district teams explored the new California Mathematics Framework and discussed the upcoming Math Curriculum Adoption process. Participants received updates from the state, collaborated on strategies for developing a local review process, and practiced using the Mathematics Review Toolkit — a hands-on resource designed to support districts in evaluating and selecting high-quality instructional materials.

Tulare County will host an Instructional Materials Fair on November 19, 2025, offering K–12 teachers and leaders the chance to explore materials from 24 publishers. The fair will also feature 42 breakout sessions throughout the day, giving attendees deeper insight into each program and the opportunity to ask questions directly to the publishers.

Dr. Joseph Holifield is returning to Tulare County next month to lead a two-day school threat assessment training for district and site administrators, psychologists, counselors, and other student support personnel. Hosted by the School Safety Program, the training will help attendees learn the warning signs and steps they can take to mitigate potentially dangerous behaviors. The training will include updated 2025 protocols for those who have attended Dr. Holifield’s trainings in the past.

The Level 1 Threat Assessment training will be held on December 11 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at TCOE’s Doe Avenue Complex. The Level 2 Threat Assessment will follow on December 12. There is no cost for the trainings, but educators must register for the Level 1 training at https://tulare.k12oms.org/2746-273518. Educators must complete the Level 1 training in order to attend the Level 2 training. Level 2 registration information is available at https://tulare.k12oms.org/2746-273520.

Dr. Joe Holifield is a licensed clinical psychologist and school psychologist. With over 20 years of experience, he has conducted behavioral threat assessments for many school districts.

Additionally, Dr. Holifield has revised threat assessment procedures and board policies for several school districts and presented numerous workshops on the topic at the conventions of the California Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Psychologists.

Dr. Holifield completed a four-year state funded Mental Health Services Act grant examining threat assessment coaching and system implementation in San Luis Obispo County. With the support of the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office, Dr. Holifield was able to obtain additional federal grant funding to support his work in San Luis Obispo and Tulare counties.

For additional information on the threat assessment trainings, contact Bob Mayo at bob.mayo@tcoe.org. 

Registration is open for the Tulare Kings College + Career Collaborative’s ninth annual Counselor Conference. The conference is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Tulare County Office of Education located at 6200 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia.

Denise Cabanilla is the keynote speaker for the event and the senior director of Higher Education and Adult Learning at the Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE). At ICOE, she leads a dynamic team focused on key initiatives including college and career readiness, workforce development, adult education, and comprehensive school counseling. Cabanilla also provides support and guidance to school counselors across the county and is a proud founding member of the County Offices of Education Leadership for School Counseling, a statewide leadership network.

Edgar Blunt will be the closing speaker. Blunt is dedicated to making soft skills feel less like training and more like transformation. He designs experiences that build empathy, courage, and lasting impact. 

As the CEO and founder of IMAGO, and chair of the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board, Blunt possesses over 20 years of leadership training experience. He has partnered with school districts, workforce boards, and businesses across the country to rethink how to grow human potential in education and work. 

The Counselor Conference will also feature a number of breakout sessions on topics including compassionate systems, data, college & career support, social-emotional learning, district spotlights, and more.

The cost of the conference is $50 for registrations received before November 30 and $75 for registrations received after December 1. To register, visit: https://tulare.k12oms.org/2458-269250.

Editor: Robert Herman, Communications Director
Contributors: Nayirah Dosu, Jennifer Fisher, Jaime Burnitzki, George Rodriguez, Julie Joseph, Briahna Bakke, Lori Narahara, Therese Arnold

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