in the community
CSBA CEO & Executive Director goes back to school as “Principal for a Day”
On March 2, West Sacramento’s Washington Unified School District held its annual “Principal for a Day” program, inviting CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy to join the day’s activities. He had the pleasure to serve as a “principal” for Westfield Village Elementary School, a K-6 school attended by approximately 450 students. Almost all students are from low-income households and half are English learners.
“Being ‘principal for a day’ was a great way to see how the Westfield faculty and staff are connecting with the families they serve, are meeting their Local Control and Accountability Plan goals and are truly making a difference in their students’ lives,” said Billy.

Alongside Principal Roxanna Villasenor, Assistant Principal Jaime Avelar and Washington USD Superintendent Linda C. Luna, Billy toured the school, engaged with students and parents and learned how the elementary school is meeting its LCAP goals.

LCAP Goal #1
The district’s first LCAP goal focuses on college and career readiness. Students at Westfield Village learn 21st-century skills through inquiry-based, hands-on learning and science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, activities. As Principal for a Day, Billy was invited to see student presentations and a special education class’s bridge-building engineering activity.
Superintendent Linda C. Luna, CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy, Principal Roxanna Villasenor and Assistant Principal Jaime Avelar
LCAP Goal #2
Washington USD values the importance of an individualized, well-rounded, high-quality education that addresses the needs of the “whole child.” To meet this goal, the elementary school has a full-time music instructor, some classrooms have flexible seating to cater to unique learning styles, students go on science and history field trips, the school participated in last year’s solar eclipse viewing and all fourth- through sixth-grade teachers have completed training from the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) organization.
LCAP Goal #3
The district is also dedicated to professional collaboration, support, mentorship, development and training for the educators that make Washington USD students college and career ready. Teachers and staff are eager life-long learners who collaborate on site and participate in districtwide initiatives.
CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy reads to a kindergarten class
LCAP Goal #4
Also important to the district is school climate and environment. This LCAP goal emphasizes the importance of creating safe, healthy, nurturing and supportive school sites. “Building that culture and climate is essential,” said Villasenor. Westfield reaches this goal through creative learning incentives, a campus-wide commitment to modeling and teaching the growth mindset model, and positive behavior reinforcement such as “Leaders of the Month” awards. With the support of an outreach team, the school has seen a reduction in suspensions.
LCAP Goal #5
The last LCAP goal highlighted during the event was the district’s commitment to community unity and engagement through cultural sensitivity. Westfield parents and guardians come together for weekly coffee socials, teachers and staff facilitate events like the “Unity in the Community Dance” and community partnerships provide donations for these occasions.

Thank you to Washington USD for inviting CSBA into your classrooms.