Massetti honored by state and national associations

For The Madera Tribune

Madera County Superintendent Cecilia Massetti was awarded the California County Superintendents Executive Leadership Award during the General Membership Meeting Awards dinner in Long Beach.

Madera County Superintendent Cecilia Massetti was given the California County Superintendents Executive Leadership Award, presented by Jim Yovino, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools and current President Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent, at the General Membership Meeting Awards dinner in Long Beach.

The Executive Leadership Award is presented to an individual for contributions through executive leadership in the advancement of county office of education programs at the regional, state, and/or national levels. The selection committee consists of the President-elect and county superintendents that received the awards in the previous year.

Massetti was honored for her work dedicating significant time and resources to develop a standardized fee structure for Local Educational Consortium Superintendents and has been a tireless advocate for the School-Based Medi-Cal Administrative Activities, leading the fight for a more responsive process for district and county office of education programs.

She has served on the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team Board of Directors, served as chair of the state Curriculum and Instruction and Student Programs and Services committees, led ad hoc groups to formalize nomination processes and bylaws to increase transparency and trust in their organizations.

Currently, she is leading the development of the first-ever “New County Superintendent’s Academy” to ensure that every county superintendent has the training and resources available to help them be successful in their role. Massetti is an active member of the community as a member of various service groups, Soroptimist International, Latinas Unidas, American Association of University Women, and currently serves as the president of the Camarena Health Centers Board of Directors.

Karen Stapf Walters, Executive Director, California County Superintendents stated “Massetti has shown incredible leadership and service to us as the educational services agency, but more importantly to her colleagues across the state. She is incredibly respected by her peers.”

Massetti also received a national award, the Justice A. Prentice Award from the Association of Educational Service Agencies, presented by John Bass, AESA Chief Operating Officer from Texas.

This award is given to an individual for contributions through executive leadership in advancing educational service agency programs at the regional, state, and national levels.

The County superintendents from Fresno, Kings, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare stated in her nomination letter of support “Ceci has been a strong support for us both personally and professionally, a steady leader in our region, and a determined advocate within the County Superintendents Association. Ceci is extraordinary and we admire her immensely. She knows who she is and never tries to be anything else. She is an authentic leader with a strong set of values and we are grateful to have her leadership representing us on a local, regional, and state stage.”