Cathy D. Hicks San Dieguito Union High School District, California

Cathy D. Hicks most recently directed the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program for the San Dieguito Union High School District in Southern California. She oversaw an induction program supporting beginning teachers. She served for ten years on the executive board of the California Association of School Health Educators (CASHE) and has been an adjunct faculty member at California State University at San Marcos. She is co-author of five books: What Successful Teachers Do: 91 Research-Based Strategies for New and Veteran Teachers (2003); What Successful Mentors Do: 81 Research- Based Strategies for New Teacher Induction, Training, and Support (2005); What Successful Teachers Do in Inclusive Classrooms: 60 Research-Based Strategies That help Special Learns (2005); and What Successful Teachers Do in Diverse Classrooms: 71 Research-Based Strategies for New and Veteran Teachers (2006); What Successful Teachers Do: 101 Research-Based Strategies for new and Veteran Teachers (2009).She is a frequent presenter on educational topics both at the state and national level. She taught Physical Education and Health at both the middle and high school level for more than 25 years. During that time, she was involved in the California State Mentor Teacher Program and mentored new teachers in her district for more than 17 years. Her energy, enthusiasm, and passion for teaching and supporting new teachers reinforce the career path she chose in elementary school. She believes the most effective teachers are the ones who never settle for “good enough,” but continue to grow, stretch, reflect, create, collaborate, and take risks throughout their teaching career.