This month, we’re proud to celebrate Jen Kerr on her graduation from the School Facilities Leadership Academy (SFLA). It is an accomplishment that reflects both her dedication and our continued investment in cultivating leaders within VPCS.
SFLA is a competitive nine-month program designed to strengthen and elevate school facilities professionals across California. Participants deepen their expertise in all areas of school facilities while intentionally developing their leadership skills alongside peers from districts throughout the state. Since 2020, VPCS has proudly sponsored one team member each year to participate in this highly respected program. Jen now joins a growing group of VPCS professionals who have completed SFLA and brought that expanded knowledge back to our team and the districts we serve.
In preparation for her graduation, we asked Jen to reflect on how the program expanded on her experience at VPCS.
“Throughout my nine years with VPCS, I’ve had exposure to a little bit of almost everything, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to dive deeper into all of the topics covered. What stood out most to me was learning how other districts across the state approach their projects. Hearing about the different obstacles they face and how they manage various aspects of facilities gave me a much broader perspective on California as a whole. That wider lens was incredibly valuable.”
The program also influenced how Jen approaches leadership within her teams.
“Beyond the connections I made through the program, I’ve found myself regularly going back to the notes I made throughout the last nine months. There have been countless times where a topic from SFLA came up, and it’s been helpful to have resources to reference and share with my team. I also really appreciated the focus on leadership. Not just how to become a better leader individually, but how to develop leaders within your team. The program emphasized looking at the bigger picture and keeping that perspective at the forefront of every project. It wasn’t just about understanding the many aspects of school facilities; it was about strengthening the people behind the work too.”
One of her more unexpected takeaways came from discussions around project delivery methods.
“Design-build is a delivery method our team uses often, so I was genuinely surprised to learn it isn’t as commonly used in other regions. I appreciated the opportunity to share some of my experience while also learning how others manage their projects. It was a great reminder of how much we can learn from one another.”
As we celebrate 30 years of serving California school districts, our investment in our team remains as strong as ever. Ashley Del Rio will be the next VPCS team member to participate in SFLA, becoming the eighth professional from our firm to complete the program. In addition to SFLA, VPCS team members have also earned certifications such as the CASBO Chief Business Official (CBO) Certification, the Design-Build Professionals Certification, and the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification, reflecting our firm wide commitment to continuous growth and professional excellence.
February 26, 2026