BRIDGING The Gap For Lifelong Student Success
On May 20, educational leaders from over 30 Southern California schools, colleges, universities and organizations gathered at UC Irvine for the inaugural BRIDGE SoCal Summit. The day centered around addressing a critical challenge: how to create a more seamless, data-informed educational journey for all students.
Co-hosted by UC Irvine’s Office of Information Technology, The Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and The Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP), the day began with an inspiring keynote from Michael Matsuda, Superintendent of Anaheim Union High School District. Matsuda challenged attendees to rethink traditional metrics of student success in the age of AI. "Are we measuring what we truly value, or simply valuing what we know how to measure?" he asked. Matsuda shared how his district has shifted focus to "leading indicators" like student engagement, creativity, and problem-solving skills, rather than relying solely on traditional test scores.
Another highlight of Matsuda's talk was the success of the "Anaheim Pledge," which emphasizes student voice and civic engagement. Through strategic partnerships and dual-enrollment programs, AUHSD students are gaining early exposure to college-level work in fields like IT, game design, and AI. The results have been remarkable, with many low-income students not only enrolling in universities but outperforming their peers during their tenure as college students.
The keynote set the tone for a day of collaborative discussions and innovative thinking. A panel on "Building on Strengths" showcased how different institutions are leveraging data to drive collective action. Amy Kwon from AUHSD described their decade-long focus on the "five C's" (critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and compassion), which has led to improved college retention rates for their graduates.
The 'Building on Strengths' panel included leaders from UC Irvine, Santa Ana College, CSUF, AUHSD and SAUSD.
Dr. Annebelle Nery, President of Santa Ana College, shared how data-driven decision-making has fueled their rapid growth, making them the fastest-growing community college in the state. Dr. Emily Wolk of Santa Ana Unified School District emphasized the importance of having a centralized data hub for cross-institutional collaboration, while Dr. Elizabeth Zavala-Acevez from Cal State Fullerton highlighted how strategic partnerships across educational institutions have strengthened their enrollment pipeline.
A fascinating discussion on "The New World of Sharing Data" featured experts from Amazon Web Services and Slalom, who pushed attendees to think beyond traditional data models. They explored emerging concepts like representing knowledge in multidimensional AI spaces and the potential of codifying skills at scale.
One of the day's most anticipated presentations came from Mary Ann Bates, Executive Director of California's Cradle-to-Career Data System. Bates unveiled the state's progress in creating a comprehensive, longitudinal data system that tracks Californians from early childhood through their careers. She demonstrated new tools that allow researchers, educators, and families to access aggregated data on student pathways, emphasizing the potential for evidence-based decision-making to build more equitable futures.
Throughout the day, attendees grappled with challenging questions: How can we break down data silos between institutions? What are the ethical considerations in sharing student data? How do we ensure that increased data collection translates to better support for students, especially those from underserved communities?
In a session on dealing with organizational resistance and change, leaders shared strategies for bringing reluctant colleagues on board with data-sharing initiatives. Bob Martin, Senior Director for Performance Excellence at UC Irvine emphasized the importance of identifying early adopters who can effectively communicate the mission and vision to others. Mary Ann from the Cradle-to-Career initiative stressed the value of "breaking down the long-term vision into smaller wins that can be celebrated," suggesting that incremental goals and tangible early successes can help build momentum.
As the formal sessions concluded, Dr. Stephanie Reyes-Tuccio, Vice Provost for Educational & Community Partnerships at UC Irvine, offered her observations from the day. She highlighted the recurring emphasis on learner-centered approaches and the importance of preparing students for long-term life and career success. "Today, we've seen that the technology and the will exist to transform how we support students throughout their educational journeys," she said. "Our challenge now is to turn these insights into action."
The BRIDGE SoCal Summit 2025 represented a significant step forward in reimagining education in Southern California. By bringing together diverse stakeholders and fostering open dialogue about data sharing and student success, the event laid the groundwork for a more collaborative, student-centered approach to education. As attendees left UCI's campus, there was a shared sense of possibility – and responsibility – to leverage data in ways that truly empower students to reach their full potential.