In Memory of Amy Fong

Our colleague Amy Fong passed away on Friday, October 11, leaving us and many others with profound sadness and a continuing sense of loss. Our desire is to honor her life by remembering its richness and depth. Amy was an amazing woman. Her intellect evident and her kindness so well honed. Her compassion for family, friends and coworkers was heartfelt. Amy was the Chief Operations Officer of FCMAT's California School Information Services (CSIS).

Amy was a caring and empowering leader. Always attentive and contributing, Amy was an important part of our daily work lives. She was a mentor to all of us, taking us under her wing and gently guiding. Our individual and collective well-being and success were her interest. She was a mainstay of the FCMAT/CSIS organization for 24 years. Amy was a major contributor that helped frame who we are and what we do as an organizational family. Equally, Amy has been instrumental in how we are viewed and trusted by our clients and partners.

For nearly 30 years, Amy was one of the leading experts on educational data practices. Amy taught us that data is not isolated from people; rather, successful data practices are built upon and modeled after positive relationships among the people who source and use the data. Her impact on our collective work cannot be overstated. Therefore, this loss extends from being very personal to one that is magnified across our work and those we serve. One acknowledgment of Amy's enormous influence was when she was selected as the founding board chair of the state's newest student data initiative, Cradle-to-Career. She was the person everyone turned to for leadership and organization in beginning and continuing this initiative.

Amy's medical challenges began several years ago with breast cancer, and she passed away during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So it is fitting that we pause to honor, celebrate and remember family and friends impacted by this disease. 

Amy and her family remain foremost in our thoughts.