LM Sept 2020

That passion led her to a partnership with McDonald’s. Dr. Geddis advises school districts and other organizations on how to utilize the convenience of McDonald’s restaurants nationwide as a solution for meal distribution. When the pandemic hit, Dr. Geddis became an advisor on food insecurity to the Boys and Girls Club, which oversees after school programs at many school districts. She also is an advisor to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. In addition, Dr. Geddis is active in IASA and the IASA Illini Region. She has presented at numerous events and conferences, including IASA’s New Superintendent Conference this year. Dr. Geddis was part of a panel that shared tips and strategies on communications with school boards and community members. When schools were forced to transition to remote learning, Danville CCSD #118 partnered with Neuhoff Media to make specific periods of time each day for public school teachers to present lessons, read books and review specific material over the radio. She mentored her peers on the program, and the initiative was adopted by other school districts. “It was another way for our teachers to connect with our students who didn’t have access to the internet,” Geddis says. Elevat g Geddis ... cont’d.

Thiele ... cont’d. threats about the district’s plan to reopen schools in person for one week and then transition to remote learning. In public comments, he called for an end to divisiveness and expressed the need for patience and understanding. “I wanted people to realize we are trying to do what’s best for kids, and we don’t have all the answers,” he says. “This is a major health concern that none of us are trained for.” When guidance on reopening schools was first published, Dr. Thiele built sample schedules and shared them publicly, providing an actionable tool to help school leaders manage new challenges. “The hardest part was there was nothing to go on,” he says. “I operate on a collaborative leadership style. Nobody has a monopoly on any of this. We need to be sharing with each other.” Over the past several years, CHSD #99 has become a national leader on closing the homework gap and providing devices and internet access to all students. Dr. Thiele has trained and mentored school leaders on ways to improve internet access and technology in their districts. In addition, he has presented at the IASA Annual Conference the past four years, is a member of the IASA Professional Development Committee and is active in the education technology community.

ISDLAF+MonthlyUpdate Click here to view the most current ISDLAF+ rates, economic indicators and general economic news brief. To obtain additional information regarding this IASA sponsored service, contact Dr. Donald E. Weber, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations/ISDLAF+ at 630–657–6435. To check daily rates, visit the ISDLAF+ website at www.isdlafplus.com.

11 LM September 2020