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Summer 2021 LeadershipMatters

After Difficult School Year, Are Illinois Superintendents Opting Out?

Welcome to New IASA Board of Directors for FY 2022 IASA President and Past President Messages from

Remembering Dr. Walter H. Warfield

IASA digs deeper into our data to see how retirements and transfers compare to previous years. In addition, we speak to several superintendents who are retiring or leaving education to see how much the pandemic influenced their decision. After Difficult School Year, Are Illinois Superintendents Opting Out?

GoodbyeMessage fromDr. Vic Zimmerman

Dr. Victor Zimmerman Past President, IASA Board of Directors

With the 2020–21 school year in the rear-view mirror, it is time to reflect on what we lived through as superintendents. There were unprecedented challenges and setbacks, but superintendents continued to show resilience and flexibility, as well as a unique ability to get the job done when the chips were down. For that, I want to commend and celebrate you for your calm leadership during all of the great and not so great days. As leaders, we have to steer the ship in calm waters and in stormy seas. Superintendents deal with safety plans, weather emergencies, faculty and student deaths, bad employee decisions, CPPRT drops, coal plant closures, social media, bullying, snow-day decisions, split school boards, community input, coach firings, letters to the editor, bussing issues, building closures, unfunded mandates and I could keep going. However, we also get to see kids learning to read, high fives during lunch, dress-up days, birthday treats, art projects, band concerts, students with smiling faces, state championships, hiring brand new teachers, engaging professional development, referendum passages, new facilities, retirements, college scholarships and graduates coming back to see us.

IASA 2022 Superintendent of the Year Application Remembering Dr. Walt Warfield, IASA Executive Director 1992–2006

Refresh Recharge Revitalize PrioritizingYou andYour District

57th IASA Annual Conference Registration Opens Early August

I can vividly recall attending my first IASA Conference as a new Superintendent almost 20 years ago and being in awe of all of the leadership in the room. I will be finishing my role as IASA President on June 30 and will continue to serve as Superintendent of Monticello CUSD #25 through the end of the 2021–22 school year. I am proud to have served the IASA and will forever be a supporter of our organization. It’s a Great Day to be a SUPERINTENDENT.

Welcoming New IASA Board of Directors for FY 2022

Great Day “ It’s a to be a

” tendent! Superin

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Elevating Education

IASA Professional Development Opportunities

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20 Superintendent Check-In

IASA News in Brief

Volume 9, Issue 6 Summer 2021 LeadershipMatters 21085 Jason Nevel Director of Social Media and Publications jnevel@iasaedu.org

2648 Beechler Court Springfield, IL 62703-7305 217.753.2213 800 Woodfield Road, Ste. F109 Schaumburg, IL 60173-4717 847.466.5075

Marjorie Gladish Graphic Designer mgladish@iasaedu.org

1200 West Main Street Marion, IL 62959-1138 618.364.0501

www.iasaedu.org

Scan here with your phone’s QR code reader to get the IASA APP— Don’t have a QR reader? Go to or and search for IllinoisASA.

Message From the Executive Director Superintendents and Boards of Education KnowTheir Communities Best. For 2021–22 School Year,#MakeItLocalIL

Dr. Brent Clark

about the upcoming school year and can’t provide concrete answers to their constituents. It’s a no-win situation. In her weekly message, State Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala said the Illinois Department of Public Health anticipates that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will issue its updated guidance for schools in early July, which will then allow IDPH to finalize and issue updated guidance for Illinois schools. Dr. Ayala continues: “While we all wish this could come more quickly, we are hopeful that the CDC will provide additional insight into requirements for social distancing, mask wearing, and other mitigations that schools are taking. We recommend planning for both looser CDC guidance and the potential that current mitigations will remain in place.” That’s not what superintendents want to hear right now, and Dr. Ayala acknowledges she wishes she could say more. The clock, of course, is ticking. The first day of school in one district is August 2. On Friday, June 25, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker re-issued an executive order that extended mask and social distance requirements in schools through July 24. Gov. Pritzker also recently said his administration expects the Delta variant “to dominate our cases statewide by the fall.” That doesn’t sound like someone who is ready to loosen restrictions on schools. If I learned anything over the years, it’s rarely easy in Illinois. It took years of advocating for school funding reform, and the possibility of schools closing doors, before Evidence-Based Funding was signed into law. In this case, I believe local control is the best path forward. Superintendents demonstrated the ability to layer mitigations as needed the past school year and are uniquely qualified to make decisions that can keep kids safe. Let’s push forward and make our voices heard. #MakeItLocalIL

Like you, I’m frustrated. In May, I encouraged each of you to recharge your batteries after an incredibly stressful year because the state had not released any reopening guidance for the 2021–22 school year. Well, here we are on July 1...and the wait continues. The stakes are high. Some schools simply cannot operate at full capacity and adhere to social distancing at the same time. There’s also major questions on close contacts, quarantine protocols and if students and staff will be required to wear masks, among other things. There are many different ideas on what the state should do. At the end of the day, I believe superintendents and their Boards of Education know their communities best. They were elected by their community and are qualified to make the right decision for their community. The hashtag #MakeItLocalIL on Twitter has gained traction and is an easy way for superintendents to advocate collectively. I also encourage you to reach out to your local legislators and members of Congress. We have to keep pressing forward and make our voices heard on both the state and national levels. At IASA, we are continuing the dialogue with state leaders and collecting information about how neighboring states plan to approach this upcoming school year in terms of COVID-19 guidelines. Not surprisingly, school will likely look much different in some of our neighboring states. At this time, both Iowa and Indiana will not be requiring masks, social distancing and close contacts to quarantine (Iowa students who show symptoms may have to quarantine). Generally speaking, districts in those states are not planning to implement large-scale COVID-19 testing. It’s a different ball game in Illinois. At IASA, we remain committed to supporting administrators every step of the way, including the continuation of the IASA COVID-19 Transition Team. Grassroots advocacy has helped in the past, and it will play a role in how this all shakes out. But right now, we’re stuck waiting—and it’s frustrating. Superintendents are being bombarded with emails and calls

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Refresh Recharge Revitalize

Registration and Housing Open Early August!

Refresh • Recharge • Revitalize—Prioritizing you and your district

IASA57THANNUALCONFERENCE SEPT. 29–OCT. 1, 2021

BOSCenter and the President AbrahamLincoln Springfield—ADoubletree ByHiltonHotel; Springfield, IL.

Featured Keynotes:

Plus:

CALLFORPRESENTATIONS DEADLINEEXTENDED: If youwould like to share best practices on educational issueswith your colleagues in a Breakout Session, you nowhave until Friday, July 16 to submit your proposal! More information/proposal submission Breakout Sessions, Academies, Women In Leadership, NewSuperintendents’ Strand, Exhibits, Receptions&More!

Gather with your colleagues to listen, learn and grow together! Supt 2Supt brings superintendents together to discuss timely and sensitive topics. SUPT SUPT 2

Hamish Brewer isn’t your normal

MorrisMorrison has an unforgettable message and story. His primary goal is to build fearless, focused leaders that drive uncomfortable change, growth and disruption.

Always a favorite, Ignite allows leaders fromexemplary school districts to share innovative educational messages and best practices, taking just 5minutes each.

principal. The tattooed skateboarder is known as an educational disrupter who invigorates audiences with a high-octane presentation.

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Click here to: Reserve a Booth; Host aHospitality Suite for Attendees; Sponsor an Event, Meal or Speaker.

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New IASABoard of Directors for FY2022

● Dr. Anthony Scarsella , Cook South, replacing Dr. James Gay (term expires June 30, 2024.) ● Dr. Kevin Skinkis , Cook West, replacing Dr. Timothy B. Kilrea (term expires June 30, 2022). ● Dr. Lori James-Gross , Shawnee replacing Stephen Murphy (term expires June 30, 2024). ● Matthew A. Stines , Southwestern, replacing Michael S. Sutton (term expires June 30, 2024). ● Dr. Kelle S. Bunch , Two Rivers, replacing Dr. Kevin Blankenship who will serve as IASA President-Elect during FY 2022 (term expires June 30, 2024). Lastly, we want to say thank you and goodbye to the following school leaders for their service on the IASA Board of Directors. Their vision and passion helped move IASA forward. ● Paula Hawley, Past President (Board member since 2014) ● Dr. Timothy Kilrea , Cook West (Board member since 2015) ● Steve Murphy , Shawnee (Board member since 2016) ● Mike Sutton , Southwestern (Board member since 2015) ● Dr. James Gay , Cook South (Board member since 2020)

The IASA Board of Directors is the primary decision-making body of IASA, consisting of members of the 21 IASA regions and an at-large representative. IASA also has three Super Regions: Northcentral, Northeastern and Southern. Each consists of seven IASA regions from which the board rotationally elects the IASA president. On July 1, the IASA Board of Directors welcomed five new faces, as well as some changes to the five officer positions, including Dr. Jeff Statwick rotating to President. Here is what changed from last fiscal year. The FY 2022 officers are: ● President: Dr. Jeff Stawick , CCSD #146. ● President-Elect: Dr. Kevin Blankenship ,Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 and Winchester CUSD #1 ● Past President: Dr. Victor Zimmerman , Monticello CUSD #25. ● Secretary: Barb Thompson , Fisher CUSD #1, Illini Region. ● Treasurer: Dr. Roger Alvey , Illini Bluffs CUSD #327, Central Illinois Valley Region. In addition, five IASA regions will have new representatives on the board...

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GoodbyeMessage fromDr. Vic Zimmerman

Dr. Victor Zimmerman Past President, IASA Board of Directors

While we sometimes tend to focus on the bad days, there are really many more good ones to think about. We have a choice on how we face each day and, hopefully, we choose to make every day a great one, not only for us but for our students, teachers, aides, secretaries, bus drivers, custodians and cooks. There is only one superintendent in each school district. At some point, at least four (but hopefully seven) elected school board members made the decision that we were the best person to lead our school districts. Don’t forget that. To close, I want to thank Dr. Brent Clark for his never-ending leadership and the entire IASA staff for their support of the IASA Board of Directors and the IASA Superintendents during this crazy school year. I can vividly recall attending my first IASA Conference as a new Superintendent almost 20 years ago and being in awe of all of the leadership in the room. I will be finishing my role as IASA President on June 30 and will continue to serve as Superintendent of Monticello CUSD #25 through the end of the 2021–22 school year. I am proud to have served the IASA and will forever be a supporter of our organization. It’s a Great Day to be a SUPERINTENDENT.

Great Day “ It’s a

” tendent! Superin

to be a

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WelcomeMessage fromDr. Jeff Stawick

Dr. Jeff Stawick President, IASA Board of Directors

I am deeply humbled and honored to begin my tenure as IASA President. Illinois is filled with tremendous school leaders, and I feel truly blessed to represent all superintendents across the state. I want to begin by commending superintendents for stepping up and navigating unprecedented obstacles this past school year. Superintendents were a steady presence and trusted voice in their communities at a time when leadership was needed. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and sacrifice. With that, I want to share a little about myself and offer a few insights into why I wanted to become more involved with IASA. My education career began as a music teacher at West Pike Community Unit School District #2 in 1996 after I graduated from the University of Illinois. I also worked in Elmwood Park CUSD #401 as a band director and Homewood SD #153 as middle school principal. In 2010, I was named superintendent of Community Consolidated School District #146 after serving as superintendent of Steger SD #194 for four years. CCSD #146 is a preK-8 district with 2,400 students in the Cook South region that serves the communities of Tinley Park, Orland Park and Oak Forest. Since becoming a superintendent, IASA has played a key role in helping me grow as a leader and building my professional network. I always encourage new

superintendents to take advantage of opportunities to connect with their peers, whether that’s at region meetings or professional development opportunities. The superintendency can be a lonely job—but only if you let it be. Being elected in 2017 as the Cook South representative on the IASA Board of Directors was a great honor for me. Serving on the board has deepened my understanding and appreciation of the talented leaders we have in this state as well as the important role IASA plays in elevating our profession. As your new IASA President, I hope I can continue the rich tradition of outstanding leadership. The strength of IASA has always been that it is a statewide association guided by incredible school leaders who share the common goal of making decisions based on what is best for students. Next school year, superintendents will once again be tested and asked to navigate complex problems. The IASA Board of Directors includes superintendents of all 21 regions, and we want you to know—we are here to support you. I will close by borrowing a line from my predecessor, Dr. Victor Zimmerman. Remember, seven school board members once sat in a room and decided you were the best person for the job. Have a great summer, and I look forward to seeing each of you at the IASA Annual Conference in Springfield, September 29-October 1.

See you at the

“

Annual Conference

in September!

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ctors for FY2022

Lake Julie A. Schmidt Superintendent Kildeer Countryside CCSD #96

Kaskaskia Dr. Scott E. Doerr Superintendent Nokomis CUSD #22

Kishwaukee Brent O’Daniell, Superintendent Genoa-Kingston CUSD #424

Northwest Timothy J. Schurman Superintendent Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD #399

Starved Rock Dr. Steven Wrobleski Superintendent La Salle-Peru Twp HSD #120

Shawnee Dr. Lori James-Gross Superintendent Unity Point CCSD #140

Three Rivers Dr. Scott Goselin Superintendent Bradley SD #61

Southwestern Matthew A. Stines Superintendent Grant CCSD #110

Two Rivers Dr. Kelle S. Bunch Superintendent Liberty CUSD #2

Wabash Valley Julie Kraemer Superintendent Hutsonville CUSD #1

Western Dr. Michelle Lee Superintendent LaHarpe CSD #347/ Dallas ESD #327

At-Large Dr. Kimako Patterson Superintendent Prairie-Hills ESD #144

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LISTED CHANGES WILL BE EFFECTIVE START OF 2021–2022 SCHOOL YEAR Members On The Move

Who’s moving, who’s brand new, who’s retiring? Here’s an easy way to keep track of who’s where!

Known New Superintendents 70

Known Transferring Superintendents

Click on each square to see a list of names for the upcoming school year.

Known Retiring Superintendents

Known Superintendent Vacancies

Please know that every attempt has been made to achieve accuracy on these lists. If we have not yet learned of your new role or that of a fellow superintendent,

please send the information to Misti Murphy at mmurphy@iasaedu.org, and we will include it in next month’s issue of Leadership Matters.

See IASA’s Job Bank to post or apply for educational positions in Illinois.

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After Difficult School Year, Are Illinois Superintendents Opting Out?

By Jason Nevel IASA Director of Social Media and Publications As she retires from her role as superintendent of Bement CUSD #5, the next seat Dr. Sheila Greenwood sits in could get pretty wet. After 33 years in education—including arguably the most difficult year superintendents have ever faced—Dr. Greenwood’s first order of business in retirement is spending more time paddling her new kayak.

The article noted the departures of superintendents from the top spots in large cities—including the largest three, New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago—but also in many midsize and smaller districts in suburban and rural areas. In Illinois, it’s too early to say how much of an overall impact the pandemic will have on the number of superintendents

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“I’m going to take the month off in July to just chill,” Dr. Greenwood says. “Then, I’m going to look at my options for the fall and decide the next route for me.” Dr. Greenwood was among the group of superintendents who set the retirement date of June 30, 2021, before the pandemic hit. But for others, the pandemic—and the stress it caused on superintendents—undoubtedly altered career plans. The Washington Post recently wrote an article with the headline, “As difficult school year ends, school superintendents are opting out.”

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Retirement ... cont’d.

retiring early or leaving the profession or on the ability to attract educators to pursue the top leadership role. Next month in Leadership Matters, IASA will look closer at the latter. We will review statewide data and interview university educational administration leaders about trends they see and if they believe Illinois is facing an administrator shortage. Closer lookat thenumbers Based on IASA membership data collected to date, Illinois has not seen an abnormal exodus of superintendents before the start of the 2021-22 school year, although the numbers are up from last year. Every year, IASA collects information about who is retiring, transferring districts or hired as a new or interim superintendent. Our data indicates at least 53 superintendents in Illinois retired June 30, 2021. That figure is up from 35 superintendents who retired on June 30, 2020. However, the number of retirements over the past five years has followed a pattern of bouncing up and down. For example, IASA recorded 53 retirements in June 2017 and then 34 in June 2018. The number shot back up to 53 in June 2019. This year, the number of transfers for superintendents is actually down. Sixteen superintendents transferred districts for the 2021–22 school year, compared to 25 the year prior. At the Illinois Association of School Boards, the number of executive searches has actually dipped for the 2021–22 school year, according to Thomas Leahy, Director of Executive Searches for IASB. IASB averages around 120 executive searches per year but is only conducting 89 for this upcoming school year. There is not a single factor Leahy can identify for the drop in executive searches. Part of it could be attributed to more districts hiring interim superintendents and putting off the search for a full-time superintendent until next year. Illinois also has other executive search firms so IASB totals may not be representative of what’s happening statewide.

It’s also possible this year could be a blip and there will be a swing the other way. In April, Illinois held school board elections across the state and seated many new school board members. Not always, but changes in boards can lead to changes in superintendents. School board elections and the pandemic were deeply intertwined this year, making some elections more heated than normal. “There were definitely people upset in some communities about how everything with the pandemic unfolded,” Leahy said. Right time for a change Superintendents leave jobs for various reasons, including local elections, local politics, personal reasons or the desire to pursue a new job. And, sometimes, they’re simply ready for a change. After 19 years at Carbondale CHSD #165, including the past decade as superintendent, Steve Murphy decided to step away from the job at the end of this past

school year. For the next nine months, he and his family plan to travel the country as his wife pursues some new career opportunities. At this point, Murphy isn’t sure what his next chapter will be. He could come back to Illinois and work as a superintendent, find a similar role in a different state or launch a new career.

It’s impossible to separate the pandemic, and the stress it put on superintendents this past year, entirely from his decision to step away, Murphy said, but it wasn’t the primary factor. More, he didn’t want to reach the point a colleague once told him he reached, where he no longer rooted for his school to win at sporting events, but rather for the game to be over. Stephen Murphy

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their lives in balance, we hope, and will be making a decision about their career.” Unquestionably, the pandemic will have a lasting impact on the superintendency and public education as a whole. COVID-19 exacerbated the challenges superintendents faced and added levels of stress and pressure to an already demanding job. Many years ago, Dr. James Rosborg, a retired superintendent and semi-retired Director of Master’s in Education at McKendree University, said he was told by a professor that every superintendent makes seven enemies per year in any school district. That figure surely went up this past school year. “Personally, I picked up high blood pressure and diabetes, and it was the good Lord’s way of telling me I couldn’t work 80 hours per week forever,” said Dr. James Rosborg, who retired from Belleville District #118 in 2005. “Superintendents are now under more stress because of COVID, but they also had years of tight budgets, maybe contentious boards and dealing with proration of General State Aid. That all leads to a lot of stress.” For Dr. Greenwood, she has no regrets about continuing to lead Bemont CUSD #5 this past school year. In retirement, she looks forward to setting her own schedule, finishing a book and possibly revisiting the medical profession, which is where her career began before making the transition into education. As a superintendent, Dr. Greenwood said she considers herself a servant and was proud to be able to lead her community through an incredibly challenging school year. The future of public education is exciting, she added, with the pandemic opening the eyes of many educators about what is possible. “While it was tough without a doubt, I think we prepared our whole life to be in these positions of leadership,” Dr. Greenwood said. “The best of the best of us stepped up and demonstrated strong leadership and did what we were hired to do.”

“Instead of working until I’m 65, I’m going to take one year off in the middle,” Murphy said. “I had a great board and teachers, so I don’t feel like the pandemic drove me out of this, but I think the pandemic has given everyone a different perspective and maybe heightened that sense for me.” Like Murphy and Dr. Greenwood, the reason Dr. Timothy Kilrea,

superintendent of Lyons Twp HSD #204 since 2009, retired was not driven by the pandemic. There were a multitude of factors—such as spending more time with family and working part time—that played a role in his decision, but one of the key forces was leadership succession.

Dr. Timothy B. Kilrea

“If you care about your organization, I think it has to play into your decision,” Dr. Kilrea said. “I felt like it was time, and I’m looking forward to doing some other things. I am very fortunate to work in a school district that provided me with this opportunity.” Dr. Brian Waterman, a principal in Lyons Township for the past seven years, replaces Dr. Kilrea as superintendent. Steppedupand led While the pandemic pushed some superintendents to retire early despite having years left on their contract, it also pushed some leaders in the other direction. The COVID-19 hit near the end of the 2019–20 school year, forcing districts to rethink and reimagine public education on the fly. Knowing the immense challenges ahead, some superintendents felt uncomfortable about walking away at a time their districts and communities needed them most. “Superintendents feel a deep commitment to their organization, and it wasn’t a time for some people to make that transition,” said Dr. Jack Barshinger, President of the Illinois Council of Professors of Educational Administration. “I think people have had a chance to take a breath and put

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One day professional advancement seminar: Seeking the Superintendency Presented by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) and the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) This intensive one-day seminar is designed to assist anyone seeking employment as a superintendent and will include a detailed description of the Illinois Association of School Boards’ Superintendent Search process. You will learn how to evaluate and improve your opportunities for professional advancement through presentations by those who work with the process and through printed materials that are yours to retain.

Open to those seeking the superintendency and current superintendents Topics covered: The search process, vacancies, job strategies and ethics, the portfolio, interview process, contract process, and more.

Training date and location: Thursday, September 9, 2021 Universal Technical institute Register online Tuesday, September 14, 2021 IASB Springfield Office Register online Wednesday, January 12, 2022 IASB Springfield Office Register online

$175 per person which includes printed materials, a copy of the Illinois School Law Survey, continental breakfast and lunch. Lodging is not included. Registrants will receive confirmation via email. Registration will be accepted in the order received, as space is limited. Registration is requested at least one week prior to the seminars. Refunds will not be offered after that time. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the seminar from 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Questions about these seminars, call Mary Torgler at 630–629–3776, ext.1217

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2022 Illinois Superintendent Of The Year Application

e d

p r o v

I m

w & P r o

N e

c e s s ! Applying for Illinois Superintendent of the Year has never been easier! IASA has designed its own online application and is no longer using the AASA portal. Any superintendent can apply for Illinois Click Here to Apply

Superintendent of the Year. Illinois Selection Criteria Each candidate is judged on the following criteria:

Pandemic Response Student Success

—How has your district innovated in a new environment? —How is your district elevating student success in the areas of academics, high school preparedness, college and career readiness and social-emotional support? —How is your district improving the quality of teaching and learning? —How is your district promoting fairness and inclusion? —How has your leadership pushed your district forward? —How involved are you with IASA? —What professional organizations are you involved with, have you led or participated in professional development or received any other honors/awards?

Teacher Success Equity District Success Involvement with IASA Memberships, PD activities, Awards

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“Calmest and Most Empathetic Individual I Have Ever Known” Friends Remember Former IASA Executive Director Dr. Walt Warfield (1946 – 2021) Jason Nevel Director of Social Media and Publications

Calm. Caring. Supportive. Led by example.

arts (1968) and master of science (1973) degrees from Southern Illinois University—Edwardsville and his Ph.D (1978) from Illinois State University. His education career began as a teacher and coach in Madison. He later became a high school principal in Mason City before serving as superintendent of three school districts: Decatur Public Schools (1988–1992), Mattoon Community Unit District (1984– 1988) and Fairfield Community High School District (1978–1984). One of his high school classmates, Emmert Dannenberg, followed Dr. Warfield into the superintendency.

Those were some of the words friends used to describe Dr. Walt Warfield, who lost his battle with cancer and passed away on June 8 at the age of 74. Dr. Warfield served as IASA’s Executive Director from 1992 to 2006. “Walt never let it show,’’ said Dr. Randolph Tinder, who served as IASA’s President in 2007. “He was one of the calmest and most empathetic individuals I have ever known. He led all of us by example.”

Dannenberg, a superintendent Somonauk CUSD #432 for 14 years, remembers Dr. Warfield as a special friend and someone he could always count on. “Walt was just a great guy,” Dennenberg said. “He had the ability to sit back and take it in before he found a way to react. That always brought out the best in him.” In 1992, Dr. Warfield was named the fourth executive director of IASA, which was founded in 1964. During his 14 years of

Dr. Warfield was a respected educator and trusted leader who led an extraordinary life and had an amazing career that spanned five decades. He is also remembered as a kind and compassionate person who always thought of others first, and as someone who deeply loved his wife and family. Dr. Warfield was born in Granite City and graduated from Granite City High School in 1964. He earned his bachelor of

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memory In Remembrance

though she worked at La Grange Highlands #106 and his career was based in central and southern Illinois. “We were in two different worlds but that didn’t make any difference,” Grimes said. “He was just always kind, generous and caring.” After retiring from IASA in 2006, Dr. Warfield joined the University of Illinois Springfield faculty in the College of Education and Human Services. As Scholar-in-Residence, he taught graduate level courses in the Educational Leadership Program.

leadership, the association expanded services, sustained growth in membership and experienced financial stability. Milestones during his tenure include the employment of a full- time attorney, the formation of the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance, the purchase of IASA’s first building, the establishment of IASA’s Illinois Education Job Bank and the addition of a full-time Director of Governmental Relations. Don Weber, a former superintendent and IASA President in 2004, said Dr. Warfield was the right person at the right time to lead IASA.

Dr. Warfield’s impact on IASA remains to this day. According to IASA Executive Director Dr. Brent Clark, Dr. Warfield moved the association forward and built the runway that allowed IASA to grow into what it has become today. “Nobody supported and believed more in the impact a superintendent could have on students than Walt,” Dr. Clark said. “He poured his heart and soul into making this association stronger, so it could better support superintendents and help them expand their leadership capacity.”

“He was always looking out for the best interest of school superintendents, school districts and students,” Weber said. “He had a very good pulse on educational issues and worked well in a number of different mediums.” Elise Grimes, who served as IASA President in 1993, also looks fondly back at her time working with Dr. Warfield on the IASA Board of Directors. She and Dr. Warfield quickly bonded, Grimes said, even

In lieu of flowers, Dr. Warfield and his family requested memorial donations be made to the James V. and Dorothy B. Moon Scholarship Fund (SAFE) and sent to the Illinois Association of School Administrators at 2648 Beecher Court, Springfield, Illinois, 62703.

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Education Elevat g We continue our series highlighting tremendous educators across Illinois who have given their time and energy to ele- vating the superintendency and public education as a whole. Each month, we will feature two educators who are going the extra mile and truly making a difference beyond their school districts and local communities. While we are aware of many of the contributions administrators are making, we are open to any suggestions for someone to feature next month. To make a recommendation, contact Jason Nevel, IASA Director of Social Media and Publications, at jnevel@iasaedu.org or by calling 217–753–2213.

JenniferGill Springfield SD#186

Dr. ThomasMahoney Oregon CUSD#220

Who: Jennifer Gill What: Instrumental in passing Sangamon County School Facilities Sales Tax in 2018; Increased enrollment in Advanced Placement courses through partnership with Equal Opportunity Schools; Increased the adoption of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) structures at elementary level;

Who: Dr. Thomas Mahoney What: Lee and Ogle County Leadership Academy; Enneagram framework. Where: Oregon CUSD #220, Northwest Region. When: Superintendent of Oregon CUSD #220 for 12 years. Why: The best lesson Dr. Thomas

Mahoney ever learned about leadership is to look inward first. “My belief is, the most important thing a leader can do is to know themselves,” Dr. Mahoney said. “I know I take me with me wherever I go. It’s of the utmost importance that I understand myself, my motivations and my behaviors. Having a deep understanding of myself will help me lead and influence others.” Helping leaders grow and better understand themselves has been Dr. Mahoney’s passion. He founded the Lee and Ogle County Leadership Academy in 2012. The program is designed to support teacher leaders and current principals.

Developed Memorial Choice health services partnership; Presenter at IASA Annual and New Superintendents conferences. Where: Springfield SD #186, Abe Lincoln Region. When: Superintendent of Springfield SD #186 for eight years. Why: Throughout her career, Jennifer Gill has worked relentlessly to make the town she grew up in a better place. In 2018, voters approved the first increase in school funding in 34 years in Sangamon County via the passage of the countywide 1 percent sales tax. Gill was instrumental in passing the measure, which will benefit Springfield SD #186 and all Sangamon County school districts.

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Mahoney ... cont’d. Using a cohort model, the academy brings together 20 to 30 principals and teacher leaders eight times per year. The professional development is focused around soft skills and techniques to better navigate problems within buildings and help principals and teacher leaders grow their leadership capacity. Since 2012, the academy has graduated 150 educators. Similar initiatives have been adopted in Rockford and Belvidere, and Dr. Mahoney has presented at the Joint Annual Conference. “My colleagues and I would sit around the table and we would all have similar challenges with developing principals and dealing with similar mistakes in leadership that would cause rifts inside the building,” Dr. Mahoney. “The idea was how we could teach those soft skills and help leaders better understand what their strengths are, and how to leverage those strengths to build a stronger culture inside their buildings.” Dr. Mahoney is also an advocate for Enneagram, a framework to help leaders deeply understand themselves and uncover patterns of behaviour that subconsciously drive and motivate people to act in certain ways. “It has been profound in my life,” he said. “I have this belief that I create 90 percent of my own problems by what I do that I shouldn’t have or what I don’t do that I should have or didn’t do. If I take me with me wherever I go, I better know myself very well.”

Gill ... cont’d.

Under Gill’s direction, Springfield SD #186 created a 30-year vision and master facilities plan, Our Schools Our Future. This summer, the district broke ground on the process to transform the district with nine projects. “In order to really transform our district and create 21st century learning spaces, we had to think big and stop putting Band-aids on things,” Gill said. “The key to passing the sales tax was to get out to the public and tell our story. I can’t tell you how many speaking engagements and times I met with the community.” Gill is also passionate about sharing and supporting her peers. Two educational programs Gill has advised other superintendents on are Equal Opportunity Schools and AVID. Equal Opportunity Schools helps districts enroll more low-income and minority students in advanced placement courses. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a national academic program aimed at helping schools improve educational outcomes. Under Gill’s leadership, Springfield SD #186 increased the adoption of AVID at the elementary level. “We want to start with students early and try and make sure our district has the right strategies in place to help students be successful at each step,” Gill said. Gill has also shared with peers about Springfield SD #186’s partnership with Memorial Medical Health Systems called Memorial Choice, which serves as a community-based health clinic model for employees and their dependents. “Insurance is such an important piece for school districts to consider, so I love having that relationship with Memorial and being able to serve the individual health needs of employees and offer a community-based healthcare clinic model that has reduced out-of-pocket co-pays for our teachers and staff,” Gill said. Lastly, Gill has presented at the IASA Annual Conference and IASA’s New Superintendents Conference the past two years. The presentation to first-year superintendents focused on improving communications.

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3 Q uestions S uperintendents’ responses

Superintendent Check-In

It has never been more important for superintendents to support each other and share ideas. In Superintendent Check-In this month, we once again ask school leaders five questions on timely issues facing schools. This month, we narrow the focus to three superintendents and ask about lessons learned from leadership this past year, what academic and social- emotional support does your district plan to provide next school year and does your district plan to offer a limited form of remote learning?

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How do you plan to provide additional academic support for students next school year?

What are you most proud of in your district in terms of leading and learning that you want to share from the past year? What leadership lesson did you learn this past school year that will prepare you for the fall?

How do you plan to provide additional social-emotional support for students next school year? Do you plan to offer a limited remote learning option to students next school year?

Dr. Johnnie Thomas Cook South Rich Twp HSD #227 Enrollment: 2,667 Type: 9–12

VIEW RESPONSES

Edward Fletcher Western Monmouth-Roseville CUSD #238 Enrollment: 1,603 Type: preK–12

VIEW RESPONSES

Bonnie McArthur Illini Thomasboro CCSD #130 Enrollment: 169 Type: preK–8 VIEW RESPONSES

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Focus Your Time and Energy on Students

Updated Software Available for Purchase

2021–22 Senate Bill 7 Performance Rankings Tool software improves efficiency by generating reports needed to comply with SB 7 and related laws.

School districts face enormous challenges this year. Compliance with Senate Bill 7 doesn’t have to be an obstacle. IASA’s Senate Bill 7 Performance Rankings Tool improves efficiency in your district by generating reports needed to comply with Senate Bill 7 and other related laws, freeing you up to focus your time and energy more on supporting your students and staff. The program provides districts a method of managing district positions aligned to local qualifications, teacher’s credentials and performance ratings. It’s proven, affordable and used by districts across the state.

What’s new? The 2021–2022 file has been enhanced in response to user ideas and is ready for you to purchase and download. Updates include: • New Evaluation Cycle Report. • Updated list of resources. • Added columns for another year of summative evaluation ratings. • Additional license and content specific endorsements. Affordable The cost of using this software has never increased. The annual licensing fee is $275 for members and $550 for non-members.

Find the access request form at:

http://www.iasasurveys.org

21094

Please note that previous versions of the IASA Senate Bill 7 Performance Rankings File are no longer supported. Also, the service method for the 2021–2022 software will be via email only.

This software was originally reviewed by the Senate Bill 7 teams from the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and the Illinois Education Association (IEA). The 2021–2022 version of this software builds on the knowledge gained from hundreds of users.

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Professional Development

Dr. Courtney Orzel IASA Associate Director of Professional Development

Prioritizing You and Your District Refresh Recharge Revitalize SEPT. 29–OCT. 1, 2021

57THANNUALCONFERENCE

HelpusMake IASA’s57thAnnual Conference theBest Yet: Breakout SessionProposalsBeingAccepted

Get ready, Illinois Superintendents! We are already planning for an in-person fall conference, and we need YOU! We’re looking for amazing breakout sessions focused on not only your district...but on YOU. Past sessions have addressed topics such as: building your district’s brand; equity and inclusion; technology; short-term borrowing solutions for schools; retirement planning for school

professionals; violence prevention programs; curriculum; legal updates and school district reorganization. This is a new school year and we are open to learning more about any innovative program or idea happening in your district. Here is the breakout session form for you to submit your sessions. We can’t wait to be in person and celebrate you and your work!

Professional Development, Dr. Courtney Orzel, and the IASA Field Services Directors, who serve as mentors to early-career superintendents. This two-day, in-person conference will cover a variety of topics including board relations, school finance, technology, media relations and personal health. We hope you can take advantage of this opportunity to learn from experienced school leaders and build relationships with your peers.

Are you a first-year superintendent? The IASA New Superintendents Conference is scheduled for Monday, July 12 and Tuesday, July 13 in Springfield. Registration is now open. WhyAttend? The IASA New Superintendents Conference is complimentary and the perfect opportunity to connect with other first-year superintendents, gather vital information and build a support network for your first year on the job. The conference is led by IASA Executive Director, Dr. Brent Clark; Associate Director of

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NewsInBrief

EBFMaking ADifference

AASAElectionResults

In May, IASA published our EBF Making a Difference series. The publication told the stories of how the state’s investment benefitted 91 school districts. In addition, the magazine featured a cover story about how EBF better

prepared districts to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. We printed 200 copies of the report and distributed them to members of the Illinois General Assembly and governor’s office. We are excited to announce the IASA website (iasaedu.org) redesign will be complete in early July. The new design gives the website a more modern look, better organizes the information and makes the site more mobile friendly. The IASA website still has the same address and will continue to be hosted by Blackboard. IASAWebsiteGettingaMakeover!

Dr. Steve Webb

Dr. Bhavna Sharma-Lewis

Dr. Steve Webb, superintendent of Goreville CUSD #1, has been elected to the AASA Executive Committee. The 22-member committee, elected by AASA’s governing board, represents each region of the country. New executive committee members will serve a three-year term that starts effective July 1, 2021. Dr. Brian Harris, superintendent of Barrington CUSD #220, previously served on the AASA Executive Committee. His term expired June 30, 2021. Illinois holds five seats on the AASA Governing Board. Dr. Bhavna Sharma-Lewis, superintendent of Diamond Lake SD #76, was elected to fill the three-year term in the Northeastern Super Region. Dr. Sharma-Lewis replaces Dr. Arthur Fessler, superintendent of Community Cons. SD #59. Other Illinois representatives who currently serve on the AASA Governing Board include: • Dr. Kristin Humphries, East Moline SD #37 (Northcentral Super Region—term expires June 30, 2023); • Dr. Judith Hackett, superintendent of Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (Northeastern Super Region—term expires June 30, 2022). • Dr. Jennifer Kelsall, superintendent of Ridgewood CHSD #234 (Northeastern Super Region—term expires June 30, 2023) • Vacant (Southern Super Region—term expires June 30, 2022). The AASA Governing Board meets twice per year at the AASA National Conference and during the summer.

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.

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