LM August 2024

Message From the Executive Director A New School Year Presents Opportunity For Lasting Impact

Dr. Brent Clark

At IASA, we strive to be a partner in your mission to enhance educational excellence. We offer a wide range of professional learning opportunities and have collaborated with our education partners to develop the Vision 2030 Policy Framework. The goal of the initiative is to propel Illinois forward in designing a system that better serves the needs of diverse learners, attracts new people to the profession, enhances student opportunities and continues the state toward long-term predictable funding. The Vision 2030 Framework will be unveiled in November at the Joint Annual Conference. We will once again be asking for your support in helping us make this advocacy initiative successful. More details to come. In addition, we’re about one month away from IASA’s 60th Annual Conference. The conference is a tremendous opportunity to compare ideas and strategies with other professionals. On page 4, we introduce a detailed breakdown of this year’s conference schedule, including keynote speakers, Ignite presenters, breakout session topics and other events. If you haven’t registered already, don’t wait any longer. The IASA Annual Conference is your gateway to learning about a program or initiative that can change the trajectory of your school district. I hope to see you in Springfield, Sept. 25–27.

The start of a new school year is always brimming with possibility because educators have a clean slate to put the district’s vision into action and make positive changes for students and teachers. As superintendent, your leadership sets the tone for your entire district. It starts with the first days and weeks of school, which can shape the trajectory for the rest of the year. Without question, the 2024–25 school year is pivotal for schools in Illinois. Districts have the opportunity to move the needle on growth scores in reading and math. A new year provides district leaders with the chance to put strategic plans and hard work into action, hopefully resulting in improvements in key metrics, like the graduation rate and number of students reading at grade level. Another year presents avenues to enhance career and technical education opportunities for students. Other goals we all collectively desire, like reducing chronic absenteeism and developing more resilient learners, are also in play in 2024–25. Throughout this crucial year, school leaders must continue meeting parental expectations by maintaining safe facilities and providing timely and transparent communication. In other words, the 2024–25 school year is an opportunity to showcase why public education remains a good return on investment.

2024–2025 3 LM August 2024