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ISAL ... cont’d.

“What we touted and preached over the years was work/ life balance and, as we dug into plans of graduates, a major theme was to spend more time with family,” Nettles said. “We decided we didn’t want to keep people in Springfield for eight Saturdays. This change will be a great benefit to any participant.” Janice Pavelonis was one of 25 graduates this past May. She said her experience in ISAL VII greatly benefitted her professionally and personally. Pavelonis became superintendent of Carbondale ESD #95 in July 2021. “I was able to set goals and create plans around how the busy life of a superintendent could be blended with the rest of my life,” Pavelonis said. “It helped me grow and create long lasting friendships. Living in Carbondale in the southern part of the state, having that statewide network has been phenomenal.” For Nettles, his experience in the first cohort changed the trajectory of his superintendency. He went from being a top-down leader to someone who sought input from others before making decisions. The philosophy led to shifts in the processes and systems throughout the district, including the development of department, administrative and grade level teams.

“It became much more of a team effort,” Nettles said. “I no longer was a leader saying this is what we all need to do. There was a discussion, and I let very smart and talented people around me inform me and the Board.” Open To Any Superintendent ISAL is open to new, early-career and veteran superintendents. Each applicant will need to secure a letter of recommendation from the President of the Board of Education and commit to attending all eight sessions. The cost of the program is $3,125 for each of the two fiscal years the program overlaps—one payment upon acceptance, and the second payment due by November, 2025. This cost covers the expenses incurred for the program, such as books, meals and materials, but does not cover travel or housing expenses. “ISAL makes you look at yourself, your priorities as a person, priorities as a leader, family member and friend,” Nettles said. “Finding out more about yourself helps you become the leader you want to be, which ultimately leads to a better school district. That’s the return on investment for the Board. They get back a person with a clearer vision and stronger leader who can make everyone around them better.”

Thank you to ISAL’s generous sponsors:

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