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February 2022 LeadershipMatters Unpacking the Judge's Ruling: IASA Legal Corner

Plus: Celebrating e B L A C K H I S T O R Y M O N T H

Humility Matters: Listening and Literacy Leadership

Steps to Take When a Staff Member or Student Dies

Celebrating e B L A C K H I S T O R Y M O N T H

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To help deepen the knowledge and understanding of the ruling issued by a Sangamon County judge against Gov. JB Pritzker’s executive orders, this month’s cover story is an IASA Legal Corner written by Merry Rhoades and Christine Self, attorneys with Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. LEGAL ANALYSIS OF TRO

Call For Presentations— IASA Annual Conference What To Do When a Staff Member or a Student Dies Region 9 Comprehensive Center Supports Education Elevating Education IASA Professional Development IASA News in Brief

Inclusive American History Commission: Dr. Donna Leak Updates IASA On What to Expect

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11 IASA Set to Roll Out New Advocacy Tools

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Volume 10, Issue 2 February 2022 LeadershipMatters 22026 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.

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Message From the Executive Director Superintendents Need to Stick Together and Not Let Masking Issue Drive Us Apart

Dr. Brent Clark

We’ve seen over the past week that the response from superintendents to the temporary restraining order to Governor Pritzker’s executive orders has varied drastically across the state. Hundreds of school districts went mask optional while hundreds of others opted to continue to enforce COVID-19 mitigations—at least until an Appellate Court issues its ruling on the motion to stay filed by the Illinois Attorney General. This column isn’t about declaring who’s right or wrong. It’s a reminder that, no matter what decision your district made, school administrators have to stick together and support each other. Predictably, the judge’s ruling has pitted some communities against each other. Superintendents, once again, are caught in the middle. It’s imperative to treat your colleagues with respect, empathy and grace as they also try to navigate the ever- changing landscape of executive orders, state mandates, public health guidance, staffing issues and local politics. As we’ve said numerous times before to politicians and policymakers, one size does not fit all. Local politics and legal advice have varied, relationships with labor groups differ and COVID-19 has impacted some communities harder than others.

Illinois remains an incredibly diverse state. What’s right in one place might create backlash in another. That’s why my advice for superintendents has been to read your community. Politicians and policies may change, but your community will always be there. And if your community is split 50/50, push your school board to take a vote. They are elected officials and should be able to bring some clarity to the direction the district takes. As always, IASA is here to support you. In the spring, we will host another Supt 2 Supt virtual session. We’re also planning to roll out another series of free legal workshops with school attorneys across the state. Be on the lookout for an email this week with registration information. Furthermore, counseling services are available to IASA Active members via a private provider, ComPsych ® . IASA recently emailed the information, but it can be resent upon request. To close, I want to say don’t be afraid to call or email one of your colleagues and ask how they’re doing. The past week was immensely difficult for some members and that small gesture may make a big difference. Let’s stick together and continue to support each other. We will get through this together.

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SEPT. 28-30, 2022 Leading with Passion, Purpose and Perspective BOS Center and the President Abraham Lincoln—Springfield, A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

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Call For Presentations

Share Your Best Practices With Your Colleagues! Click Here to submit a proposal to present a Breakout Session. Key Dates: Submission Deadl ine: May 27, 2022 Presenters Notified: June or July 2022 Conference Held: September 28–30, 2022 Questions: Contact Dr. Courtney Orzel at corzel@iasaedu.org

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began to expand the recognition of African American history to the full month of February. It was made a national holiday in 1976, when President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month, and it became the month-long celebration that we know today. 2022 FEBRUARY

In 1915, Harvard historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded what is today known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in order to bring awareness to the African American people who had made contributions to society, but had been forgotten or left out of the narrative. Celebrating e B L A C K H I S T O R Y M O N T H

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FACTS

Who came up with Black History Month?

In 1926, the men were looking for a way to make those previously unsung contributions of African Americans known to the public. And so began Negro History Week. Before Black History month was an entire month long, it was only celebrated for one week in February. It wasn’t until the 1960s that colleges and universities

Who are the longest serving black superintendents in Illinois history? Dr. Lela Bridges was the longest sitting black Superintendent in one district when she retired from Harvey School District 152 in 2010. She served as the district’s superintendent for 15 years. At the time of his retirement in 2015 from Edwardsville CUSD #7, Ed Hightower was the longest serving black superintendent in Illinois. He had been a superintendent for 18 years. Hightower also worked for 36 years as a college basketball referee. Dr. Blondean Davis is currently the longest sitting Black superintendent in Illinois. She has served as superintendent of Matteson ESD #162 for 19 years. Dr. Davis was named 2008 Illinois Superintendent of the Year.

Who was the first black superintendent in Illinois? The first Black Superintendent in Illinois was Dr. Charles Moody in 1968. Dr. Moody was the superintendent of Harvey School District 152. He is also the founding father of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE). Whowas thefirstblack womantoheadamajor publicschool system? In 1973, Barbara Sizemore became the first African American woman to head the public school system in a major city, when she was elected superintendent of District of Columbia Public Schools. Sizemore was born in Chicago in 1927 and began her career in Chicago Public Schools.

The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of two men in particular, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass . Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, and Douglass, whose true date of birth is unknown, celebrated his birthday on February 14. Why is Black History Month celebrated in February?

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Celebrating e B L A C K H I S T O R Y M O N T H

InclusiveAmericanHistoryCommission Dr. DonnaLeakUpdates IASAOnWhat toExpect

By Jason Nevel, IASA Director of Social Media and Publications

Months before she was asked to chair the Inclusive American History Commission, Dr. Donna Leak had been pondering a question asked during a Student Advisory Council. The student, who was white, was giving a presentation on equity and brought up the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history. “She said ‘I don’t understand why it’s more important for me to know about the quadratic formula than for me to know about the Tulsa Race Massacre,’” said Dr. Leak, superintendent of Community Consolidated Schools District 168 in Sauk Village. “I had to really step back because it was such a powerful moment.” Dr. Leak was one of 22 people named to the Inclusive American History Commission, created by the 218-page

education equity bill that passed during the 2021 January session of the Illinois General Assembly with the backing of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. IASA spoke with her to learn more about the Inclusive American History Commission and to help school leaders better understand what changes could be coming to social studies programs next school year. According to Dr. Leak, serving on the commission was an opportunity to remedy questions like the one asked during Student Advisory Council months earlier. “I am excited to be a part of the commission that is opening the door for students to begin understanding and processing history from a variety of lenses and perspectives that we have not traditionally included,” Dr. Leak said.

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Re-examiningSocial ScienceLearningStandards The Inclusive American History Commission is charged with reviewing educational resources that teachers can use that “reflect the racial and ethnic diversity” of Illinois and the Unit- ed States, providing guidance for educators on how to ensure

“If a parent is concerned, I would say, Inclusive History is making sure we are including perspectives from a multitude of stories,” Dr. Leak said. “As a parent, we are making sure that your family’s history is shared and integrated with the fullness of our overall history as a country.” LearningStandards, Professional Learningand ResourceReview

that their class content is not biased in favor of certain cultures and providing guidance on how to identify resources for “non-domi- nant cultural narratives.” The commission has been meeting since September 2021 to improve the understanding and implementation of Illinois’ updated social science learning standards. At the end of this month, the com- mission will submit its final report to the Illinois General Assembly. One of the most important things school administrators should know, Dr. Leak said, is the initiative is not intended to be an unfunded mandate on schools. “We are not expecting school districts to purchase all new

We are not expecting school districts to purchase all new social science curriculum.... Our commission is working to identify materials that are easily accessible to school districts at little or no cost.

Shortly after its inception, the committee was split into four different subcommittees: Learning Standards, Professional Learning, Resource Review and the Report subcommittee. The Learning Standards subcommittee is creating a document that breaks down the 2016 social science standards connected to the 2021 social science standards. The sub committee is working on a document that will showcase the differences by topic and grade level. The Professional Learning

social science curriculum. The current resources are just that—one set of resources,” Dr. Leak said. “Our commission is working to identify materials that are easily accessible to school districts at little or no cost. The Resources Subcom- mittee has been working on identifying organizations like the Smithsonian and Library of Congress that support the need- ed resources for districts to incorporate into their lessons.” QuestionsAbout HowtoAddressCRT Dr. Leak is also aware superintendents might face questions and allegations about teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools. She strongly believes that the work of the Inclusive American History Commission is not promoting CRT. “Critical Race Theory is a collegiate course that we do not teach in K–12 schools,” she said. “You’re not going to find it in any schools in Illinois now or in schools next year.” If superintendents are questioned by community members, Dr. Leak encouraged her peers to explain that the new standards simply address more non-dominant cultures the same way we have included other historical lenses over time. For example, women’s contribution to history has been added over the years to expand student understanding.

Committee is determining how to best support teachers—as well as administrators—on how to adjust classroom lesson plans to meet the new standards. Partnerships with the Regional Offices of Education, professional organizations and other professional development opportunities will be included in the rollout. “We want to leverage different entities across the state,” Dr. Leak said. “We’re also aware that Illinois is a diverse state so the needs in Cook South might look different than the needs in Three Rivers or another region.” The Resource Review Committee is responsible for creating a hub of free online content that school districts can utilize to teach the new standards. Once the final report is submitted, the hub will be posted on the Illinois State Board of Education website. The Report SubCommittee is working on the final document to be presented to the General Assembly. “The work we have been doing is quite remarkable,” Dr. Leak said. “I am very proud to be part of such a diverse and passionate team. At the end of the day, we’re still at the beginning of this process. We can’t fix the whole thing in six months, but we’re moving things in the right direction.”

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What is IPAC? IPAC is a statewide, non-partisan Political Action Committee (PAC) organized by members of the Illinois Association of School Administrators to benefit school leaders in the pursuit of educational excellence Why should I join ?

A copy of our report is filed with the State Board of Elections and is or will be available for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois 62704. Membership dues in IPAC are not deductible as charitable or political contributions for federal income tax purposes. Our goal is to have every IASA member become a member of IPAC as well. IPAC membership dues are $100 and 100% of that goes to support the members of the General Assembly who support us. Why should I join? School administrators need a strong PAC to provide funds to legislators and candidates who will stand up for public education. Our strength comes from providing legislators with timely and accurate information on legislative matters affecting public education. Victories and successes do not happen overnight but after years of laying the foundation for political change, and a strong IPAC helps us get a seat at the table. We must be proactive rather than reactive and one way to do this is membership in IPAC. Membership in IPAC is a long-term investment that helps lay the foundation for continued change in the legislative process. IPAC Annual Membership Dues

through continued school improvement. What is the money used for?

All IPAC membership monies are used for IPAC endeavors, which include, but are not limited to, contributions to the four legislative leaders in the General Assembly and fundraisers for individual legislators who support our educational mission. Personal checks (made out to IPAC) or personal credit cards only. Click HERE to make an online payment.

Name:_________________________________________ Employer:*________________________________________________________ Home Email Address:*____________________________________Occupation:*____________________________________________ For IPAC updates (both financial and informational) Home Address :_____________________________________________________________________ZIP:___________________________ *State law requires this information. Check # ________________ payable to “IPAC” (Personal Check only) □ Master Card □ Discover Card Card Number:______________________________________Expiration Date:_ ______________ Card Verification No.: __________ Print Cardholder’s Name:_ ______________________________________Signature:_ _______________________________________ Billing Address of cardholder, if different from above (no PO Box numbers please): Street:_ _____________________________________________________________________________ZIP:___________________________ Return this form along with your IPAC membership dues to: IPAC, 2648 Beechler Court, Springfield, IL 62703-7305 If you have questions please contact Ashleigh Knudson at 217–753–2213 or aknudson@iasaedu.org Personal Credit Card only: Charge $ _______________ to my (check one): □ Visa

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LegalCorner

Chad Watkins IASA Associate Director/General Counsel

This month, Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. writes about the legal issues pending before the courts as it relates to student masking and close contact exclusions. The authors are Merry Rhoades and Christine Self . As a reminder, the articles are provided for informational purposes only, and you are advised to contact your district counsel for legal advice. Click on the link below to access the article.

To help school leaders navigate these uncertain times, IASA has partnered with leading law firms throughout Illinois to provide districts with critical guidance during the 2021–22 school year. In every issue of Leadership Matters, the IASA Legal Corner will showcase an article, sometimes several articles, written by attorneys who specialize in legal matters related to education. It is our hope you find the content insightful, timely and helpful in addressing the critical matters you face.

Legal Issues Pending Before the Courts As It Relates to Student Masking In Close Contact Exclusions a. Requiring the indoor use of face coverings by students, staff, and visitors who are over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering, regardless of vaccination status, consistent with CDC guidance; and, b. Implementing other layered prevention strategies (such as physical distancing, screening testing, ventilation, handwashing and respiratory etiquette, advising individuals to stay home when sick and get tested, contact tracing in (continue reading)...

On August 9, 2021 Governor J.B. Pritzker entered Executive Order 2021-18 directing the following: Section 1: School Mitigation Measures. All public and nonpublic schools in Illinois serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students must follow the joint guidance issued by ISBE and IDPH and take proactive measures to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors, including, but not limited to:

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Thank You Your Donation Makes a Difference

MOON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (SAFE) The James V. and Dorothy B. Moon Scholarship program is committed to improving the education and qualifications of school administrators by providing scholarships to help offset the cost of coursework for graduate study. Several scholarships ($2,500 minimum each) are awarded each year and are paid directly to the college or university to cover tuition, fees and/or textbook expenses. The scholarship is governed by the SAFE Board of Trustees, which consists of seven members of the IASA Board of Directors. Contributions to the fund are tax-deductible. All donations can be sent to the IASA Office, 2648 Beechler Court, Springfield, IL 62703-7305. Personal checks are preferred and should be made payable to SAFE.

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FOR DONATING TO SAFE:

Lawrence Sebby Williams Shields Fred Singleton Jeff Stawick Barbara Suggs Mason

Charles Aubry Maria Benci Sheilia Boozer Steve Breckon Victor Buehler Brent Clark Dawn Conway F. Larry Copes Lawrence Daker Mark Doan Larry Dodds Patrick Durley Rich Frankenfeld Joyce Greeley Mark Hansen

Julie Harrelson Paul Hawley Diane Hendren William Hill Carrie Hruby Steve Humphrey IASA IASA Golf Event IPA Judith Jackson Lori James-Gross Barbara Janes Michael Johnson

Aletta Lawrence Rosemary Lucas Cherry Middleton Stephen Murphy Margaret Noe Courtney Orzel Richard Pagliaro

Vickie Tabbert Randy Tinder

Thomas Veihman Catherine Wang Chad Watkins Jane Westerhold Susan Wilson Eric Witherspoon Connie Woods Steven Wrobleski

Frank Patrick PMA Financial Network, LLC Kent Reeves Diane Robertson Mary Leslie Robison Alfred Salo Geoffrey Schoonover

Donna Lane Teresa Lane

Blackhawk Central IL Valley DuPage

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING IASA REGIONS FOR DONATING TO SAFE:

see past scholarship recipients

School Administrators Foundation for Education

IASASet toRoll OutNewAdvocacyTools As a statewide association, IASA is a united voice for superintendents in the Illinois General Assembly. We work tirelessly to advocate for legislation that will improve

Bill Tracker/Analysis Additionally, the IASA Government Relations team has updated the Government Relations Page on the IASA’s website. In an attempt to make reviewing relevant legislation more accessible to members, we have created an

education in our state and benefit our members. Recently, IASA partnered with One Click Politics, the leading digital grassroots advocacy software to enhance and improve the effectiveness of direct lobbying campaigns with the goal of impacting policy outcomes in the Illinois General Assembly. The goal of One Click Politics is to provide members with pre-written messages regarding legislation that we are advocating for or against, that can be quickly sent out to respective members of the General Assembly in an effort to advance our cause. The IASA Government Relations team will prepare the pre-written templates with important information and talking points, which can either be sent out by members “as is,” or can be edited to include information specific to how the legislation may impact your district. One Click Politics also has other communication tools available—including video, social media and patch- through phone calls—that we will introduce at a later date. Be on the lookout for an email from IASA in the future with more details about the initiative. While One Click Politics provides IASA members with a new advocacy tool, it remains critical that superintendents continue to foster relationships and maintain a dialogue with local legislators on bills that impact public education. If you need advice about how to engage with legislators, IASA has produced this one- page tip sheet. The Illinois Legislative Resources page on the IASA website also features information about how to file a witness slip as well as links to our Legislative Activities Timetable and the 2021–22 School Year Calendar.

easy-to-use spreadsheet with information about legislation IASA is currently tracking. The document is updated throughout the week as legislation is filed, posted to committee or moves to the chamber floors for debate. Additionally, as bills are called to committee, bill analyses are posted to the page so IASA members can quickly view important information about the legislation and how it may impact your district. Here toHelp To close, we remain excited, grateful and humble to join IASA and support the work of school administrators and school business officials across our state. If you ever need assistance please do not hesitate to reach out to either of us. We are here to answer your questions and advocate for our members.

By Madeline McCune Director of Governmental Relations mmccune@iasaedu.org

By Emily Warnecke Director of Public Relations/Deputy Director of Government Relations ewarnecke@iasaedu.org

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When a Staff Member or a Student Dies

By Ralph Grimm and Diane Robertson IASA Field Service Directors

Every Superintendent, through the course of his or her career, may receive that dreaded phone call saying that a staff member or a student has passed away. It’s a sad and gut-wrenching experience that both of us experienced during our superintendencies. To help school leaders navigate these challenging situations, we compiled a checklist to help you prepare and lead your district through this crisis. When you get this call, we suggest you consider the following:

First, verify the information with family members or local authorities. What does the family want to have disclosed, if anything? What is already publicly known? Consult your District Crisis Management Plan and follow the protocols outlined in that plan. Determine who your first call should go to: Jason Nevel, IASA Director of Communications. Jason has helped many Superintendents draft an appropriate communication to use. His help will be invaluable in many respects... Your Board President... The building administrator of the building the person worked in or attended... Crisis Response Team, if available...

Local Clergy Association, if appropriate. Determine how and when to speak to all district staff. Schedule a district-wide staff meeting so everyone hears the same news. Be prepared to deal with a wide range of emotional responses. We recommend the Superintendent lead this meeting. Care must be given to the amount and type of information that can be shared. Think HIPAA and Employee Rights to Privacy. Determine how to inform the staff member’s students (in the case of a staff member) or the student’s classmates. Decide who is best suited to deliver this news. Notify students face to face. Provide staff with a prepared statement. Determine how and when to make a public statement. Keep in mind the sad news may very well already be on social media.

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Closely monitor your students and staff. The death of a staff member or a student could possibly trigger difficult memories or experiences on the part of the staff or students. Provide counseling services, time away, substitutes or other types of assistance to those who need it. Depending on when funeral services are scheduled, you will need to make a decision about whether or not to cancel school so students and staff can attend. As you lead through these very difficult circumstances, be in tune with your own emotions and how the stress of dealing with this may be affecting you. Remember, you have access through your IASA membership dues to ComPsych should you need to talk to someone during these difficult times. You may find this article helpful should you need additional information—Guidelines When Responding to the Death of a Student or School staff. Finally, treat your staff and students like you would want to be treated if you were in this situation. Handling the death of a staff member or a student requires a great deal of compassion, strength and understanding. No one goes through these situations alone. Reach out to colleagues or the IASA Field Service Directors if you need additional help.

You may wish to put something on social media but keep your comments very general and only after consulting the family of the staff member or student. Refer to the statement that Jason Nevel has helped you create. Use Jason Nevel to help you be prepared to answer 3–5 anticipated questions. Write them down on a 3x5 card and carry that card with you until this crisis passes. Stick to the notes on the card when asked to speak about the situation. Schedule a time to meet with the family of the deceased staff member or student. This may be a very difficult conversation but it is important and should occur when it is reasonable to do so. Offer them your sympathy. Offer to assist them in any way you can. Be prepared for requests from the family to perhaps use the gym for the funeral or for some type of memorial service. Know the district’s past practice regarding these types of requests. Don’t promise something until you know for sure what has been done in the past. At a future point you will need to speak to the family about retrieving the staff member’s or the student’s personal effects from the school. This is best done after regular school hours. Because this is a very difficult time for the family, the personal effects should be boxed up and taken to the main office for retrieval.

Ralph Grimm IASA Field Service Director rgrimm@iasaedu.org

Diane Robertson IASA Field Service Director drobertson@iasaedu.org

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Join us in February at the 2022 AASA National Conference on Education in Nashville for a ReceptionHonoring Dr. SteveWebb IASA2022 Illinois Superintendent of theYear GorevilleCUSD#1

Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 5:30–7pm

At The Bridge Building—Observatory 2nd Victory Ave., Nashville, Tennessee

Co-sponsored by:

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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

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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.

Region 9 Comprehensive Center Is Here to Support Illinois Schools

By Dr. Aaron Butler Director of the Region 9 Comprehensive Center

instructional strategies? Equitable family and community engagement? How to use ESSER or other Title funds? Whether it is these critical topics or other topics, the Region 9 team has a national network of experts and resources to share. We also are excited to elevate success stories about improving the quality of education for students in Illinois and Iowa. Do you have a program that you would like to share with us? Please reach out! Who’sOnTheRegion9Team? The Region 9 Comprehensive Center aims to approach our support for states and districts with equity serving as the heartbeat of our work. Our team is passionate about helping all students have equitable access to high-quality teachers and leaders and high-quality, equitable educational opportunities. Our team includes former teachers, principals, superintendents and researchers with content expertise in a variety of K–12 topic areas. In addition, the Region 9 Comprehensive Center is part of the national Comprehensive Center Network, which includes hundreds of experts in a variety of fields. WhyShouldYouFollowUs? Do you need tools and resources to help you be more productive in your role? We have those! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, follow us on Twitter and bookmark our website where we share useful tools and resources that have been developed and used to successfully support the work of state, district and school leaders free for your use. Some of our recent blogs have tackled teacher shortages, missing and unreliable data due to COVID-19, and using federal funds to support academic recovery. We’d love to tackle issues important to you, so please reach out with your needs via our contact form.

Hello Illinois Superintendents! My name is Aaron Butler, and I have the privilege of serving as the Region 9 Comprehensive Center director. I am excited and humbled to have the opportunity to serve the students, teachers and educational leaders across Illinois and Iowa as part the national Comprehensive Center Network. There is so much that I want to share about both the center and education- related challenges facing our states, but today I will give you a brief rundown of how Region 9 can support you. What Is TheRegion9ComprehensiveCenter? The Region 9 Comprehensive Center is a regional technical assistance center focused on providing high- quality, capacity-building services to state, district and school leaders in Illinois and Iowa. We are operated by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) through a 5-year cooperative grant from the U.S. Department of Education. That funding means we are able to help our partners identify, implement and sustain effective evidence-based practices that will improve education for students and communities at no cost to them. We support key priorities, connect our partners to expertise and resources and elevate success stories from our region. First, the center focuses on supporting the capacity of state agencies, districts and schools to make measurable progress in areas of importance to Illinois and Iowa. The Region 9 Comprehensive Center can connect state, district and school leaders across Illinois and Iowa to leading experts and resources in the education field. Are you interested in learning more about teacher recruitment, retention, and recognition? Social and emotional learning

Aaron Butler, PhD, is a principal technical assistance consultant at the American Institutes for Research. Dr. Butler has more than 20 years of experience supporting school improvement in public education and is a former teacher and administrator.

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HumilityMatters: Listening and Literacy Leadership

By Dr. Kaine Osburn Superintendent, Avoca SD #37

Every successful leader has learned the importance of humility. Nothing has taught this like COVID, of course. Additionally, no leaders accomplish anything worthwhile alone. When I arrived as Superintendent of Avoca District 37 in the Summer of 2019, I had years of experience and had been successful in previous jobs on many accounts. Luckily, I had made enough mistakes to realize I did not know everything and that collaboration was necessary for success. Knowing the value of humility and collaboration has had a real impact on students’ learning at Avoca, and the ability to support change at a statewide level. Both of these are related to reading. Specifically, when I arrived in Avoca, my Board Vice President, Louise Dechovitz, and another parent shared concerns that we were not approaching literacy instruction properly. They had done their own research and had personal experiences that made them arrive at this conclusion. Any administrator can understand the defensiveness that can arise when a board or community member says they have done their own research and concluded your school is falling short. I too could have had that moment. By all accounts—IAR or NAEP or other measures—overall, Illinois schools are failing too many students when it comes to reading. The stats have long told a woeful tale of what is in store for people when they cannot read proficiently. While Avoca and statewide stats differ, still 20–25 percent of Avoca students graduate without reading proficiently, according to IAR. I know we have amazing teachers. But I was not well versed in early literacy and was unsure why our reading outcomes were not better. As a leader, it is my obligation to ask questions, learn, and to determine a course of action. So that is what I did. (Avoca has no Curriculum Director.) I read the research, dived deep with my principal on the topic, and it was clear: Students, especially K–3, needed explicit and systematic instruction in key, well-defined areas so they could decode and become fluent readers prior to 3rd grade. And we needed to stop using detrimental methods, like the 3-cue system popularized by one prominent curriculum or using pictures so students guessed at identifying words.

As it happened, my K–5 staff, especially K–3 teachers, were already a few steps down the road of adopting the curriculum and instructional practices aligned with what is commonly known as the “Science of Reading” for early grades. Important pieces were in place—but not all of them. And they still are not. Unlearning and re-learning take time (thanks Mike Lubelfeld). But humility teaches patience. Our administration and teachers have taken great strides and will continue to do so in the coming years, especially around professional learning. That’s for another article. But it was clear that our veteran staff had not previously—in preservice education or since—received in-depth learning on what research showed was the most effective approach to teaching kids to read. A well-resourced district like ours, over time, could remedy this problem. Not all communities are so fortunate. Statewide, early literacy is perhaps the greatest equity issue of our era. And, so, in Spring 2021, Ms. Dechovitz proposed our Board sponsor a resolution to be adopted by the IASB Delegate Assembly, advocating for legislation requiring preservice teachers receive explicit training in the scientifically proven approach to teaching early literacy and pass a Foundations of Reading exam to ensure they enter the profession ready to teach our kids how to read. When the time came, at 10 p.m. on a Friday night in Springfield, Ms. Dechovitz and I made our case to the IASB Resolutions Committee about why this was so important. The entire IASB Assembly supported the resolution last November. That humility and collaboration have led to Illinois Senate Bill 3900 ( House Bill 5032), the Illinois Right to Read Act, which promotes very reasonable steps to improve preservice and in-servce education for teachers, without imposing unfunded mandates on K–12 schools. For my colleague Superintendents: While this journey might look a little unusual, it is a great reminder that even 25 years into a career, we can unlearn, we can learn anew, and we can make a real impact. Now go support Senate Bill 3900/ House Bill 5032.

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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. Dr. Victor Simon III Gower SD#62 BethCrider Peoria County ROE

Who: Dr. Victor Simon III, Superintendent What: 5 Essentials Survey; eLearning; Assisted school districts in building on site COVID-19 testing; Framework for Effective Leadership Where: Gower SD #62, DuPage Region When: Superintendent of Gower SD #62 since 2013 Why: “A child’s education isn’t a dress rehearsal. We have one chance to get it right.”

Who: Beth Crider, Regional Superintendent What: Offered safety training for school administrators; Expanded professional development opportunities for educators; Improved mental health support for schools; Advanced career readiness initiatives; Hosted regular superintendent meetings

throughout the pandemic. Where: Peoria County Regional Office of Education When: Regional Superintendent of Peoria County since 2014 Why: As the leader of the Peoria County Regional Office of Education since 2014, Beth Crider has tried to elevate supports and programs, build connections with stakeholders and expand professional learning opportunities for educators. “We have a mission statement of service and will do everything we can to empower students, educators and our community,” Crider said. One major priority of the Peoria ROE is school safety. Every August before a new school year begins, Crider hosts a school safety seminar with school

As superintendent of Gower SD #62, Dr. Simon has adopted that philosophy and continuously pushed his district forward while also elevating public education. He is a strong supporter of the 5 Essentials Survey and presented at numerous conferences and events about how the tool can be used to collect data and drive school improvement. “If you’re serious about school improvement then you have to understand in its simplest form there is a Plan-Do-Check-Act” cycle,” Dr. Simon said. “A lot of organizations plan and do, but they don’t have a deliberate system in place to check and take corrective action. The 5 Essentials Survey provides actionable data and insights into what is going well and what can be improved.” While at Chicago Public Schools, Dr. Simon became familiar with the 5 Essentials Survey when it was introduced in the early 2000s. Later on at Gower SD #62, he advocated for and carried out a pilot of the survey for 4th and 5th grade students in partnership with the University of Chicago. Before then, 5 Essentials was only used in

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Education Elevat g Simon ... cont’d. Crider ... cont’d. administrators, first responders, law enforcement and community organizations. The Peoria ROE has also partnered with Dr. Roger Alvey, Superintendent of Illini Bluffs CUSD #327, to offer site-based assessment training.

grades six and above. Based on the success of the pilot program, the state expanded the use of 5 Essentials Survey in earlier grades. Gower SD #62 has also pushed the state to adopt the classic colors of red, yellow and green to help stakeholders identify issues and trends more quickly. “It’s nice to know that the voices of our 4th and 5th grade students across the state have the opportunity to be included because of the forward- thinking in Gower,” said Dr. Simon. In 2019, Gower SD #62 was the first school district to adopt an eLearning plan outside of the state pilot. In fact, the approval process used by ISBE was designed by Gower SD #62 and shared with the state agency as a way to streamline the process and ensure that school districts met every aspect of the new program. Dr. Simon has also shared that Gower SD #62 has an approved Remote Education Program as well and encourages other districts to consider adopting one for themselves. “Public education has shifted to more personalization, more options, more choice and more flexibility,” Dr. Simon said. “I suppose each school district has to decide if it’s better to have such programs available and not need them rather than find themselves in a situation where they need them and don’t have them in place.” When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Dr. Simon recognized early on the value of school districts being able to test students and staff members on site. “He researched how the district could make COVID-19 antibody, antigen and PCR testing available on site for students, teachers, staff and community partners. Gower District 62 was one of the first districts in the state to receive a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment certificate to administer tests. Dr. Simon shared his insights with his peers on two webinars hosted by IASA. He also helped numerous districts individually set up COVID-19 testing sites. “Anytime there is uncertainty, it’s important as a school leader to try to find the best information available in order to make decisions that move us forward; even if that means getting it yourself,” Dr. Simon said. “We do our best to avoid a sense of being caught on our heels, so we did our homework, rolled up our sleeves and figured out how to get it done in a way that best serves our community.” Dr. Simon has also pushed school administrators to become stronger leaders. He created an “Emerging Framework for Effective Leadership” that he has shared at conferences, in publications, as a leadership consultant and with his graduate students at the University of Illinois Chicago and Concordia University Chicago. He can be contacted by clicking here . “Facing adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it,” Dr. Simon said. “This is true for individuals, and the last couple of years have certainly proven this to be true at the organizational level as well.”

“We help districts determine points of weakness, challenges and what they can do differently to improve the overall safety of their school buildings,” Crider said. The Peoria ROE has also moved much of its professional development to a virtual format, making it easier for teachers and other educators to fulfill licensure requirements. Furthermore, her office employs two professional learning staff members The Director of Culture and Climate helps schools strengthen social-emotional learning and restorative justice practices. A component of the work is Orange Frog training, which is based on the works of positive psychology researcher Shawn Achor, a keynote presenter at the IASA Annual Conference. The ROE’s Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment helps districts with continuous improvement plans, aligning instruction with assessments and running an alternative high school. The Peoria ROE also oversees a preschool program. “We are deeply committed to running supports and programs that address the needs of the whole child,” Crider said. “If you are only doing one component then you are missing out.” Crider is also a member of the Illinois 60 by 2025 Network and supporter of its goal of ensuring that 60 percent of all adults have a college or career credential by 2025. The Peoria ROE has pushed to have college and career readiness indicators embedded into schools and expanded internship and job shadow opportunities for students. After Gov. JB Pritzker closed schools for in-person learning in March 2020, her office organized weekly virtual meetings for superintendents to network and discuss challenges. “When we started it, we thought it would last a couple weeks,” Crider said. “But the group has continued to meet throughout the pandemic. It has turned into a support group and a great way for superintendents to bounce ideas off each other.”

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Professional Development

Dr. Courtney Orzel IASA Associate Director of Professional Development

for our closing lineup of Illinois superintendents on Day 3 of the conference. Please contact me with suggestions. I can’t wait to review breakout session proposals and see your suggestions of speakers. Illinois is filled with talented school leaders who are committed to sharing their story and supporting their peers. Lastly, please save the dates of September 28–30, 2022. This year’s conference will once again be held at The President Abraham Lincoln Springfield—a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and the BOS Center. Our theme is “Leading with Passion, Purpose and Perspective,” and the keynote speakers are Chris Singleton and Damon West. Check out the opportunities available to IASA members on the next three pages. And you can always go to the IASA website, click the Professional Development tab and “ Current PD Class Offerings” to see what is available.

Planning is underway for IASA’s 58th Annual Conference, and we need your help to make this event the best yet! What can you do? If your district has an innovative program or you want to share best practices with your peers, please submit a proposal for a breakout session today! 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. In addition, see the information below about Ignite presentations. We would also love any recommendations

Are you looking for an energetic, inspirational and re-energizing back to school opening? If so, contact me for options for your district. IASA can do a one hour, two hour or three hour Opening Institute. In addition, you can book a full-day workshop for your staff that will leave them energized and ready to take on the 2022–23 school year. Institute Days –MAKEANIMPACT Dr. Orzel was amazing and very inspiring. I learned a lot and found my passion again with teaching. Teaching can be an exhausting profession, but she reassured us that we will get through it

FUELING

We want Ignite presentations at IASA’s 58th Annual Conference in September to match or exceed past performances. To do so, we need your help!

Please email, text or call me and recommend yourself or nominate a peer to deliver a 5-minute Ignite presentation at the IASA Annual Conference. We know there are superintendents across our state who have developed innovative programs, fostered unique partnerships and fueled positive change in their communities. Please help us identify these awesome leaders and make sure their stories are shared with peers at the conference.

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... Is The Superintendency For Me? Experienced female leaders share advice, answer questions in five-part series

Webinars

Women

The Illinois Association of School Administrators and Illinois Principals Association are proud to once again partner on a five-part series designed to support female educators considering the superintendency. Part 2 of the series is Dec. 9. Participants will listen and learn from a panel of five distinguished female superintendents. In each session, the panelists will discuss their experiences and share advice on what it takes to land that first job and how to be successful in a leadership role. A facilitator will help lead the conversation, and time will be reserved for participants to ask questions.

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The sessions are free and will take place virtually via Zoom in an informal lunch setting from noon to 1 p.m. on the scheduled date. The target audience is aspiring female leaders (teachers, principals, assistant principals etc.). Upcoming dates are March 7 and May 4.

IASA Offering Initial and Retraining Academies for Principal and Teacher Evaluation, Student Growth Need Evaluator Credits?

IASA has established a full schedule of academies, both virtually and in- person, designed to help educators fulfill state requirements for evaluator initial training and retraining. Each academy is taught by an experienced and knowledgeable educator that will provide you with the tools and skills needed to become a stronger evaluator. Academies are being offered for principal evaluator retraining (AA 1865), teacher evaluator retraining (AA 1801) and student growth retraining for both principal and teacher evaluators (AA 3000). In addition, IASA is offering initial principal evaluator training (AA 2000) and initial teacher evaluator training (AA 2001). Please share this information with central office staff, principals or other staff in need of evaluation training. These sessions are open to anyone.

IASA Evaluator Retraining Academies

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IASA Principal Evaluator Initial Training Academies

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IASA Teacher Evaluation Initial Training Academies

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