LM June-July 2022_hi

Directors for FY2023

WelcomeMessage from Dr. Kevin Blankenship, President Dr. Kevin Blankenship President, IASA Board of Directors

chaotic environment than what we have experienced the past two school years. With that, I want to share a little bit more about myself. I am originally from southern Illinois. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Chief School Business Official Certification from the University of Illinois Springfield and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. My wife, Julie, and I have two daughters. I have been an educator for 28 years and am proud to be one of a handful of superintendents in Illinois who is also a certified police officer. My two districts, Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 and Winchester CUSD #1, have a combined enrollment of about 800 students. The districts have enjoyed an athletic cooperative (West Central Cougars) for nearly 20 years for all IHSA sports and activities and expanded this cooperative to the junior high sports in 2020. The districts continue to discuss sharing more services and expanding opportunities for our students. To close, superintendents have a unique opportunity to be a force of positive change next school year. I hope you embrace that challenge and lead your districts forward. Have a great summer, and I look forward to seeing each of you at the IASA Annual Conference in Springfield, September 28–30.

As the dual superintendent of Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 and Winchester CUSD #1, my peers always kid me about what it’s like serving two Boards of Education and two communities. I won’t lie and say it’s always smooth sailing, but the truth is I feel incredibly honored and privileged to work alongside people who care deeply about public education. Eleven years ago, I pursued my first superintendency because I wanted to impact change on a larger scale than what I could as a teacher or principal. I now have the opportunity to facilitate positive change in two communities, with twice the number of students and staff members. It’s a great honor, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be trusted with that responsibility. That’s one of the main reasons why I became more involved with IASA. The association has always been a positive force in public education—whether through governmental advocacy, professional development opportunities, Vision 20/20, networking and all of the various supports it provides school administrators. In Fiscal Year 2019, I was elected in the Two Rivers Region to the IASA Board of Directors. 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 to carry on that tradition and continue to support my peers—hopefully in a less

7 LM Summer 2022 continued...