LM Nov2020

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. Dan Cox Rochester CUSD#3A Dr. Carol Kelley Oak Park ESD#97

Who: Dr. Carol Kelley, superintendent. What: Advocate and leader in the areas of equity in education, inclusiveness in schools and restorative justice practices. Where: Oak Park ESD #97, Cook West. When: Superintendent at Oak Park Elementary School District 97 since 2015; superintendent at Branchburg Township School District in New Jersey

Who: Dan Cox, superintendent. What: Passionate about advocating for public education and students, helping and supporting his peers with strategic planning and communication strategies. Presented at numerous conferences and helped schools individually. Advocate for equitable and adequate funding for public schools.

Where: Rochester CUSD #3A, Abe Lincoln. When: First year as superintendent of Rochester CUSD #3A; Superintendent at Staunton CUSD #6 from 2015– 2020; Superintendent at Jasper CUD #1 from 2010–2015. Why: Dan Cox is passionate about helping. Throughout his career, he has helped his peers become stronger leaders and has joined the cadre of advocates who helped push for more equitable and adequate funding for Illinois public schools. “I enjoy helping schools,” he says. “I find I get as much value out of it because of what I learn from others.” Cox has presented at numerous conferences, including the IASA Annual Conference, Joint Annual Conference and IASA New Superintendents’ Conference. In addition, he’s worked with school leaders individually and regularly checks in with his peers to see how they’re holding up.

from 2012 to 2015. Why: Becoming an educator wasn’t Dr. Kelley’s original plan. She initially worked in project management at Johnson & Johnson. However, her heart was somewhere else and she began tutoring and mentoring boys who had been expelled for fighting. The experience was eye opening. She switched careers and, since then, has worked tirelessly to create spaces where all learners could be successful. Dr. Kelley is now recognized nationally for building equity in a diverse preK-8 district. At Oak Park District 97, equity and inclusiveness are at the forefront of every decision. That started early on working closely with staff, community members and students to develop a new strategic vision. “We educated the entire community on what it means to

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LM November 2020