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Education Elevat g Hackett ... cont’d. As superintendent, Booth helped push each of the two school districts he has served forward. Booth ... cont’d.

state and national levels. She has served on the boards of numerous associations, including the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education, IASA , ED RED, ISAC and AASA. In addition, Dr. Hackett has mentored other school leaders and reviews special education programs as a consultant. “I am passionate about helping people get into a continuous improvement and collaborative mindset that advances their organizations and fosters innovation,” Dr. Hackett said. At NSSEO, Dr. Hackett has hosted legislative roundtables and community conversations that have raised awareness about important special education needs, including the transition to adult life and ongoing funding needs for special education. During the pandemic, Dr. Hackett created the Positive Pathways Forum to bring together a small group of ISBE leaders, legislators, special education leaders and other representative leaders to identify positive ways forward. It has expanded in participation when Dr. Hackett joined Teri Engler to present on Positive Pathways at the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago and at IAASE last year. “I am excited about purposeful positive efforts and taking small steps forward in addressing current priorities, including staffing, SEL and innovative ideas that best support our students’ families and educational systems, ” Dr. Hackett said. Last year, Dr. Hackett established Bright Spot visits across NSSEO to help foster and advance community partnership by creating opportunities for community members, village trustees, business owners, board members, district leaders and other stakeholders to engage with students with special needs across NSSEO learning environments. “It’s one way we can share the many bright spots across our district,” Dr. Hackett said. “We want to engage our visitors by providing them with an opportunity to have positive learning experiences with our students. We look at every visitor as a potential employer for our students and partners who can help our students continue to grow as adults as they pursue their life goals. There are countless bright spots in the work we do and everyone benefits from meaningful experiences with students.”

At Carbondale ESD #95, the district’s four schools jumped up a designation on the Illinois Report Card under Booth’s leadership. In the past two years at Carbondale CHSD #165, Booth has focused on preparing students for the future by forging new partnerships with SIU Carbondale and John A. Logan College. In addition, Booth has engaged the Carbondale community on a new strategic plan. “Carbondale is such a special community that is rich in diversity and ready for growth,” Booth said. “Partnerships with our local post-secondary institutions are as plentiful as they have ever been and the results of working together will uplift our entire region.” In March 2020, Booth was selected as a member of the IASA COVID-19 Transition Team. The team provided advice, resources and support to superintendents across the state throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “Coming to the table to figure out how we can move forward and be a voice for the entire state of Illinois was powerful,” Booth said. “I am proud to be involved on that team and truly grateful for the opportunity to develop relationships with tremendous leaders.” Booth has also been a panelist at the IASA New Superintendents Conference and IASA Aspiring Superintendent Academy. Furthermore, he has served on several state committees, including the Illinois Balanced Accountability Measure Committee and School Construction Task Force. “Being a voice for superintendents in our state is an honor and a privilege and not something that I take for granted,” Booth said. “I appreciate working with the IASA to support the profession, and I look forward to continuing to move the needle to support students and educators in the work of serving our communities.”

Did You Know? Scholarships are available through IASA to help offset the costs of pursuing an advanced degree in educational administration? Click Here to learn more about the James V. and Dorothy B. Moon Scholarship Program.

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School Administrators Foundation for Education