LM Summer2020_hi

Summer 2020 LeadershipMatters Back-to-School Legal Guidance

Attorneys from Three Illinois Law Firms Weigh In

Plus Meet the New IASABoard of Directors

Lessons Learned In The Sprint ToThe Finish After 13 Years of Dedicated Servicewith IASA, Dr. Richard J. Voltz Retires

14

Dr. Rich Voltz reflects on his career at IASA and shares his thoughts on teacher and principal evaluations, improving teaching and learning and the importance of collaboration and support among superintendents. COVER STORY

New IASA Board of Directors FY 2021 Welcome to the O F F I C E R S

19 12 20 10 22

5 Meet the New Board of Directors for FY 2021

Members On The Move

Elevating Education

Secretaryand Illini BarbaraThompson

Treasurerand Central IllinoisValley Dr.RogerL.Alvey Superintendent IlliniBluffsCUSD#327

Law Firms Provide COVID-19 Back-to-School Guidance Superintendent FisherCUSD#1

PastPresident PaulaHawley Superintendent PikelandCUSD#10

President-Elect Dr.JeffStawick Superintendent CCSD#146

President Dr.VicZimmerman Superintendent MonticelloCUSD#25

Supporting Your Professional Development Needs

9

CookSouth Dr.JamesGay Superintendent ConsHSD#230

CookNorth Dr.JudithA.Hackett Superintendent NWSuburbanSp.Ed.Org.

Blackhawk Dr.JayMorrow Superintendent UnitedTWPHSD#30

AbeLincoln TipReedy Superintendent WilliamsvilleCUSD#15

IASA News in Brief

Takeaways From Mahomet-Seymour COVID-19 Outbreak Egyptian JeffFetcho Superintendent HamiltonCountyCUSD#10

11

DuPage Dr.JohnCorbett Superintendent WoodDaleSD#7

IASA Calendar of Events

CornBelt GaryR.Tipsord Superintendent LeRoyCUSD#2

CookWest Dr.TimothyB.Kilrea Superintendent LyonsTwpHSD#204

0 LMSummer2020

Volume 8, Issue 4 Summer 2020 LeadershipMatters 20105 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.

2

Message From the Executive Director Superintendents Are Built to Handle the Tough Challenges Ahead

Dr. Brent Clark

If you haven’t seen it, take a minute and watch this famous video clip of Muhammad Ali dodging 21 punches in 10 seconds in the corner of a boxing ring during a match in 1977. It’s an incredible showcase of speed and agility by “The Greatest” that demonstrated his dazzling ability to float like a butterfly. As superintendents, we too are accustomed to being backed into corners and dodging punches, albeit not literal ones. For more than a decade, the state of Illinois woefully underfunded schools. The teacher shortage has made it nearly impossible, in some cases, to find certified staff. Unfunded mandates arrive every year. In-person learning ceased in March and within days schools transitioned to remote learning. Of course, every day, superintendents navigate sometimes rocky relationships with boards, unions and community members. What happens in these difficult times? We always find solutions. A way to dodge punches, escape the corner, be nimble and return to sound footing. That’s what it takes to be a strong leader, and why your board chose you for the job. Time and again, superintendents have demonstrated an ability to rise to the occasion and do whatever it takes to propel their districts forward. #ILSchoolsStepUp Standing in front of us today is, in my opinion, the most difficult challenge any school leader has ever faced entering a new school year. I would love to say schools are going to deliver a knockout punch and escape unscathed, but that is unlikely. In reality, we will be measured by how well we prepare, communicate, respond to crisis and balance the health and safety of everyone in buildings while also delivering a quality education and supporting social-emotional needs of all students. It’s an unenviable task that will require significant effort and collaboration. And for the 430-plus school districts in Illinois’ 40 border counties, the pressure will be magnified as the districts across state lines don’t implement the same measures you do. I’m here to remind you that you were built for this. Nobody else has the training, knowledge, expertise and unrelenting passion to help students reach their potential like you do. I can’t emphasize this next point enough. To stay on your feet and succeed, you are going to need someone in your corner. At IASA, we’re here to help, no matter what the problem is.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to review the planning framework, Learning Over Logistics, that was a collaborative effort by IASA, IPA and IASBO. This document is a good tool to make sure your district’s transition teams are asking the right questions and having the right conversations around planning. In addition, IASA recorded an interactive webinar on July 1 with five superintendents discussing their district’s re-entry plans as a way to foster collaboration. Furthermore, our Field Services Directors are available to assist 24/7, the Illinois Schools Step Up Toolkit on our website has numerous resources and the IASA COVID-19 Transition Team will continue to release reports, share template letters and offer its support. The group has amazing leaders with big hearts who truly want everyone to succeed and provide the best opportunities for all students. Most importantly, reach out to peers in your region or those with similar demographics as your district and learn about their plans. Given the challenges that lie ahead, borrowing good ideas is encouraged. Speaking of big hearts, we recently said goodbye to a true legend in public education, Dr. Rich Voltz. For the past 13 years, Dr. Voltz worked tirelessly to expand IASA’s professional development and support school leaders. He was a mentor to many and a personal friend to me. He will be missed. I am also excited to welcome Dr. Courtney Orzel to the team and watch her flourish in that role. To close, the start of FY 2021 brings changes to the IASA Board of Directors. On pages 5–7, see what the new makeup of the board is. I want to thank Paula Hawley for her leadership this past year, and say I look forward to working even closer with IASA’s new president, Dr. Victor Zimmerman. IASA has always been blessed with passionate and visionary leaders, and I am confident that will continue. Best of luck to each of you. This will be an incredibly difficult and taxing year but, just remember, you’re built for this. There are no corners you can’t escape.

3 LM Summer 2020

GoodbyeMessage fromPaula Hawley

Paula Hawley Past President, IASA Board of Directors

through what has been the most challenging year in my 15 years on the job. Always remember that this organization is here for YOU and that support and guidance are always just a phone call away. It is imperative that we all make the most of our resources in these uncharted waters. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities given to me this year by IASA and by my school district. Never did a girl from a small, rural community ever dream that she would one day be representing superintendents from across the state. It has certainly been an eventful journey! I will be finishing my role of IASA President and retiring as Pikeland CUSD #10 School Superintendent on June 30 of this year. It has been my pleasure to serve in both capacities, and I will miss the daily work that I have gotten to do over the past 33 years. In closing, please never forget the impact we have on kids, families and communities. The work we do is hard but more important now than ever. Keep doing the good work that you do for kids. It is so worth it!

The past year as president of the Illinois Association of School Administrators is one that I will truly never forget. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic presented us with unprecedented challenges, I have been truly blessed to be able to represent superintendents across the state in my role. Your stories of courage, strength and resilience have kept all of us motivated this past year. Illinois truly has great leaders at the forefront of our schools and districts. One of the highlights of my year was the selection and hiring of two outstanding staff members for IASA. Chad Watkins was hired as IASA’s Associate Director/General Counsel and hit the ground running with his expertise and grace. Chad will be an asset to the organization for years to come. Dr. Courtney Orzel will start with the organization on July 1 as the new Associate Director of Professional Development. I know Dr. Orzel will provide fabulous opportunities for IASA members to learn and connect! Both new staff members are dedicated to the mission of IASA and will serve the organization and its members well. This year was certainly one for the history books; however, the leadership of Dr. Clark and his staff helped guide all of us

4 LM Summer 2020

The IASA Board of Directors is the primary decision- making body of IASA, consisting of members of the 21 IASA regions and an at-large representative. IASA also has three Super Regions: Northcentral, Northeastern and Southern. Each consists of seven IASA regions from which the board rotationally elects the IASA president. On July 1, the IASA Board of Directors will welcome seven new faces, as well as changes to the five officer positions, including Dr. Victor Zimmerman rotating to President. Be sure to watch a video message from Dr. Zimmerman, superintendent of Monticello CUSD #25, as well as read a message from Paula Hawley, retiring superintendent of Pikeland CUSD #10. Hawley served as president in FY 20 and transitions to the role of Past President. Turn the page to view the entire FY 2021 Board. Here is what changed from last fiscal year: The FY 2021 officers are: • President: Dr. Victor Zimmerman, Monticello CUSD #25. • President-Elect: Dr. Jeff Stawick, CCSD #146. • Past President: Paula Hawley, Retired. • Secretary and Illini: Barb Thompson, Fisher CUSD #1. • Treasurer and Central Illinois Valley: Dr. Roger Alvey, Illini Bluffs CUSD #327. As part of an initiative to be inclusive of members who may be underrepresented on the board, an at-large FY2021

New IASA Board of Directors

election was held in May to fill an open seat. The seat was for Non-Caucasion. Dr. Kimako Patterson, superintendent of Prairie-Hills ESD #144, was elected and will serve as the at-large representative. Only IASA members whose demographic information on their membership form matches that of the designated group received a ballot. In addition, six IASA regions will have new representatives on the board. • Abe Lincoln: Tip Reedy, Williamsville CUSD #15. • Blackhawk: Dr. Jay Morrow, United TWP HSD #30. • Cook South: Dr. James Gay, Cons HSD #230. • DuPage: Dr. John Corbett, Wood Dale SD #7. • Starved Rock: Dr. Steven Wrobleski, La Salle-Peru Twp HSD #120. • Western: Dr. Michelle Lee, LaHarpe CSD #347/Dallas ESD #327. Lastly, we want to say thank you and goodbye to the following school leaders for their service on the IASA Board of Directors. Their vision and passion helped move IASA forward. • Dr. Sheila Harrison-Williams, Past President. • Ronald Jacobs, Secretary and Blackhawk. • Mark Cross, Treasurer and Starved Rock. • Dr. Adam Ehrman, Abe Lincoln.

• Dr. Robert Carlo, DuPage. • Kim Schilson, Western.

continued...

WelcomeMessage fromDr. Vic Zimmerman President, IASA Board of Directors

5 LM Summer 2020

New IASA Board of Direct FY 2021 Welcome to the

O

F

F

I

C

E

R

S

Treasurer and Central Illinois Valley Dr. Roger L. Alvey Superintendent Illini Bluffs CUSD #327

Secretary and Illini Barbara Thompson

President-Elect Dr. Jeff Stawick Superintendent CCSD #146

Past President Paula Hawley Retired

President Dr. Victor Zimmerman Superintendent Monticello CUSD #25

Superintendent Fisher CUSD #1

Abe Lincoln Tip Reedy Superintendent Williamsville CUSD #15

Cook North Dr. Judith A. Hackett Superintendent NW Suburban Sp. Ed. Org.

Cook South Dr. James Gay Superintendent Cons HSD #230

Blackhawk Dr. Jay Morrow Superintendent United TWP HSD #30

Corn Belt Gary R. Tipsord Superintendent LeRoy CUSD #2

Cook West Dr. Timothy B. Kilrea Superintendent Lyons Twp HSD #204

Egyptian Jeff Fetcho Superintendent Hamilton County CUSD #10

DuPage Dr. John Corbett Superintendent Wood Dale SD #7

6 LM Summer 2020

ctors

Lake Julie A. Schmidt Superintendent Kildeer Countryside CCSD #96

Kaskaskia Dr. Scott E. Doerr Superintendent Nokomis CUSD #22

Kishwaukee Brent O’Daniell, Superintendent Genoa-Kingston CUSD #424

Northwest Timothy J. Schurman Superintendent Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD #399

Starved Rock Dr. Steven Wrobleski Superintendent La Salle-Peru Twp HSD #120

Shawnee Stephen Murphy Superintendent Carbondale CHSD #165

Three Rivers Dr. Scott Goselin Superintendent Bradley SD #61

Southwestern Michael S. Sutton Superintendent Highland CUSD #5

Two Rivers Dr. Kevin Blankenship Superintendent Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 & Winchester CUSD #1

Wabash Valley Julie Kraemer Superintendent Hutsonville CUSD #1

Western Dr. Michelle Lee Superintendent LaHarpe CSD #347/ Dallas ESD #327

At-Large Dr. Kimako Patterson Superintendent Prairie-Hills ESD #144

7 LM Summer 2020

If youplan tobeapaid IASAmember for FY2021, contactMisti Murphy at 217–753–2213ormmurphy@iasaedu.orgbyAugust 1, 2020. TOALLMEMBERS: Wemust haveallmember information beforeAug. 1, 2020 inorder to includeyou in thedirectory. MembershipDrive

MembershipDoesHave ItsPrivileges...

Professional Development As an IASA member, you gain access to timely academies, workshops and blogs that help you grow as a leader and better serve your students and staff. Legislative Advocacy Let your voice be heard at the Statehouse on matters that impact public education. IASA’s governmental relations department tracks legislation, advocates for members and keeps you informed with Capitol Watch updates and analysis. Communications Services When a crisis hits, call IASA’s communications team any time for assistance with media statements or letters to parents. Plus, we’ll keep you up-to-date on the latest news via IASA social media channels, news alerts and Leadership Matters. Legal Support Program No hourly billing. Members can contact IASA’s in-house attorney for legal counsel regarding superintendent contracts and assistance in job-related legal actions or proceedings.

Mentoring Whether through one-on-one contact with the IASA Executive Director or through one of our Field Services Directors, members have quick access to knowledgeable, experienced school administrators. Networking The superintendency doesn’t have to be a lonely job! Through IASA membership, superintendents get connected to their peers and gain access to networking opportunities. Premier Superintendent Conference IASA’s Annual Conference is designed by Illinois superintendents for Illinois superintendents. Join your peers from across the state for three days of networking, learning and hearing from nationally known speakers. Return Of Dues Program A payment proportionate to the amount of dues paid during the past 10 consecutive years is made to a member’s beneficiary upon an active member’s death.

iasaedu.org

8 LM Summer 2020

LegalCorner

Back-To-School Legal Guidance

Chad Watkins IASA Associate Director/General Counsel As State Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala said, the return of school will not be “business as usual.” To help school leaders navigate these uncertain times, IASA is partnering with leading law firms throughout Illinois to provide districts with critical guidance during the 2020–21 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. We’ll also begin a monthly legal issues podcast to discuss some of your most vital concerns. It is our hope

you find the content insightful, timely and helpful in addressing the critical matters you face. In this first issue, we share three articles related to employment, collective bargaining, and student mental health and issues. Thank you to Guin Mundorf, LLC, Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd. and Franczek P.C. for contributing this month. 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 links to access the articles.

Navigating Employment Issues During COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic raises a myriad of potential legal issues pertaining to employees. Guin Mundorf LLC writes how school leaders need to be aware of new federal leave entitlements and how the changes will impact school districts.

Collective Bargaining During COVID-19 The greatest obstacle to safe and effective implementation of any reopening plan is a poor relationship with staffing groups. Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd. writes about keys to bargaining and shares a checklist to use during negotiations.

COVID-Related Student Mental HealthQuestions Medical experts advise schools should be prepared to provide school-based mental health services to all students. Franczek P.C. writes about five key questions school leaders need to consider to avoid exposing their districts to liability while addressing student mental health.

9 LM Summer 2020

LISTED CHANGES WILL BE EFFECTIVE START OF 2020–2021 SCHOOL YEAR Members On The Move

Who’s moving, who’s brand new, who’s retiring? Here’s an easy way to keep track of who’s where!

Known New Superintendents 60

Known Transferring Superintendents

26

Click on each square to see a list of names for the upcoming school year.

Known Retiring Superintendents

Known Superintendent Vacancies

32

0

Please know that every attempt has been made to achieve accuracy on these lists. If we have not yet learned of your new role or that of a fellow superintendent,

please send the information to Misti Murphy at mmurphy@iasaedu.org, and we will include it in next month’s issue of Leadership Matters.

See IASA’s Job Bank to post or apply for educational positions in Illinois.

10

LM Summer 2020

Takeaways froma COVID-19Outbreak inMahomet-Seymour

Dr. Lindsey Hall Superintendent, Mahomet-Seymour CUSD #3

Let me start by saying this: I hope you never have to respond to an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community. As someone who has experienced it first hand, I can tell you I wasn’t initially prepared for everything that would follow. Unfortunately, other school leaders could find themselves in a similar position in the months to come. To help you navigate uncharted waters, I wanted to share lessons I learned and hopefully what are some valuable takeaways. For those of you who don’t know, an unofficial prom in mid-June that was not related to, sanctioned by or endorsed by our district was the source of a COVID-19 outbreak of 16 cases. This single event was a driving factor in why the number of positive cases doubled in our zipcode in the last half of June, according to the Champaign Urbana Public Health District The outbreak impacted our summer programming, including behind-the-wheel driver’s education and summer conditioning for two athletic programs. On June 23, those programs were temporarily suspended, with the plan being to restart driver’s education on July 1, 2020. As does everyone else, as of the writing of this article, we await the IHSA’s Phase 2 Return to Play guidelines to determine if and how we will move ahead with athletics this summer. The Mahomet-Seymour Schools are an integral part of the communities of Mahomet and Seymour—what happens and evolves in our community almost always impacts our schools. I’m sure it’s the same way in your district. Throughout this process, we have prioritized the physical, emotional and mental health of our students and staff. However, those decisions created inconveniences and tested everyone’s patience. One main lesson I have learned is this: Be flexible and be ready to pivot, and know that no decision will meet everyone’s expectations or keep everyone happy. Here are some other takeaways from the past few weeks that perhaps provide insight into pertinent issues we’ll see upon resuming school.

Key questions/issues, not necessarily in priority order: 1. What are the roles of the schools and the local county health department? Who is doing contact tracing vs. contacting parents and how are contacts made? 2. When and how are decisions made to suspend/end programs or events? Who is part of the decision making? How are decisions communicated? 3. Who will be tracking COVID-19 cases internally, within your organization? These include days of quarantining, procedures for returning to school, tracking on the required steps to be taken, etc. 4. As much as possible, have communication ready to go for various scenarios that can and will occur, including if students test positive, staff test positive and subsequent events or programming that are impacted. News will spread at the speed of light, and it’s a challenge to stay ahead of it. Be prepared and accept there will be times you are “the last to know.” 5. State only the facts of any situation. This could involve collaborating with the local health department or using their language/wording from their press releases or website. People on social media will freely offer their opinions on any situation, that’s not our job. 6. Have you identified and communicated your district’s top priorities in dealing with COVID-19? If not, it is certainly not too late to do that, and it is helpful to frame all decision making within and with always considering these priorities—keep them out front and communicate them regularly with staff and parents. Student and staff health should be one of those priorities. To close, I want to remind you there is an incredible network of support among superintendents in our state. It’s more important than ever to lean on others, ask questions and share your ideas. These are high stress times we’re in, and our own well-being must be preserved in order to effectively lead and serve our organizations.

11 LM Summer 2020

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. DonWhite, Mokena SD#159 Dr. SharonDesmoulin-Kherat, Peoria SD#150

Who: Dr. Don White, superintendent What: Senate Bill 7 Performance Rankings Tool; ISAL Design Team; Evidence-Based Leadership: Using Data to Drive Immediate and Lasting Improvement and IASA Principal Evaluator Academy. Where: Mokena SD #159, Three Rivers Region. Retired July 1, 2020. When: In 2012, Dr. White created

Who: Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, superintendent What: Developed innovative programs; IASA COVID-19 Transition Team; school funding advocate; serves on numerous community boards, including the United Way, trustee on Bradley University’s board and Urban League. Where: Peoria SD #150, Central

Illinois Valley Region. When: Dr. Desmoulin-Kherat was named Peoria SD #150 Superintendent in 2016 and has helped foster innovative programs, including the Wraparound Center in 2018. She testified for the need to fully fund EBF in 2018 and was named to the IASA COVID-19 Swat Team this year. Why: Dr. Desmoulin-Kherat is propelled by her passion to reimagine schools and has tried to share that philosophy with others. Under her leadership at Peoria SD #150, the district has put an emphasis on community partnerships that aim to provide students, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, increased academic and social-emotional support, with a focus on the whole child. She has also focused on redefining learning to include work- based learning, industry credentials and certifications, along with competencies-based learning.

Senate Bill 7 Performance Rankings Tool. Thirteen years ago, he co-chaired the Illinois School for Advanced Leadership Design Team and last year co-taught the Evidence-Based Leadership academy, helping school leaders foster a culture of evidence-based practice. In addition, Dr. White developed software to help school leaders with administrator evaluation. Why: One of the driving factors behind Dr. White’s desire to help his peers is his personal belief in the importance of informed practice. Using his knowledge of Microsoft Excel, he specializes in developing customizable software that allows school leaders to input their own data and make decisions that are based in statistics and research. The customizable spreadsheets have helped hundreds of school districts in the areas of compliance with requirements

12

continued...

continued...

LM Summer 2020

The district’s graduation was reimagined this year, with a virtual ceremony that was streamed live on You Tube, Facebook and local television. In addition, the district was recently awarded a new state grant that will put paychecks in the pockets of 220 area young people. Dr. Desmoulin-Kherat has also been an advocate for school funding. In 2018, she testified at a committee to legislators about the need to fully fund the Evidence- Based Funding formula. Furthermore, she serves on the IASA COVID-19 Transition Team, providing valuable guidance and support to superintendents across the state. Peoria SD #150 provided over 340,000 meals and delivered over 6,000 devices to homes during the pandemic. Education Elevat g Desmoulin-Kherat .. cont’d.

White .. cont’d. in SB 7, evaluating administrators and optimizing the research of John Hattie to determine effect sizes in individual classrooms. “From my lens, you really build confidence when you can stand before a school board and community and say, ‘this is what the data tells us,’” Dr. White says. Dr. White was also instrumental in getting ISAL off the ground as co-chair of the design team. The immersive two-year program aims to build exemplary leadership, knowledge and skill sets essential for ensuring successful student achievement. On June 30, he retired as superintendent of Mokena SD #159. He plans to stay active by teaching a new academy, rolling out later this year, that will be a follow up to the Evidence-Based Leadership academy and will focus on systems leadership and data-driven decision making.

School ServiceMembers:

School Service Members can purchase advertising space in the 2020–2021 IASA Membership Directory, an indispensable tool for all IASA members. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to stand out from your competitors for an entire year by advertising or enhancing your company’s listing! Extendyour brand to whomattersmost.

• Establishan Image • BuildRelationshipswithClients • EnjoyYear-RoundExposure Reach 1,000+ school administrators, superintendents, assistant superintendents, and other administrators throughout the state. Get your company’s name in front of the decision makers in Illinois school districts!

Advertising Deadline— 08/01/2020 Listing Inclusion Deadline— 08/01/2020

For rates and availability of opportunities, call Cherry Middleton at 217–753–2213 or email cmiddleton@iasaedu.org

13 LM Summer 2020

Lessons Learned in the Sprint to the Finish

Dr. Richard J. Voltz

Education, and discovered we had a mutual interest in running. He invited me to be part of an eight-member relay team that was running the annual River to River 80-mile race across southern Illinois. Some other participants included Randy Dunn, at that time associate professor at SIU-C and later ISBE State Superintendent, and Brent Clark, at that time superintendent at Benton Community Consolidated School District. Supportingschool leaders Thus, our friendship began. Brent and I have become close friends as well as professional colleagues. He is a great speaker, understands the political atmosphere in Springfield and has extensive insights into what Illinois education needs today, tomorrow and in the future. Through Brent’s leadership, superintendents in the north, south, east and west all work together to solve Illinois’ educational issues. One vision of Brent’s was an advanced training for superintendents that included research, training and learning leadership methods that were designed to help better student achievement. This came to fruition in 2010 from a design team of approximately 10, including myself. I also participated in an advanced coach training and coached the first participants. As I reflect on that time, I developed a sense that superintendents from every sector of Illinois are more alike than they are different. This has become readily apparent within the success of the Illinois School of Advance Leadership (ISAL) program. Every two years, 20 to 30 superintendents from all over the state get together for this advanced training. Dr. Nancy Blair, a retired professor of leadership studies from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, the main instructor of ISAL, does a tremendous job of bringing all these various superintendents into one cohesive group by mixing participants in activities. Not only do the superintendents learn from Dr. Blair, but also each other. They socialize together and become one team, often staying in touch with each other for years after the training is complete. I have heard many of these participants marvel at how alike they all are, no matter what part of the state they come from.

For many of you, the absence of phone calls or emails probably sounds blissful. However, I wasn’t ready for the silence in July 2007. I just started the transition from being an always busy and in-demand superintendent of approximately 4,500 students at Ball-Chatham CUSD #5 to my new role as IASA’s first full time Associate Director of Professional Development and Mentoring, and the constant phone calls and emails I was accustomed to now only came in at a drip. I couldn’t take it. That’s when I immersed myself into developing academies, searching for new educational ideas, creating weekly new superintendent updates, developing mentoring strategies and preparing for my first New Superintendents’ Conference. It hasn’t been quiet since. I’vebeeneverywhere... During my 13 years with IASA, I have traveled an estimated 400,000 miles and stayed in countless number of hotel rooms. I discovered that Illinois is very large—230 miles from Quincy to Danville and 434 miles from South Beloit to Cairo. I imagine I have been in every Illinois county and through most every city, town and village. I remember once conducting an all-day academy in Quincy and then driving to Barrington to run another all-day training the next day. There was just no direct route from Quincy to Barrington, and I was tired and hungry. At around 6 p.m., I called the IASA office and Cherry answered the phone. In jest, I told her, “I quit.” I am sure I shocked her with my declaration, and I was just releasing my frustration. Thankfully, I changed my mind. Speaking of Cherry, she has been the foundation of IASA for me and all the other IASA employees. She works untold number of hours and is key for the success of the organization. I am proud to have worked along with Dr. Brent Clark to develop IASA to be the best (in my opinion) superintendent organization in the country. I met Brent through a mutual acquaintance many years ago. Having served on an ISBE advisory committee in the late 90’s, I had become acquainted with Max McGee, at that time State Superintendent of

14 LM Summer 2020

Technologyandhealth-lifebalance I am most proud of my work as an early leader in Illinois for the influx of technology for school administrators’ purposes and for educational innovation in this field. I made podcasts of current topics to Illinois superintendents in 2008 with interviews from leading technology educators from all over the country. I lead many districts to visit the 1:1 program in Mooresville, North Carolina after I observed the great way this district was using technology to increase student learning. Apple Computer even sent a broadcast team to the IASA office in 2010 to conduct an interview with me that was rebroadcast nationally. For the past 13 years, I have hosted an often standing room only breakout session at the Triple I Conference on the topic of technology in education. I certainly never envisioned the important role 1:1 technology would play because of a pandemic! Another aspect I valued in sharing with Illinois superintendents is the concept of “Health-Life Balance.” Superintendents work extremely hard and often their health or their relationship with their family suffers because of the workload. I have been a lifelong runner and exerciser. This has greatly benefitted my physical and mental being. Superintendents probably could work less and still do an adequate job, but most superintendents are Type-A personalities. We are who we are and probably cannot change. However, we need to make sure we take time to exercise, eat healthy, spend time with family and friends, and, in the end, carve out a little time for ourselves.

continued...

15 LM Summer 2020

Lessons ... cont’d.

Teacher andprincipal evaluation I became immersed in the teacher and principal evaluation processes through the passage of the Performance Evaluation Review Act (PERA) on January 1, 2010. My thought process on this has evolved over the years. Now that I have matured (at the age of 70) into the leader I am today, I would recommend a drastic change to teacher evaluation. In my opinion, it is of little value to “rate” teachers. Instead, let’s work on improving teaching and learning. Let’s use instructional coaches, properly conduct Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s) and use teacher leaders to work on improving teaching. The principal’s job would then be to organize these efforts and collect the data to determine if student learning is improving. We have a drastic shortage of teachers, and the problem is not going to get better anytime soon. Let’s work with and coach teachers, not evaluate teachers with scarce evidence to tell teachers why they are not excellent. I predict that one of the positive outcomes from this pandemic is that we will discover new ways to teach students. That is something Mooresville, NC, was doing way back in 2008. Teachingand instruction Regarding teaching and instruction, I believe that teacher unions and administrators need to be more collaborative players. A prime example of how they can work together to improve education is within the work of the Performance Educators Advisory Council (PEAC). This committee consists of representatives from the two Illinois teacher unions, IASA,

IPA, ROE, ESC, Chicago Public Schools, current teachers, current administrators and ISBE. Several of us have been on this committee since its inception in 2010. This committee has been instrumental in the implementation of the principal and teacher evaluation systems in Illinois. If a lay person was to witness the work of this committee, one could not identify who the administrators were and who were the teachers. We work seamlessly together for the betterment of teaching and instruction. In my opinion, there is one sure fire way to improve teaching and learning and that is to conduct Professional Learning Communities correctly. PLC research has determined that educators need to work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. Dr. John Hattie asserts that collective teacher efficacy has an effect size of 1.57. It consists of the following 5 steps: 1. Common lesson planning. 2. Common formative and summative assessments. 3. Common grading of some summative assessments. 4. Data analysis of student performance by teachers. 5. Professional Development lead by teachers with the highest student achievement results. Through my superintendent career and my tenure at IASA, I have observed that leaders have gone from collaboration to individual decision making and back to collaboration. Let me explain. When I entered the superintendent position in 1989, I was invited to be part of the “Sullivan Group.” The

16 LM Summer 2020

Sullivan Group consisted of 30 to 50 (attendance varied) superintendents in east central Illinois. The group had two rules: you had to be a superintendent to attend and anything said at the meeting had to stay in the meeting. The Sullivan superintendent was the host and moderator. I was like a rookie on a sports team. I listened to the older superintendents discuss current issues and learned how to deal with similar problems. I learned a tremendous amount during those meetings. Then, around the turn of the century, I noticed entering superintendents did not take part in these “Sullivan

share ideas and discuss possible solutions. And, in addition, Ralph always asks the participants during these Zoom meetings how each of the superintendents are doing mentally and physically. Never did I imagine that my current role with IASA would end with a pandemic crisis that included quarantining at my home, providing online professional development, becoming a Zoom expert and trying to understand why this country still has a racial divide. As I now sprint toward the finish line, the summative message that I would like to leave with you as I complete my 13-year tenure with IASA is:

Take the time to listen to your colleagues, learn from them, and, in the process, take time to care for yourself, both physically and mentally. Now, I am confidently passing the baton to Dr. Courtney Orzel as the new Associate Director of Professional Development and beginning my retirement. I know I’m better suited today than I was 13 years ago for peace and quiet, but I don’t want to shut off the faucet completely. Remember, I’m only an email rvoltz@mac.com or phone call 217–741–0466 away.

type” groups. As technology had become more a part of the superintendent’s life, those early in their career superintendents tended to stay in their offices and relied on finding their answers online. Recently, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the need to look for answers quickly accelerated. As an example of how leaders are reaching out for help now is illustrated by participation in the Zoom meetings IASA Field Services Directors Ralph Grimm and Diane Robertson are leading. They host weekly meetings for superintendents in their regions to discuss current issues,

17 LM Summer 2020

NewMembershipDirectory ComingOctober 2020

Areyouanewsuperintendent? Haveyouchangeddistricts this year? Haveyou retired this year? Please let usknowyour statuschange immediately: wedon’t want you tomissany important IASAnewsor information! TOALLSUPERINTENDENTS:

TOALLMEMBERS:Wemust haveallmember information beforeAug. 1, 2020 inorder to includeyou in thedirectory.

If youplan tobeapaid IASAmember for FY2021, contactMisti Murphy at 217–753–2213ormmurphy@iasaedu.orgbyAugust 1, 2020.

IASA Is Here to Support Your Professional Development Needs

Dr. Courtney Orzel IASA Associate Director of Professional Development

As we all work to figure out what the opening of schools will look like in the next few months, professional development needs have never been more at the forefront of our work. As you think about what is working and what isn’t, we are here to help support your efforts—no matter how large or small they might be in the moment. In the spring, we surveyed superintendents to gauge what their needs were…and we know that those needs are changing daily. Most recently, we welcomed new superintendents virtually by introducing them to their Field Services Director. We will build on that with the New Superintendents’ Conference July 7–9, 2020. During the conference, our new superintendents will be introduced to a variety of important topics as they begin their career in our field. As you think about what is working and what isn’t, we are here to help support your efforts.

As an association, we are committed to providing on-demand, personalized professional development. Here are some opportunities that are currently available to you as we look ahead to 2020–21: • Administrative Retreats • Principal Support and Coaching

• Leadership Team Coaching • Strategic Planning Efforts • Superintendent to Superintendent Collaboration • Administrators’ Academies • Webinars • Budgeting Basics and other workshops

As we move ahead, we have many opportunities and ideas that have been presented to enhance our professional development for superintendents and their districts. When you are thinking about reopening schools and have ideas about professional development for you and/or your staff, do not hesitate to reach out to me to talk about what your needs are. My new email at IASA is corzel@iasaedu.org. We know that districts are planning for things they never could have imagined—and we are here to help you through it.

19 LM Summer 2020

NewsInBrief

Looking for knowledge and insight from experts about how to run the best school district possible? Check out the IASA podcasts. Our weekly podcast tackles the most important issues facing public education in Illinois. The podcast is available in the Apple

AASAElectionResults Dr. Kristin Humphries

Dr. Jennifer Kelsall

Podcast Library and Google Play. We also share it on the Illinois Association of School Administrator’s Facebook page and Twitter at @IllinoisASA.

Dr. Kristin Humphries, superintendent of East Moline SD #37 was elected to fill the three-year term in the Northcentral Super Region. Dr. Jennifer Kelsall, superintendent of Ridgewood CHSD #234 was re-elected to a three-year term in the Northeastern Super Region. Other representatives who currently serve on the AASA Governing Board include Dr. Arthur Fessler, superintendent of Community Cons. #59 (Northeastern Super Region—term expires June 30, 2021); Dr. Judith Hackett, superintendent of Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (Northeastern Super Region - term expires June 30, 2022); Dr. Steve Webb, superintendent of Goreville Comm Unit #1 (Southern Super Region—term expires June 30, 2022); and Dr. Brian Harris, superintendent of Barrington #220 (AASA Executive Committee—term expires June 30, 2021).

ISDLAF+MonthlyUpdate Click here to view the most current ISDLAF+ rates, economic indicators and general economic news brief. To obtain additional information regarding this IASA sponsored service, contact Dr. Donald E. Weber, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations/ISDLAF+ at 630–657–6435. To check daily rates, visit the ISDLAF+ website at www.isdlafplus.com.

To help support superintendents during COVID-19, IASA created the Illinois Schools Step Up Toolkit. The toolkit is regularly updated with new resources, guidance and letters school superintendents can utilize to plan for the 2020-21 school year and communicate with families. Click the image to access the toolkit.

20

LM Summer 2020

Allen

Blackley

Cupuro

DuBois

Field

Polanin

Shinall

Walk

SAFE Board selects 8 Illinois educators for Moon Scholarship awards

Eight Illinois educators have been selected to receive monetary awards as recipients of the 2019–20 James V. and Dorothy B. Moon Scholarships. Those selected by the School Administrators Foundation for Education (SAFE) Board of Trustees include: • Brett T. Allen, Principal, Staunton CUSD #6 • Michelle Blackley, Principal, Lincolnshire-Prairie View SD #103 • Erica Cupuro, Principal, CCSD #62—Des Plaines • Laura C. DuBois, Principal, Channahon SD #17 • Jonathan Field, Principal and

To qualify, an applicant must be a resident of and a practicing administrator in Illinois, be a graduate of an accredited college or university, hold an administrative certification in Illinois, be of good character, and be enrolled in an advanced degree program at an accredited college or university. The application process includes, among other things, a response to a practicum question, three letters of reference, a statement concerning involvement in professional development programs, and a statement indicating a commitment to superintendency.

Applications were judged based on good scholarship, evidence of strong communication skills, abilities and strengths as indicated by the letters of support, potential for contributing to the quality of K–12 public education in Illinois through the superintendency, and demonstrated participation in professional development programs. Recipients are required to contribute to the further development of the superintendency in Illinois for a period of two years following completion of their degree program in which they accepted payment of tuition, fees and/or textbook expenses on their behalf.

This program is designed to help up-and-coming educators in Illinois by assisting them in attaining graduate studies, as was Dr. Moon’s vision.

District Curriculum Director, Sangamon Valley CUSD #9 • Brad Polanin, Superintendent, Riverton CUSD #4 • Anthony Shinall, Principal, Brimfield CUSD #309 • Ted Walk, Superintendent, Sullivan CUSD #300 “This program is designed to help up-and-coming educators in Illinois further their careers by assisting

Information and applications for the 2020–2021 Moon Scholarships will be available in the fall on the IASA Website at https://www.iasaedu.org/Page/120. Questions can be directed to Jodi Gillespie at 217–753–2213 or at jgillespie@iasaedu.org. Anyone wishing to contribute $25 or more to the SAFE scholarship fund can do so by sending a check made payable to SAFE to the IASA office at 2648 Beechler Court, Springfield, IL, 62703–7305.

them in attaining graduate studies as was Dr. Moon’s vision,” said Ron Jacobs, President of SAFE. “Ultimately, this program is designed to help produce people who are well prepared to become superintendents and tackle the challenges facing public education in Illinois.” The Moon Scholarship was established by the late Dr. James V. Moon, a distinguished educator and superintendent in Illinois. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide grants to assist individuals in the pursuit of graduate study leading to improved competency in superintendency.

20063

21 LM Summer 2020

Calendar of Events IASA Event Professional Development Event

Click here to view the IASA interactive Calendar of Events online.

Legislative Event Region Meeting (Contact your Region President for details)

July 2020

Sat. July 4

Independence Day—holiday

Mon. July 20 Budget Basics Workshop Fri.–Sat. July 24–25 Teacher Evaluator Training Summer! o Pleasehavea safeandenjoyable

Tues–Thurs. July 7–9 New Superintendents’ Virtual Conference 2020

Mon. July 13 Budget Basics Workshop Tues. July 14 Budget Basics Workshop Budget Basics Workshop Wed. July 15 Budget Basics Workshop Thurs. July 16 Budget Basics Workshop Budget Basics Workshop Fri. July 17 Budget Basics Workshop

22 LM Summer 2020