Leadership Matters - February 2013

ISAL II —–—————————————————————————

“Not only do our sponsors offer financial support that helps make the program affordable, but they also attend some of the sessions and offer their insights from the business world perspective,” Osborne said. Osborne said not only do

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first ISAL. A coaching seminar was conducted in conjunction with the first weekend session of ISAL II and each coach will have two students. Participants are required to attend four weekend sessions

superintendents benefit from the ISAL experience, but school districts gain by having a leader who advances and improves their leadership skills. “Personal growth leads to improvement in overall performance,” Osborne said. “If you don’t know what you don’t know, you are vulnerable.” Another unintended benefit of participating in the ISAL program is expanding one's professional network by getting to know superintendents from across the state, said Zabilka, recently retired superintendent from Morton Grove and a graduate of ISAL I. “Before I began this program, I had no idea what kinds of issues other superintendents downstate dealt with. To my surprise, those superintendents deal with many of the same issues—achievement, finances, facilities, etc. -- but offer different

Robert Abney, Waltham 185 Dr. Joseph Bailey, Medinah 11 Dr. Lori Bein, Roselle 12

each of the two years as well as having regular interaction with their coaches, including online, by phone and in-person. Then there is the interaction among the participants. “That interaction is what makes ISAL a collegial cohort in the truest sense,” said Osborne, a retired superintendent and a professor at Eastern Illinois University.

Dr. Darcy Benway, O'Fallon Twp HS 203 Dr. Kim Boryszewski, Schiller Park 81 Kathy Countryman, Sycamore 427 Lea Damisch, Marengo/Union Dist. 165 Dr. Debbie Ehlenburg, Alden-Hebron 19 Anthony Galindo, Gibson City-Melvin Sibley 5 Dr. Dawn Green, Somonauk 432 Lori Harrison, Illini Central 189 Dr. Michael Lubelfeld, Pennoyer 79 Steve Murphy, Carbondale Comm 185 Dr. Kathie Pierce, Fenton 100 Dr. Nick Polyak, IL Valley Central Unit 321 Dr. Jamie Reilly, Golf 67 Dr. Tami Roskamp, Beecher 200U Dr. Bhavna Sharma-Lewis, Harrison 36 Dr. Andrew Wise, Olympia CUSD 16 Dr. Jill Gildea, Fremont Dist. 79 Guy Gradert, Ridgeview CUSD 19 Christina Grant, Thompsonville 174

“They start together, they finish together and they support each other along the way. If you have no one to ask questions of or to bounce ideas off, being a superintendent can be a lonely existence.”

perspectives that were beneficial for me to hear,” Zabilka said. “I've gained a great deal of respect and appreciation for all of our superintendents in this state. Regardless of where we're from, we all want what's best for kids!”

ISAL II is being co-sponsored by Ameresco, Inc., FGM Architects, Hodges Loizzi Eisenhammer Rodick & Kohn LLP, and the Illinois School District Liquid Asset Fund Plus (see ad on Page 9).

start of a collaborative relationship that will serve all of us well as we address the current educational initiatives. However, it was the personal growth and support I received through my participation in ISAL that took me by surprise. While I have always known intellectually that one needs to take care of body, mind and spirit to be the best leader and person possible, I tended to neglect all but my mind. Even though my physical goal was minimal compared to some, it has literally and figuratively meant a step in the right direction for me. Walking has not only led to better health, it has helped me to alleviate stress, and with the current challenges we all face, stress reduction is sorely needed. In addition, for the first time since I became a superintendent, I felt completely at ease to share my concerns with others. This experience opened my eyes to the isolation we have at the top and how healthy it was to be able to share with my ISAL colleagues and coach in an environment of complete support and confidentiality. Moreover, my participation in ISAL helped me get through one of the most difficult events of my life – the loss of a parent. Yes, ISAL made me a better leader, but more importantly, it made me a better person. (Continued from page 7) Stewart: Benefits of ISAL —–—————————————————————————

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