May LM 2024_1

Congratulations ISAL VII Fellows: Buster Barton, Byron CUSD #226 Dr. Courtney Castelli, Smithton CCSD #130 Dr. Omar Castillo, Keeneyville SD #20 Dr. Zac Chatterton, Farmington Central CUSD #265 Dr. Mark Cohen, Mokena SD #159 Jeremy Darnell, Gibson City-Melvin Sibley CUSD #5 Valerie Donnan, Sp. Ed. Dist. of Lake County Jennifer Donnelly, Ohio CCSD #17 Brett Elliott, Stark County CUSD #100 Dr. Andrea Evers, Murphysboro CUSD #186 Dale Heidbreder, Central SD #51 Dr. Denise Herrmann, CHSD #128 Rebecca Jenkins, Libertyville SD #70 Dr. Kristopher Kahler, Rochester CUSD #3A Dr. Robert Langman, Darien SD #61 Dr. Benjamin Lee, Metamora CCSD #1 Dr. Michelle Lee, Ottawa ESD #141 Janice Pavelonis, Carbondale ESD #95 Dr. David Russo, Lincolnwood SD #74 Dr. Scott Schwartz, Gavin CCSD #37 Dr. Dan Sullivan, Berkeley SD #87 Dr. Corey Tafoya, Harvard CUSD #50 Cheryl Warner, Warrensburg-Latham CUSD #11 Dr. Brian Waterman, Lyons Twp HSD #204 Dr. Jenna Woodland, Evergreen Park ESD #124

“There’ve been some remarkable achievements and remarkable lives turned around. People have come in semi-broken and left in pretty good shape and continued to get better and better.” Before the ceremony, Dr. Zabilka reached out to past ISAL graduates and asked them to write a letter for Dr. Blair. He collected 70 letters from past participants and shared them with her. “You’ve touched so many people in so many ways,” Dr. Zabilka said. “Anytime that you are feeling like you’re not enough, read those letters. You are more than enough.” The ceremony was emotional for Dr. Blair, who had to wipe away tears on multiple occasions. Looking back, she said, it’s hard to believe IASA took a chance on her. “I remember interviewing for the position and thinking they would never buy this because it’s too touchy feely. I’m talking about leadership from the inside out and how you have to know yourself It helped me find myself again and helped me develop who I want to grow into. ISAL really is life-changing professional development.

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LM May 2024