9
“I have gained
better skills in
problem solving,
decision making,
instructional
coaching and
leadership…I also now have
people in my position that I can
count on for advice and support.”
Lori Harrison
Illini Central 189
“ISAL pushed me
to focus more on
teaching and
learning…
budgets and
schedules, while
important to get right, will never
again take a greater role in my
leadership than student
achievement.”
Dr. Dawn Green
Somonauk 432
“
The integration
of research on
leadership and
the practice of
leadership yields
powerful results…
the learning and synergy from
state leaders in education creates
unity in purpose and shared
growth.”
Dr. Michael Lubelfeld
Deerfield 109
“I learned the
power of
collaboration and
establishing a
network
professionally
with other superintendents…in
our profession you can very much
be on an island and need
networks to succeed.”
Steve Murphy
Carbondale Comm 165
“
Our team was able
to use the
resources from
ISAL to identify
processes in need
of clarity. This
clarity resulted in a total reworking
of our special education personnel
and a re-launch of Response to
Intervention with more cohesion
between all curricula.”
Dr. Jamie Reilly, Maercker 60
“Developing the
plans required
me to think
deeply around
the topic of
school
improvement and focus on my
vision for the future of the
district…putting the steps of the
plan down into action plans
served as a guide…”
Dr. Kathie Pierce, Fenton 100
“The most
important thing I
learned is that
leadership
requires lifelong
learning and
reflection…it is a journey involving
curiosity, adaptive change and
vulnerability…and dialogue and
discussion with stakeholders.”
Dr. Tami Roskamp
Schuyler-Industry 5
“ISAL forced me
to hit the ‘pause’
button
periodically and
really focus on
improving myself
as a school leader and as a
person…as leaders, we need to
be flexible and adopt a mindset of
continuous improvement.”
Dr. Nick Polyak
Leyden HS District 212
“The District
Development
Plan in ISAL
served as a road
map in my first
year as
superintendent. The plan kept me
focused, accountable and true to
the mission of improving learning
in my district.”
Dr. Andrew Wise
Olympia 16
“
ISAL has
provided me with
direction in
guiding my
board through
the process of
developing a district mission that
is student centered…and that
mission will provide direction in all
decisions.”
Christina Grant
Thompsonville 174
Graduates talk about ISAL experience
ISAL II co-chairs Dr. Gary Zabilka, left and Dr. Nick Osborne, right, along
with facilitator Dr. Nancy Blair.
