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Dr. Brent Clark
Message From the Executive Director
Perseverance in tough times
defines great school leaders
school year. Even those districts that don’t have to worry
about lack of funding for the new school year still have to
stare down aggressive individuals that enjoy nothing more
than tormenting the local school district, apparently just for
something to amuse themselves.
It’s an undeniable struggle that can be paralyzing for so
many individuals. Yet we persevere. That perseverance
is the ability to power through near impossible situations
because you have something you’re determined to
achieve. In many cases, it’s making sure every kid gets a
good crack at an education.
We want every administrator—whether you’re in a poor
or wealthy district or somewhere in between—to know
that, just like you, we at the IASA are fighting for you and
your kids every day. We believe in public education and
strongly back those persons who have answered the call
to be school leaders in the toughest of times.
Hats back on
…time to go back to work.
As we turn the corner of May 1 and head towards the
General Assembly homestretch, I want to quickly reflect
on the recent recognition of some of our state’s highest
performing superintendents that were honored by the
Illinois State Board of Education at the “Superintendents
of Distinction” ceremony held April 24. In the midst of the
mess of Illinois government, these school leaders and
hundreds of others across our state continue to protect
and shield the kids from the carnage.
In fact, it’s almost unexplainable how schools are
achieving so much while so many districts are scratching
to survive financially. The answer lies in the personal
ability and commitment to power through the distress
and distractions to ensure we are giving everything we
possibly can to every child.
Hats off
to so many doing the great work of educating
kids while having to literally beg state government to do its
job. It’s a struggle and we’re all in it together.
So, as we turn to May and the final month of the General
Assembly calendar (under normal conditions, which
haven’t been normal and likely won’t be normal for who
knows how long), we will see kids being recognized for
stellar work, kids receiving scholarships for their effort
and future potential, kids graduating and starting new
opportunities, and kids planning for a great summer.
As school administrators, we will be focused on the
long work list of summer repairs and improvements on
our campuses as well as getting new faculty and staff
orientated to the schools—all the while wondering in the
back of our minds whether we will have enough funding
from the state budget to start and finish the 2017–18
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