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The superintendent of Des
Plaines Community Consolidated
School District 62 is the new
president of the statewide
association for school
superintendents and
administrators. Dr. Jane L.
Westerhold began her one-year
term on July 1 as president of the
Illinois Association of School
Administrators (IASA).
“I am deeply honored to serve in
such a capacity. Throughout the
years of my membership, the
IASA has been a consistent source of support and
fellowship, avenue for professional growth, and
advocate for public education,” said Westerhold, who
has been an educator for 38 years, the past 11 as
superintendent in the Des Plaines district. “I am a
better educator and leader as a result of my
involvement in the IASA. I am particularly excited to
continue articulating and supporting Vision 20/20's
policy platform to fulfill the promise of public
education.”
Dr. Brent Clark, executive director of IASA, said
Westerhold’s vast experience and her leadership
skills will serve her well in providing solid leadership
for IASA, which is one of the nation’s largest
statewide associations for school administrators with
more than 1,700 members.
“Jane Westerhold has been on the IASA Board of
Directors for more than seven years and was chosen
Illinois Superintendent of the Year in 2013. She is a
respected educator and leader who is committed to
providing the best possible educational opportunities
for children,” Clark said. “These are some of the most
challenging times ever for public education and I
believe Jane’s leadership abilities can help us
navigate through these difficult times.”
In addition to serving this past year as president-
elect of the association, Westerhold also has been
treasurer of IASA as well as being on various
committees. She also has served as a coach for
IASA’s School for Advanced Leadership (ISAL) and
is an IASA mentor for new school superintendents.
She was inducted in 2014 into the Century Club 100,
a national honorary group that selects two
superintendents per state. Westerhold also is a
member of the American Association of School
Administrators (AASA) Governing Board as well as a
member of the National Center for Research and
Technology Board.
Westerhold is a graduate of Staunton High
School and attained her Bachelor’s and Master’s
Degrees from Southern Illinois University and her
Doctor of Education Degree from Loyola University in
Chicago. She served as a teacher, principal, director
of curriculum and instruction and assistant
superintendent in various school districts before
being named superintendent in Des Plaines in 2005.
In addition to being named Illinois Superintendent
of the Year, other honors for Westerhold include the
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) “Those Who
Excel” Award, the Des Plaines Chamber of
Commerce Community Enhancement Award, the
Illinois National School Public Relations Association
(INSPRA) Distinguished Service Award, and the
District 62 Lighthouse Award. This year she was
named winner of the Illinois Association of School
Business Officials (IASBO) Nelson Gray Presidential
Award.
Des Plaines School Board President Stephanie
Duckmann called Westerhold “a leader not just in our
district, but also in the community and state level.”
“Jane is relentless in making sure our students
will be successful in the 21
st
century and in achieving
academic growth every day,” said Duckmann. “Her
leadership has propelled our district forward. We
accomplished a major renovation of our eleven
schools, increased technology and improved test
scores in the eleven years of her tenure.”
Westerhold said that she looks forward to working
with her colleagues from throughout the state to meet
the tough challenges facing public education.
“Superintendents are facing some of the most
tumultuous times in recent history. Horace Mann
stated in 1846 that education is the great equalizer of
the conditions of men. As the poverty rates continue
to increase in our schools, this has never been more
true,” Westerhold said. “In a state as diverse as
Illinois, finding a solution for equitable and adequate
funding to meet the needs of our state's two million
students remains a priority and obstacle.”
Westerhold is married to Dr. Kenneth Cull, a
retired school superintendent. Daughter Emily
Westerhold and husband Sebastian Rymarz live in
San Francisco, stepson Ian Cull and wife Heather live
in Chicago, and stepdaughter Jami Cull Patrick and
husband Andrew live in Nashville, Tennessee. The
couple has four grandchildren - Stone, Brooklyn and
Savannah Cull and Melis Patrick.
Westerhold becomes president of IASA
Des Plaines superintendent takes reins of statewide association
Dr. Jane L.
Westerhold