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Executive Director’s Note:
Fiscal Year 2019 was undoubtedly a year to remember for both the state of Illinois and IASA.
When Gov. Pritzker defeated Bruce Rauner, it ushered in a new political environment in Springfield,
where we were no longer fighting budget battles.
The budget Pritzker signed on June 7 includes $375 million in Evidence-Based Funding, $50 million
for early childhood funding and an increase of $26 million in transportation funding above last
year’s funding levels. We are also excited a major construction program passed this year that
includes money for schools. These new dollars will significantly help our schools improve learning
environments for students across the state.
At IASA, the association had another successful year with the addition of two new Field Services Directors to mentor new
superintendents and be a sounding board for members. We also saw great success this year with our Women in Leadership
strand, which provides another level of support and networking for our female members.
Other highlights include the fifth cohort of ISAL and third cohort of the Aspiring Superintendents Academy getting underway.
We also revamped the Illinois Education Job Bank, launched our Lunch to Learn webinar series, improved our presence on
social media and held a series of academies across the state on the Every Student Succeeds Act and Strategic Dashboards.
The work and dedication of the IASA Board of Directors in FY 2019 also stands out to me. No matter what, the board focused
on the IASA vision of maximizing educational success for all students. As executive director, I truly appreciate the strength,
vision and support the board provided.
This year, we honored 21 Superintendents of Distinction at a luncheon in May and recognized Dr. Gary Kelly of Du Quoin CUSD
#300 as the 2019 Illinois Superintendent of the Year. These exceptional leaders are truly difference makers in their community.
As we look forward to next year, I’m excited to continue hearing about how schools are using EBF dollars to benefit students. In
case you missed it, we profiled how 50 schools were using EBF in our “Making a Difference” series in Leadership Matters.
Keep up the good work and thank you for all that you do to serve kids and each other.
Yours for better schools,
Brent Clark, Ph.D.
IASA Executive Director