4
Rafe Esquith
, an award-winning teacher
at
n
Los Angeles, where he has taught since
1984. Many of his students, who are all
from a community of poor and immigrant
families, start class very early, leave late,
and typically achieve high scores in
standardized tests. Esquith has authored
books about teaching and his annual class
Shakespeare Productions was featured in
the 2005 documentary
The Hobart
Shakespeareans.
We also have invited the two candidates for
governor, Governor Pat Quinn and Republican
candidate Bruce Rauner, to attend a special forum
and discuss their views on public education. That one
still is in pencil and may remain so right up to the
conference because of the obvious complexities of
scheduling that are involved. But we hope both
candidates take advantage of the opportunity to
come and talk about oneof themost important issues
facing our state.
Attention turns toPARCCnow that Illinoishas
NCLBwaiver
This issue of
LeadershipMatters
features a story
about ISBE’s perspective on implementation of
PARCC following the news that Illinois finally has
received its No Child Left Behind waiver from the
federal government. Also, wehave included a column
written by Dr. Kevin O’Mara regarding issues related
to the PARCC implementation. Kevin is
superintendent at Argo Community District 217 in
Cook County, a member of the IASA Board of
Directors and someonewho has been at the forefront
of thePARCCdiscussions.
CIV school leaders help Washington tornado
cleanup efforts
This issue also highlights the Service Day efforts
of superintendents and administrators in the Central
Illinois Valley Region. The school leaders gathered
recently on a Saturday to help the ongoing tornado
cleanup efforts in Washington (IL), and the story
explores the recovery efforts from the perspective of
superintendentswho lived through the tornado.
Congratulations toDr. David Schuler, the new
AASAPresident-Elect!
Dr. Schuler, superintendent at High School
District 214 in Arlington Heights, recently was voted
President-Elect of AASA. When he becomes
President in 2015, he will become the 13
th
superintendent from Illinois to lead the national
association that dates back to the late 1800s. This
issue includes an in-depth profile of Dr. Schuler, who
will be a tremendous national spokesperson for
public education.
(Continued frompage 3)
Central IllinoisValleyRegionsuperintendentsand school administratorsuse their ServiceDay to
help tornadocleanupefforts inWashington (IL).
