Page 8 - Leadership Matters February 2013_3140b78f.pub
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first ISAL. A coaching seminar was conducted in
conjunction with the first weekend session of ISAL II
and each coach will
have two students.
Participants
are
required to attend four
weekend
sessions
each of the two years
as well as having
regular
interaction
with their coaches,
including online, by
phone and in-person.
Then there is the
interaction among the
participants.
“That interaction
is what makes ISAL a
collegial cohort in the
truest sense,” said
Osborne, a retired
superintendent and a
professor at Eastern
Illinois
University.
“They start together,
they finish together
and they support
each other along the
way. If you have no
one to ask questions
of or to bounce ideas
off,
being
a
superintendent can be a lonely existence.”
ISAL II is being co-sponsored by Ameresco, Inc.,
FGM Architects, Hodges Loizzi Eisenhammer Rodick
& Kohn LLP, and the Illinois School District Liquid
Asset Fund Plus (see ad on Page 9).
“Not only do our sponsors offer financial support
that helps make the program affordable, but they also
attend some of the sessions and offer their insights
from
the
business
world
perspective,” Osborne said.
Osborne said not only do
superintendents benefit from the
ISAL experience, but school
districts gain by having a leader
who advances and improves their
leadership skills.
“Personal growth leads to
improvement
in
overall
performance,” Osborne said. “If
you don’t know what you don’t
know, you are vulnerable.”
Another unintended benefit
of participating in the ISAL
program is expanding one's
professional network by getting to
know
superintendents
from
across the state, said Zabilka,
recently retired superintendent
from Morton Grove and a
graduate of ISAL I.
“Before I began this program,
I had no idea what kinds of
issues other superintendents
downstate dealt with. To my
surprise, those superintendents
deal with many of the same
issues—achievement, finances,
facilities, etc. -- but offer different
perspectives that were beneficial for me to hear,”
Zabilka said. “I've gained a great deal of respect and
appreciation for
all
of our superintendents in this
state. Regardless of where we're from, we all want
what's best for kids!”
(Continued from page 6)
start of a collaborative relationship that will serve all of us well as we address the current educational initiatives.
However, it was the personal growth and support I received through my participation in ISAL that took me by
surprise. While I have always known intellectually that one needs to take care of body, mind and spirit to be the
best leader and person possible, I tended to neglect all but my mind. Even though my physical goal was minimal
compared to some, it has literally and figuratively meant a step in the right direction for me. Walking has not only
led to better health, it has helped me to alleviate stress, and with the current challenges we all face, stress
reduction is sorely needed.
In addition, for the first time since I became a superintendent, I felt completely at ease to share my concerns
with others. This experience opened my eyes to the isolation we have at the top and how healthy it was to be
able to share with my ISAL colleagues and coach in an environment of complete support and confidentiality.
Moreover, my participation in ISAL helped me get through one of the most difficult events of my life – the loss of
a parent. Yes, ISAL made me a better leader, but more importantly, it made me a better person.
Stewart: Benefits of ISAL
—–—————————————————————————
Robert Abney, Waltham 185
Dr. Joseph Bailey, Medinah 11
Dr. Lori Bein, Roselle 12
Dr. Darcy Benway, O'Fallon Twp HS 203
Dr. Kim Boryszewski, Schiller Park 81
Kathy Countryman, Sycamore 427
Lea Damisch, Marengo/Union Dist. 165
Dr. Debbie Ehlenburg, Alden-Hebron 19
Anthony Galindo, Gibson City-Melvin Sibley 5
Dr. Jill Gildea, Fremont Dist. 79
Guy Gradert, Ridgeview CUSD 19
Christina Grant, Thompsonville 174
Dr. Dawn Green, Somonauk 432
Lori Harrison, Illini Central 189
Dr. Michael Lubelfeld, Pennoyer 79
Steve Murphy, Carbondale Comm 185
Dr. Kathie Pierce, Fenton 100
Dr. Nick Polyak, IL Valley Central Unit 321
Dr. Jamie Reilly, Golf 67
Dr. Tami Roskamp, Beecher 200U
Dr. Bhavna Sharma-Lewis, Harrison 36
Dr. Andrew Wise, Olympia CUSD 16
ISAL II
—–—————————————————————————
