LM Oct 2019

Message From the Executive Director IASA Begins NewChapterWith Addition of Two NewMembers to the Team

Dr. Brent Clark

Many of you are also wondering about the search for an Associate Director of Professional Development. Similarly to the process we used to find Chad, a committee has been formed to interview candidates. Our goal is to have someone named in November in order to give them time to work with the IASA Professional Development Committee before Dr. Voltz retires on June 30, 2020. Once the board makes a selection, we will send out an announcement. I want to thank all of the sponsors, exhibitors, presenters and moderators at the IASA Annual Conference. Without you, the conference would not be possible. As is the case every year, a tremendous amount of work went into planning this conference, so I hope everyone enjoyed the experience and took something you learned back to your district. FYI, we recorded Ignite presentations and are publishing them to the IASA Video Library for you to go back and watch. To close, I want to let you know IASA will soon be releasing a new podcast with ISBE on School Designations, which will go live on the Illinois Report Card on Oct. 30. The podcast will be a helpful resource for you on understanding designations, how to access resources from ISBE and tips around having conversations about the designations with stakeholders. You can subscribe to the IASA Podcast anywhere you can listen to podcasts. We also share it on social media and in our Eye on Education daily newsletter. Enjoy this fall weather and the rest of the first semester. Yours for better schools,

I have been fortunate during my time as executive director of IASA to have great continuity with our staff, but every association inevitably faces change. IASA began a search for a new general counsel this summer, and I’m proud to announce we have found someone who I believe is up to the challenge. Chad Watkins comes to IASA from the Tueth Keeney law firm, where he represented school districts throughout Illinois. Chad, who begins at IASA October 15, graduated from Northwestern University and earned his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he was a special education teacher in Washington, D.C. A committee made up of members of the IASA Board of Directors guided IASA in the selection process, and Chad emerged as the unanimous choice. I feel confident his knowledge of school issues, enthusiasm to work for IASA and passion for public education will make for a smooth transition. Chad will be visiting IASA region meetings soon, so be sure to welcome him to the team. That’s not the only change at IASA. Ben Boer will serve as IASA’s Director of Research and Data Analysis. Adding this position, which will function similarly to an independent contractor, will be critical this legislative session to provide IASA with data analysis on issues, such as funding the Evidence-Based Funding Model, property taxes and school consolidation. I can’t think of anyone in the country more knowledgeable on these issues than Ben, who formerly worked for Advance Illinois and was instrumental in the development of EBF. We are fortunate to add his unique skillset to our team and help IASA make compelling and data-driven arguments to the legislature on the biggest issues facing superintendents.

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LM October 2019