Twenty-five outstanding Illinois administrators honored for expertise and leadership

SPRINGFIELD – Education leaders from around the state convened today to honor 25 outstanding school and district administrators at the third annual Distinguished Administrators Luncheon, co-hosted by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Horace Mann Companies, the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), and the Illinois Principals Association (IPA). 

State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, Ph.D., delivered opening remarks at the event, held at The Inn at 835 in Springfield. Smith expressed his deep appreciation for the dedication and leadership of superintendents and principals, who will play a key role in implementing the state’s new accountability and support system under the Every Student Succeeds Act. 

“A healthy school system depends on strong school and district leaders,” said Smith. “The 25 superintendents and principals honored today have shown an outsized and inspirational commitment to students and to their communities. I cannot overstate the importance of school and district administrators to the success of our students, especially as we all transition and grow through Illinois’ Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan. I want to publicly thank our all of our outstanding superintendents and principals.”

Regional colleagues annually select their local Superintendents of Distinction, one in each of the 21 IASA regions, based on leadership for learning, communication, professionalism, and community involvement. Dr. Jason Henry of Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196, was recognized as the 2017 Superintendent of the Year at the Joint Annual Conference in November. 

“Some of the best Illinois school leaders serving children, teachers, and communities are being recognized today for their dedicated work towards the maximum educational success for all students,” said Brent Clark, Ph.D., executive director of IASA. 

Education leaders from around the state attended the Distinguished Administrators Luncheon, including Marita Zuraitis, president and chief executive officer of the Horace Mann Companies, a national insurer that focuses on education.

“Our administrators excel at providing a supportive, enriching, and constructive environment to help both students and faculty achieve their best every day,” said Zuraitis. “We are proud to recognize the Superintendents of Distinction and Principal of the Year honorees and support their efforts to find solutions to the many issues schools and educators face every day.” 

IPA encourages community members, teachers, administrators, and board members to nominate outstanding principals and assistant principals within their regions. Regional winners move on to the state level, where a committee of past IPA presidents selects an Elementary Principal of the Year, a Middle School/Junior High School Principal of the Year, a High School Principal of the Year, and an Assistant Principal of the Year.

“These individuals exemplify the best in school leadership,” said Jason Leahy, executive director of IPA. “They are to be commended for their service and dedication to their students, teachers, and communities.”

ISBE, Horace Mann Companies, IASA, and IPA today recognized the following administrators:

​​​ ​Educator	​Recognitio​n	​Organizati​on	​​Distri​ct/School
​​​ ​Dr. John Asplund	Superintendent  of Dis​tinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Farmington Central District 265, Farmington
​Timothy Buss	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Wabash CUSD 348, Mount Carmel
​ ​Charl​e​y Cass	​Middle School  Principal of the Year	​Illinois Principals Association	​Central Junior High School, East Peoria
​Dr. James Carlson	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Seneca High School School District 160, Seneca
​ ​Dr. Kerry Cox​	​Superintendent of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Carrollton CUSD 1, Carrollton
​Kyle Ganson	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Colona District 190, Colona
​ ​Dr. Scott Goselin​​​​​	​Superintendent of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Bradley District 61, Bradley
​Dr. Jason Henry	​Superintendent  of the Year	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Sesser-Valier CUSD 196, Sesser
​ Andrew Johnson	​Assistant Principal of the Year	​Illinois Principals Association	​Teutopolis High School, Teutopolis
​Aimee Kaspar	​Elementary Principal of the Year	​Illinois Principals Association	​Kishwaukee Elementary School, Rockford
​ ​Dr. Gwynne Kell	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Winfield District 34, Winfield
​Dr. Michael Kuzniewski	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​J.S. Morton District 201, Cicero
​​Jilinda Larson	​Superintendent of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Tri-City CUSD 1, Buffalo
​Dr. Thomas Mahoney	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Oregon District 220, Oregon
​ ​Cliff McClure	Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Paxton-Buckley-Loda  CUSD 10, Roberts
​Robert Nolting	​High School Principal of the Year	​Illinois Principals Association​	​Victor J. Andrew High School, Tinley Park
​ ​Dr. Dan Oest	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Richmond-Burton CHSD 157, Richmond
​Dr. Donald Owen	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Urbana District 116, Urbana
​ ​K. Scot Reynolds​​	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Spoon River Valley CUSD 4, London Mills
​Julie Schmidt	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Kildeer-Countryside District 96, Buffalo Grove
​ ​Dr. David Schuler	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Township High School District 214, Arlington Heights
​Dr. Gina Segobiano	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Columbia CUSD 4, Columbia
​ ​Dr. Daryl Tay​lor	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Lincoln Elementary School District 156,  Calumet City
​Leslie Varble	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Century District 100, Ullin
​ ​Rich Well	​Superintendent  of Distinction	​Illinois Association of School Administrators	​Vandalia CUSD 203, Vandalia