Joint Annual Conference

Targeted School Board Member Training

IASB Friday Focus Workshops are designed to give school board members knowledge, skills, and resources to provide effective board leadership. Participants can mix and match two half-day sessions (morning/afternoon) or choose one full-day workshop.

Note: IASB Friday Focus Workshops (formerly referred to as Pre-Conference Workshops) are only available to those who have registered for the 2023 Joint Annual Conference. For additional information contact Haylie Noltensmeier at (217) 528-9688, ext. 1103.

 

Online registration for Friday Focus Workshops has closed. A limited number of walk-in registrations will be accepted for some workshops.

Full Day Workshops

8-9 a.m. Continental Breakfast and Registration; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Workshop; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch (included); 3 p.m. Adjournment

The Job of the Board President in Leading Leaders [BPLL]
The board president, as a leader, has influence and ability to impact the quality and success of the board’s work, which ultimately affects the entire education system. This year we are joined by two presenters: Brenda Clark Hamilton and Brian Crowley. Brenda Clark Hamilton offers fresh perspectives on leadership, communication, and team building. Her message is titled – “The Mentally Strong Leader: Strategies for Increasing Your Resiliency.” Brian Crowley is an attorney with Franczek, P.C., who will cover the legal requirements board presidents need to know and more. Join us in this interactive workshop that will explore the board president’s crucial leadership role and the responsibilities necessary for an effective board.

Breaking Down the Walls: Bringing Student Voice to the Board Table [BSVBT]
Developed by Phil Boyte, The Breaking Down the Walls program is a unique opportunity for student leaders and board members to connect, share stories, and realize "it's hard to hate someone whose story you know." Board members are encouraged to invite student board members, ambassadors, or representatives for a day of team and culture building. The workshop will include a breakout session where students will connect with fellow student leaders from across the state, as board members develop governance best practices to give students a voice at the table. At the end of the day together, registered student leaders are invited to attend the Joint Annual Conference Opening Session.

Special Registration Note for this event: Capacity is limited. Student leaders must be accompanied by at least one board member or administrator from their district. Districts participating in this event are responsible for securing and maintaining appropriate written permission from the parent(s)/guardian(s) of students attending this event. If student(s) will be attending the entire Conference, they must register through the normal process (as listed on the IASB website) and pay the full Conference fee. If student(s) will only be attending the Friday Focus Workshop and Opening Session, the fee is $100 per student and they can be registered by emailing registrar@iasb.com. Student representation is not required for board members to attend the workshop.

 

Half Day Morning Workshops

8-9 a.m. Continental Breakfast and Registration; 9-11:30 a.m. Workshop; 11:30 a.m. Adjournment (Lunch is not included)

Superintendent Evaluation: The Essential Work of the Board [SEAM]
The board employs and evaluates one person — the superintendent — and holds that person accountable for district performance and compliance with written board policy. In this age of accountability, good governance requires a superintendent evaluation process that promotes district improvement and provides professional development and growth opportunities.

Real-World Board Scenarios [RWNS]
Working alongside colleagues from throughout the state, you will collaboratively navigate real-world scenarios from the book How Not to Be a Terrible Board Member. Participants will gain a greater understanding of their roles as board members and gather techniques for navigating the complexities of board work.

Influence Redefined … Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be, Monday to Monday® - AM [IRAM]
Do you feel confident that you’re a leader with influence? You may be surprised to discover you’re not as influential as you think you are. This engaging workshop will provide methods for improving communication and producing the ideal type of influence – one that moves people to action long after an interaction is over. Common influence myths will be dispelled, and participants will learn how to stop sabotaging themselves in order to leave a positive, lasting impression.

Introduction to Collective Bargaining for School Board Members and Administrators - AM [CBAM] (Walk-ins Accepted)
Attend this workshop to learn what every school board member — and every administrator — needs to know about collective bargaining:

• What the law requires of school boards and employee unions.
• Steps involved in bargaining labor contracts.
• Alternative processes.
• Politics and psychology of school bargaining.
• Roles and responsibilities of boards and administrators.
• How to handle labor disputes; and
• How to keep labor relations problems from destroying human relationships.

School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management and Reunification Overview - AM [SSAM]
The School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management – Reunification Overview will share Concepts of Operation (Incident Command and Reunification) that are taught to first responders and school administrators in the Illinois Fire Service Institute. This performance-level, direct delivery course is designed to improve incident management and response integration to violent events in schools and provide a model framework for use by schools, law enforcement, fire, and EMS to manage response to improve time to threat neutralization, medical intervention, survivability of victims, and reunification of students with parents. A demonstration of the SSAVEIM tabletop exercise is included, and critical questions board members and school leaders should ask will be addressed.

Unconscious Bias: Understanding Bias to Unleash Potential™ - AM [UBAM] (Walk-ins Accepted)
The rapid pace of education means school leaders are faced with countless bits of information while making decisions that have momentary to long-term impacts on educational outcomes, all while serving an increasingly diverse student population. How can we create learning environments and workplaces in which everyone feels valued and able to offer their best? This session offers the opportunity to explore the impact of personal bias while identifying and exploring the cycle necessary to mitigate bias. Attendees will identify what bias is and the impact it has on performance for individuals and organizations, understand how the brain works to increase self-awareness and acknowledge personal bias, and identify tools to mitigate bias and practice each phase of the cycle.
 

Half Day Afternoon Workshops

11-11:30 a.m. Registration; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch (included); 12:30-3 p.m. Workshop; 3 p.m. Adjournment

Equity: An Educational Imperative [EEIPM] (Walk-ins Accepted)
Have you ever felt as if you just don’t know what to say to someone with whom you are culturally different? And you’re not sure if you’re doing something to offend or demean others, when you have the best of intentions? In this fast-paced, interactive seminar, you will receive greater confidence and skill practice in valuing and working across racial and cultural differences and support to identify unconscious, exclusive behaviors which we all exhibit at times. Discover how to contribute to the school district’s mission and strategic focus on student preparedness and excellence for all students and understnd the important and central role you play in creating an equitable school environment that leads to greater student success.

Influence Redefined … Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be, Monday to Monday® - PM [IRPM]
Do you feel confident that you’re a leader with influence? You may be surprised to discover you’re not as influential as you think you are. This engaging workshop will provide methods for improving communication and producing the ideal type of influence – one that moves people to action long after an interaction is over. Common influence myths will be dispelled, and participants will learn how to stop sabotaging themselves in order to leave a positive, lasting impression.

Introduction to Collective Bargaining for School Board Members and Administrators - PM [CBPM] (Walk-ins Accepted)
Attend this workshop to learn what every school board member — and every administrator — needs to know about collective bargaining:

• What the law requires of school boards and employee unions.
• Steps involved in bargaining labor contracts.
• Alternative processes.
• Politics and psychology of school bargaining.
• Roles and responsibilities of boards and administrators.
• How to handle labor disputes; and
• How to keep labor relations problems from destroying human relationships.

School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management and Reunification Overview - PM [SSPM] 
The School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management – Reunification Overview will share Concepts of Operation (Incident Command and Reunification) that are taught to first responders and school administrators in the Illinois Fire Service Institute. This performance-level, direct delivery course is designed to improve incident management and response integration to violent events in schools and provide a model framework for use by schools, law enforcement, fire, and EMS to manage response to improve time to threat neutralization, medical intervention, survivability of victims, and reunification of students with parents. A demonstration of the SSAVEIM tabletop exercise is included, and critical questions board members and school leaders should ask will be addressed.

Unconscious Bias: Understanding Bias to Unleash Potential™ - PM [UBPM] (Walk-ins Accepted)
The rapid pace of education means school leaders are faced with countless bits of information while making decisions that have momentary to long-term impacts on educational outcomes, all while serving an increasingly diverse student population. How can we create learning environments and workplaces in which everyone feels valued and able to offer their best? This session offers the opportunity to explore the impact of personal bias while identifying and exploring the cycle necessary to mitigate bias. Attendees will identify what bias is and the impact it has on performance for individuals and organizations, understand how the brain works to increase self-awareness and acknowledge personal bias, and identify tools to mitigate bias and practice each phase of the cycle.