IASB Briefs
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Date PostedApril 21, 2025
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CategoryNews
IASB Welcomes Two New Staff Members
IASB has welcomed two new staff members to the Springfield office location.
Jacqueline Keysear has joined the Events Management team as a Specialist. Prior to IASB, she was assistant manager for a mental health clinic and worked in event planning for several years. Keysear has a certification in meeting management from MPI and a certification for corporate event planning from QC Event School. She soon will be a Certified Meeting Professional upon her completion and acceptance of her application from the CMP Academy.
Christine Lockwood joins the Department of Outreach, Training & Events as an Administrative Assistant. Prior to joining the Association staff, Lockwood worked for over 20 years’ experience in related administrative roles. Her most recent employment was executive assistant to the CFO/COO of a manufacturing company. Lockwood was also previously a news reporter, responsible for the coverage of school boards in Morrisonville and Pana in Christian County.
Three staff members have moved to new roles within IASB. The Training Development team welcomes Shantel Rotherham as Assistant Director and Miranda Sexton as Administrative Assistant. The Outreach, Training & Events Department welcomes Mary Ellen Buch to its staff.
ISBE-IASB Advisory Group
Illinois school board members have the opportunity to engage with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to have in-depth conversations about local education issues and topics of interest. An ISBE-IASB Advisory Group meets quarterly via Zoom. Discussion at the January meeting covered topics such as the state-wide listening tours, the new ACT testing, and the state’s legislative agenda. The next meeting is scheduled for May 20. School board members interested in participating should contact Executive Assistant Chris Montrey.
Website Enhancements
The IASB website has launched several updates, most notably Online Learning. A new Online Learning portal at www.iasb.com/online-learning provides members with a one-stop shop for online learning opportunities offered by IASB, including online courses, webinar events, and recordings.
IASB members are encouraged to log in to iasb.com to view their new and improved member profiles and explore the links available to them as a member. This is where members can share relevant information about themselves to help IASB staff improve the delivery of services and resources and provide new engagement opportunities for members.
All individuals who update their member profile information by September 20 will be entered for a drawing for a $75 Amazon gift card. There is one prize per division. Every district that achieves 100% completion among board members by September 20 will be entered into a second drawing for reserved seating at the Joint Annual Conference General Sessions, available to all paid registrants from the district.
New School Laws Publication Sent to Districts and Available Online
Presented by the IASB Governmental relations team, New School Laws, the digest of state laws affecting Illinois public schools has been updated with laws enacted in 2024. Also included, where applicable, is the IASB Policy Service (PRESS) information regarding new legislation. The New School Laws publication is available on the IASB website.
Popular Title Available Again
The Art of School Boarding, by popular IASB Joint Annual Conference presenter Jim Burgett, is now available for purchase in the IASB Online Bookstore. This title discusses the basics of board work, school governance, and the role of the board, its members, and the administration.
IASB Presents Conference Scholarships
The Board of Directors of the Illinois Association of School Boards has developed the Joint Annual Conference Scholarship Program, now in its second year, to support IASB member school boards with professional development. The program will support school board members from districts that have not previously attended the Conference and who represent districts with financial need.
IASB is also presenting the Tasha Levy Memorial Administrative Professionals Scholarship, created to honor the life and legacy of Tasha Levy, whose kindness, dedication, and warmth had a profound impact on her colleagues and the members she served at IASB.
IASB has welcomed two new staff members to the Springfield office location.
Jacqueline Keysear has joined the Events Management team as a Specialist. Prior to IASB, she was assistant manager for a mental health clinic and worked in event planning for several years. Keysear has a certification in meeting management from MPI and a certification for corporate event planning from QC Event School. She soon will be a Certified Meeting Professional upon her completion and acceptance of her application from the CMP Academy.
Christine Lockwood joins the Department of Outreach, Training & Events as an Administrative Assistant. Prior to joining the Association staff, Lockwood worked for over 20 years’ experience in related administrative roles. Her most recent employment was executive assistant to the CFO/COO of a manufacturing company. Lockwood was also previously a news reporter, responsible for the coverage of school boards in Morrisonville and Pana in Christian County.
Three staff members have moved to new roles within IASB. The Training Development team welcomes Shantel Rotherham as Assistant Director and Miranda Sexton as Administrative Assistant. The Outreach, Training & Events Department welcomes Mary Ellen Buch to its staff.
ISBE-IASB Advisory Group
Illinois school board members have the opportunity to engage with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to have in-depth conversations about local education issues and topics of interest. An ISBE-IASB Advisory Group meets quarterly via Zoom. Discussion at the January meeting covered topics such as the state-wide listening tours, the new ACT testing, and the state’s legislative agenda. The next meeting is scheduled for May 20. School board members interested in participating should contact Executive Assistant Chris Montrey.
Website Enhancements
The IASB website has launched several updates, most notably Online Learning. A new Online Learning portal at www.iasb.com/online-learning provides members with a one-stop shop for online learning opportunities offered by IASB, including online courses, webinar events, and recordings.
IASB members are encouraged to log in to iasb.com to view their new and improved member profiles and explore the links available to them as a member. This is where members can share relevant information about themselves to help IASB staff improve the delivery of services and resources and provide new engagement opportunities for members.
All individuals who update their member profile information by September 20 will be entered for a drawing for a $75 Amazon gift card. There is one prize per division. Every district that achieves 100% completion among board members by September 20 will be entered into a second drawing for reserved seating at the Joint Annual Conference General Sessions, available to all paid registrants from the district.
New School Laws Publication Sent to Districts and Available Online
Presented by the IASB Governmental relations team, New School Laws, the digest of state laws affecting Illinois public schools has been updated with laws enacted in 2024. Also included, where applicable, is the IASB Policy Service (PRESS) information regarding new legislation. The New School Laws publication is available on the IASB website.
Popular Title Available Again
The Art of School Boarding, by popular IASB Joint Annual Conference presenter Jim Burgett, is now available for purchase in the IASB Online Bookstore. This title discusses the basics of board work, school governance, and the role of the board, its members, and the administration.
IASB Presents Conference Scholarships
The Board of Directors of the Illinois Association of School Boards has developed the Joint Annual Conference Scholarship Program, now in its second year, to support IASB member school boards with professional development. The program will support school board members from districts that have not previously attended the Conference and who represent districts with financial need.
IASB is also presenting the Tasha Levy Memorial Administrative Professionals Scholarship, created to honor the life and legacy of Tasha Levy, whose kindness, dedication, and warmth had a profound impact on her colleagues and the members she served at IASB.
