IASB Updates for August 2025
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Date PostedAugust 15, 2025
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CategoryNews
IASB Welcomes Four to Staff
Two new Directors of Outreach and Training, both based in the Lombard office, have joined IASB.
Justin Caldwell, Ed.D. comes to IASB from a career that includes 15 years working in the ever-changing big box retail environment. He also worked for several years in the healthcare industry plus time operating one of Amazon’s busiest fulfillment centers. In all of this he has never left his passion for learning and continues to share his knowledge by serving as an adjunct professor for Governors State University. He served on local school boards for over 12 years and holds a doctorate in Ethical Educational Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University.
Gary Fasules is also joining IASB as Director of Outreach and Training. A civic-minded executive with more than 20 years of board leadership across government, nonprofit, and private sector, Fasules brings extensive expertise in educational partnerships, training initiatives, and building customer engagement programs. Fasules has served 12 years as Trustee and Acting Village President for the Village of Glen Ellyn, where he led strategic planning, budgeting, and economic development initiatives.
The Association also welcomes two other newcomers to the staff.
Gabriella Gabehart joins IASB’s Communications and Production Services team as the Assistant Manager of Marketing and Publications. Prior to IASB, Gabriella worked as an ESL (English as a Second Language) educator in Valencia, Spain for three years. She comes from a family of teachers and is a third-generation educator. Prior to teaching abroad she also worked for a marketing agency in Austin, Texas. Gabehart received her bachelor's degree in digital media Innovation from Texas State University. Gabehart will be located in the Springfield office.
Maggie Gibson joins IASB as a Legal Assistant in the Office of General Counsel, working from the Lombard office. Prior to IASB, Gibson served for nine years as a case manager and analyst for an expert economist in a litigation consulting firm specializing in defining economic damages. Prior to this position, she taught mathematics at the College of DuPage. Gibson recently completed a Paralegal Certificate at the College of DuPage. She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University and master’s degrees from DePaul University and University of Louisville in Finance and Mathematics.
Conference Scholarship Districts Announced
Board members representing 40 districts will receive scholarships to attend the 2025 Joint Annual Conference. The scholarships are a program of the IASB Board of Directors.
A-C Central CUSD 262 • Atwood Heights SD 125 • Belvidere CUSD 100 • Bluford CUSD 318 • Carbondale ESD 95 • Central City SD 133 • Coulterville CUSD 1 • Freeport SD 145 • Gavin SD 37 • Genoa-Kingston CUSD 424 • Gillespie CUSD 7 • Harrisburg CUSD 3 • Homewood SD 153 • Iroquois County CUSD 9 • Kankakee SD 111 • Keeneyville SD 20 • Lockport THSD 205 • Lyons Elem SD 103 • McLean Co Unit District 5 • Metamora CCSD 1 • Millburn CCSD 24 • Mt. Olive CUSD 5 • New Simpson Hill CSD 32 • North Wayne CUSD 200 • Odell CCSD 435 • Oswego CUSD 308 • Plainfield CCSD 202 • Proviso THSD 209 • Rochester CUSD 3A • Silvis SD 34 • South Pekin SD 137 • Steelville CUSD 138 • Streator ESD 44 • Sunnybrook SD 171 • Sycamore CUSD 427 • Taft SD 90 • Thornton-Fractional THSD 215 • Warren THSD 121 • Warsaw CUSD 316 • Williamsville CUSD 15.
This is the second year of the Conference Scholarship program. Each scholarship offers an individual the opportunity to enhance professional growth and network with peers, colleagues, and other educational personnel. Each individual recipient receives Conference registration; daily meal allotment for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; and allowable expense reimbursement, in addition to a personal mentor to guide the member through the Conference experience.
For questions about the Conference Scholarship program, contact IASB Executive Assistant Chris Montrey.
Resource Updates
Two IASB resources have been updated in Summer 2025.
The Governmental Relations team has published the 2025 End of Session Report to inform school leaders of legislative activity that took place during the Illinois General Assembly Spring Session. It includes a general overview of legislative action relating to public education, as well as sections on the state budget, bills supported and opposed by IASB, bills that could reemerge in the future, and more. The 2025 End of Session Report is available online.
Another publication that has been updated is How School Boards Work: The Role of the Board of Education in the Community, which offers insights into the functions of boards of education for current and potential board members and their communities. How School Boards Work is one of several resources and tools available to members and the public.
Delegate Assembly Online Registration Now Open
Pre-registration for delegates to the 2025 IASB Delegate Assembly is now open, and is highly encouraged. The individual who can register a delegate is the district’s roster manager. Each member district can register one delegate.
Delegates will vote on a proposed resolution and 10 proposed amendments to the IASB Constitution and elect IASB officers. The Delegate Assembly takes place November 22 at 10:30 a.m., the Saturday morning during the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago.
The Governmental Relations team will host webinars to help members prepare for the IASB Delegate Assembly. Visit the IASB Events page for more information.
To learn more about the proposed changes to the IASB Constitution, attend the September 11 webinar, IASB Proposed Constitutional Changes and review the Resolutions Committee Report that will be distributed to each member district and posted on the IASB website in early September.
Two new Directors of Outreach and Training, both based in the Lombard office, have joined IASB.
Justin Caldwell, Ed.D. comes to IASB from a career that includes 15 years working in the ever-changing big box retail environment. He also worked for several years in the healthcare industry plus time operating one of Amazon’s busiest fulfillment centers. In all of this he has never left his passion for learning and continues to share his knowledge by serving as an adjunct professor for Governors State University. He served on local school boards for over 12 years and holds a doctorate in Ethical Educational Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University.
Gary Fasules is also joining IASB as Director of Outreach and Training. A civic-minded executive with more than 20 years of board leadership across government, nonprofit, and private sector, Fasules brings extensive expertise in educational partnerships, training initiatives, and building customer engagement programs. Fasules has served 12 years as Trustee and Acting Village President for the Village of Glen Ellyn, where he led strategic planning, budgeting, and economic development initiatives.
The Association also welcomes two other newcomers to the staff.
Gabriella Gabehart joins IASB’s Communications and Production Services team as the Assistant Manager of Marketing and Publications. Prior to IASB, Gabriella worked as an ESL (English as a Second Language) educator in Valencia, Spain for three years. She comes from a family of teachers and is a third-generation educator. Prior to teaching abroad she also worked for a marketing agency in Austin, Texas. Gabehart received her bachelor's degree in digital media Innovation from Texas State University. Gabehart will be located in the Springfield office.
Maggie Gibson joins IASB as a Legal Assistant in the Office of General Counsel, working from the Lombard office. Prior to IASB, Gibson served for nine years as a case manager and analyst for an expert economist in a litigation consulting firm specializing in defining economic damages. Prior to this position, she taught mathematics at the College of DuPage. Gibson recently completed a Paralegal Certificate at the College of DuPage. She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University and master’s degrees from DePaul University and University of Louisville in Finance and Mathematics.
Conference Scholarship Districts Announced
Board members representing 40 districts will receive scholarships to attend the 2025 Joint Annual Conference. The scholarships are a program of the IASB Board of Directors.
A-C Central CUSD 262 • Atwood Heights SD 125 • Belvidere CUSD 100 • Bluford CUSD 318 • Carbondale ESD 95 • Central City SD 133 • Coulterville CUSD 1 • Freeport SD 145 • Gavin SD 37 • Genoa-Kingston CUSD 424 • Gillespie CUSD 7 • Harrisburg CUSD 3 • Homewood SD 153 • Iroquois County CUSD 9 • Kankakee SD 111 • Keeneyville SD 20 • Lockport THSD 205 • Lyons Elem SD 103 • McLean Co Unit District 5 • Metamora CCSD 1 • Millburn CCSD 24 • Mt. Olive CUSD 5 • New Simpson Hill CSD 32 • North Wayne CUSD 200 • Odell CCSD 435 • Oswego CUSD 308 • Plainfield CCSD 202 • Proviso THSD 209 • Rochester CUSD 3A • Silvis SD 34 • South Pekin SD 137 • Steelville CUSD 138 • Streator ESD 44 • Sunnybrook SD 171 • Sycamore CUSD 427 • Taft SD 90 • Thornton-Fractional THSD 215 • Warren THSD 121 • Warsaw CUSD 316 • Williamsville CUSD 15.
This is the second year of the Conference Scholarship program. Each scholarship offers an individual the opportunity to enhance professional growth and network with peers, colleagues, and other educational personnel. Each individual recipient receives Conference registration; daily meal allotment for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; and allowable expense reimbursement, in addition to a personal mentor to guide the member through the Conference experience.
For questions about the Conference Scholarship program, contact IASB Executive Assistant Chris Montrey.
Resource Updates
Two IASB resources have been updated in Summer 2025.
The Governmental Relations team has published the 2025 End of Session Report to inform school leaders of legislative activity that took place during the Illinois General Assembly Spring Session. It includes a general overview of legislative action relating to public education, as well as sections on the state budget, bills supported and opposed by IASB, bills that could reemerge in the future, and more. The 2025 End of Session Report is available online.
Another publication that has been updated is How School Boards Work: The Role of the Board of Education in the Community, which offers insights into the functions of boards of education for current and potential board members and their communities. How School Boards Work is one of several resources and tools available to members and the public.
Delegate Assembly Online Registration Now Open
Pre-registration for delegates to the 2025 IASB Delegate Assembly is now open, and is highly encouraged. The individual who can register a delegate is the district’s roster manager. Each member district can register one delegate.
Delegates will vote on a proposed resolution and 10 proposed amendments to the IASB Constitution and elect IASB officers. The Delegate Assembly takes place November 22 at 10:30 a.m., the Saturday morning during the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago.
The Governmental Relations team will host webinars to help members prepare for the IASB Delegate Assembly. Visit the IASB Events page for more information.
To learn more about the proposed changes to the IASB Constitution, attend the September 11 webinar, IASB Proposed Constitutional Changes and review the Resolutions Committee Report that will be distributed to each member district and posted on the IASB website in early September.
