IASB News for January 2026
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Date PostedJanuary 15, 2026
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CategoryNews
Plan to Attend IASB’s Division Meetings
The next round of IASB Division Meetings is right around the corner. These events occur twice annually in each of IASB’s 21 regional divisions, and offer networking, professional development, peer recognition, and resources. Board members are encouraged to attend the meeting in their home division; members are also encouraged to attend meetings outside their division if a different date, site, or topic is better suited to their calendar, location, or interests.
Division meeting dates, locations, and registration information are still being added to the IASB calendar. Visit the IASB Division Meetings page for the most current info, to learn more, and to register.
Save the Date for Advocacy Day
When school board members show up together, legislators listen. Join IASB and help strengthen the future of public education in Illinois.
Join fellow Illinois school board members on Tuesday, March 24, for IASB Advocacy Day at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield. This one-day event brings board members together to advocate for public education, connect directly with legislators, and share your district’s story.
Registration opens January 16. The $50 registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and a day of policy briefings, advocacy skill-building, and meetings at the State Capitol, plus virtual advocacy prep sessions in advance to help you feel confident and prepared. Attendees will earn 15 Board Leader Recognition points.
IASB Constitution & Position Statements Updated
As a result of action from Association members at the 2025 IASB Delegate Assembly, changes were made to both the IASB Constitution and Position Statements. A new Position Statement, 2.49b School Bus Safety Funding, states that IASB will advocate for district flexibility and options to comply with a law requiring newly purchased buses to be equipped with three-point seat belts beginning in 2031.
More changes were made to the IASB Constitution with the adoption of 10 amendments. All 10 amendments recommended by the Constitution Review Committee were approved by a more than two-thirds majority. The changes include membership eligibility clarifications, IASB officer terms, division leadership training, removal of outdated language, and more. A full list of changes can be found in coverage of the 2025 Delegate Assembly. IASB members will be mailed both documents toward the end of January.
Board Presidents’ Academy Returns in June 2026
Registration opens February 16.
IASB will be presenting the Board President’s Academy on June 13 in Naperville and June 20 in Champaign. The 2026 Board Presidents’ Academy offers a full day of professional development for current and aspiring school board presidents and vice presidents.
Registration opens February 15. The registration fee is $199 and includes breakfast and lunch, plus a complimentary copy of Coming to Order: A Guide to Successful School Board Meetings. Participants will earn 10 Board Leader Recognition points
IASB Welcomes Three to Staff
Kevin Carey has joined the IASB Executive Searches staff. Carey is a retired school superintendent who has worked for 37 years in the education field. He retired as superintendent of Westmont CUSD 201 after serving in that role from 2010 to 2023. He was also superintendent for Peotone CUSD 207 U from 2006 to 2010. His experience in education includes time as a high school science teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and principal in various south suburban schools. Carey holds degrees from Lewis University and Governors State University. He will be based in the Association’s Lombard office.
Deirdre Liddle has joined IASB as an administrative assistant on the Outreach & Training team. She is based in the Association’s Lombard office and will primarily be providing administrative support for training and events in IASB’s DuPage, North Cook, and Starved Rock Divisions. Liddle graduated from Wheaton College in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and spent a couple of summers during college as an administrative assistant for the U.S. Department of State at the American Embassy in Jakarta, working in the housing section of the General Services Office.
Annie Schmidtke joins the Association on the Outreach & Training staff. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a Graduate Certificate in Management of Nonprofit Organizations from University of Illinois Springfield. She previously worked at Ball-Chatham CUSD 5, supporting the administration in facilitating state-funded grant programs and providing parent education and family engagement as Pre-K Coordinator. Schmidtke will be supporting the IASB Training and Outreach directors in the Springfield office with carrying out district workshops.
New Journal Features Insights into the New State Standards for Student Proficiency
The January/February 2026 issue of the Illinois School Board Journal includes a feature on understanding data trends and using them in the district, presented by ECRA Group. Also, view a recap of the 2025 Joint Annual Conference in words and pictures. Find the Journal in your mailbox, read selected text on the IASB website, or read Journal's digital edition flipbook.
The next round of IASB Division Meetings is right around the corner. These events occur twice annually in each of IASB’s 21 regional divisions, and offer networking, professional development, peer recognition, and resources. Board members are encouraged to attend the meeting in their home division; members are also encouraged to attend meetings outside their division if a different date, site, or topic is better suited to their calendar, location, or interests.
Division meeting dates, locations, and registration information are still being added to the IASB calendar. Visit the IASB Division Meetings page for the most current info, to learn more, and to register.
Save the Date for Advocacy Day
When school board members show up together, legislators listen. Join IASB and help strengthen the future of public education in Illinois.
Join fellow Illinois school board members on Tuesday, March 24, for IASB Advocacy Day at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield. This one-day event brings board members together to advocate for public education, connect directly with legislators, and share your district’s story.
Registration opens January 16. The $50 registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and a day of policy briefings, advocacy skill-building, and meetings at the State Capitol, plus virtual advocacy prep sessions in advance to help you feel confident and prepared. Attendees will earn 15 Board Leader Recognition points.
IASB Constitution & Position Statements Updated
As a result of action from Association members at the 2025 IASB Delegate Assembly, changes were made to both the IASB Constitution and Position Statements. A new Position Statement, 2.49b School Bus Safety Funding, states that IASB will advocate for district flexibility and options to comply with a law requiring newly purchased buses to be equipped with three-point seat belts beginning in 2031.
More changes were made to the IASB Constitution with the adoption of 10 amendments. All 10 amendments recommended by the Constitution Review Committee were approved by a more than two-thirds majority. The changes include membership eligibility clarifications, IASB officer terms, division leadership training, removal of outdated language, and more. A full list of changes can be found in coverage of the 2025 Delegate Assembly. IASB members will be mailed both documents toward the end of January.
Board Presidents’ Academy Returns in June 2026
Registration opens February 16.
IASB will be presenting the Board President’s Academy on June 13 in Naperville and June 20 in Champaign. The 2026 Board Presidents’ Academy offers a full day of professional development for current and aspiring school board presidents and vice presidents.
Registration opens February 15. The registration fee is $199 and includes breakfast and lunch, plus a complimentary copy of Coming to Order: A Guide to Successful School Board Meetings. Participants will earn 10 Board Leader Recognition points
IASB Welcomes Three to Staff
Kevin Carey has joined the IASB Executive Searches staff. Carey is a retired school superintendent who has worked for 37 years in the education field. He retired as superintendent of Westmont CUSD 201 after serving in that role from 2010 to 2023. He was also superintendent for Peotone CUSD 207 U from 2006 to 2010. His experience in education includes time as a high school science teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and principal in various south suburban schools. Carey holds degrees from Lewis University and Governors State University. He will be based in the Association’s Lombard office.
Deirdre Liddle has joined IASB as an administrative assistant on the Outreach & Training team. She is based in the Association’s Lombard office and will primarily be providing administrative support for training and events in IASB’s DuPage, North Cook, and Starved Rock Divisions. Liddle graduated from Wheaton College in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and spent a couple of summers during college as an administrative assistant for the U.S. Department of State at the American Embassy in Jakarta, working in the housing section of the General Services Office.
Annie Schmidtke joins the Association on the Outreach & Training staff. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a Graduate Certificate in Management of Nonprofit Organizations from University of Illinois Springfield. She previously worked at Ball-Chatham CUSD 5, supporting the administration in facilitating state-funded grant programs and providing parent education and family engagement as Pre-K Coordinator. Schmidtke will be supporting the IASB Training and Outreach directors in the Springfield office with carrying out district workshops.
New Journal Features Insights into the New State Standards for Student Proficiency
The January/February 2026 issue of the Illinois School Board Journal includes a feature on understanding data trends and using them in the district, presented by ECRA Group. Also, view a recap of the 2025 Joint Annual Conference in words and pictures. Find the Journal in your mailbox, read selected text on the IASB website, or read Journal's digital edition flipbook.
