The Illinois Association of School Boards sponsors an award in conjunction with the Illinois Press Association’s “Best of the Press” statewide journalism competition. The Robert M. Cole Award, named for the first full-time executive director of IASB, is presented annually for Best School Board Coverage to recognize outstanding coverage of education issues with an emphasis on the community’s connection with its local public school district.

Contest winners for 2025 publications were announced at the annual IPA “Best of the Press” on June 5, 2026.

In the Daily Newspaper category, Madison Lammert and the Belleville News-Democrat took the top honor for excellent enterprise reporting on a variety of board work and education topics with local impacts. This entry included well-researched, well-written work that reflected an understanding of public education issues and decisions within the communities the newspaper serves.

Second-place honors in the daily division went to Deborah Gertz Husar and the Quincy Herald-Whig for a consistent, thorough presentation of education and board work topics important to the community, both in news and feature writing. Other notable entries from 2025 dailies were from Jeff D’Alessio, Champaign News-Gazette and Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune.

In the Weekly Newspaper category, the top Cole Award was presented to Will Brumleve and the Ford County Chronicle for diligence beyond the meeting and persistence in coverage of issues critical to the local community.

The second-place weekly award went to the Hinsdalean and Ken Knutson for in-depth coverage of a variety of school-to-community topics, especially the property tax cycle explainer. Other notable entries from 2025 weeklies were from Isaiah Atkins, Hillsboro Journal-News and Bethany Wagoner, Paris Prairie Press.

Judges evaluate entries for the Robert M. Cole Award based on contribution to public understanding of local school governance and support for effective dialogue that helps the community and school board define major public policy issues. Judging criteria also include enterprise, depth of reporting, and clarity of writing.