Illinois Principals Association

IPA Team

IPA Employee Motto

Serving Each Other, Serving Educators, Serving Children

The IPA Service Basics

IPA staff will:

  • Be generous with their professional time, expertise and resources.
  • Promote collaborative relationships and a service oriented culture.
  • Be responsive and proactive to the needs of each other, members and customers.
  • Demonstrate humility through actions and words to encourage the success of the organization.
  • Advocate for the needs of each other, educators and students.
  • Be adaptive to the needs of the organization through innovation and new ideas.

Get to Know Me!

Accounting & Professional Learning Service Specialist

Laura Adams
  • Provides accounting support: purchase orders, checks, and credit card purchases, refunds, and invoices
  • Provides professional learning support: registrations, waiting lists, cancellations, and transfers
  • Provides database support: membership, member updates, creation of events, and ELN subscriptions
Get to Know Me!

Professional Learning Service Specialist

Beth Broyles
  • Supports and facilitates online, face-to-face, on-demand, and contracted on-site administrator academies
  • Supports and facilitates the annual AP and Dean South Summit
  • Supports the mentoring and coaching programs
  • Supports the School Leader Pipeline program
Get to Know Me!

Field Service Specialist (Part-time)

Dr. Angela Buckels
  • Available to members to discuss issues, problem solve, and offer professional support and encouragement
  • Contacts members including: those being mentored, attends new administrator workshops, make cold calls to non-members, contact Region officers and State Director, and make welcome calls to new members recently joining IPA
  • Attends Regional activities including Regional executive board meetings, socials and other activities
  • Provides workshop support
  • Coordinates the IPA Regions of North Cook, South Cook and West Cook
Get to Know Me!

Conference Coordinator & Association Service Specialist

Pam Burdine
  • Assists with the oversight and planning of conferences and summits
  • Handles conference registrations and coordinates small group session presenters
  • Assists in securing IPA Corporate members and IPA Sponsors
  • Manages Model Student Handbook subscriptions
Get to Know Me!

Field Service Specialist (Part-time)

Dana Butler
  • Available to members to discuss issues, problem solve, and offer professional support and encouragement
  • Contacts members including: those being mentored, attends new administrator workshops, make cold calls to non-members, contact Region officers and State Director, and make welcome calls to new members recently joining IPA
  • Attends Regional activities including Regional executive board meetings, socials and other activities
  • Provides workshop support
  • Coordinates the IPA Regions of North Cook, South Cook and West Cook
Get to Know Me!

Senior Professional Learning Director (Part-time)

Dr. Maureen Cheever
  • Assists Deputy Executive Director for Professional Learning in planning and scheduling the yearly academy calendar
  • Writes and submits new Administrator Academy proposals
  • Develops new online presentations
  • Identifies, recruits, and supports academy presenters
Get to Know Me!

Senior Project Development Director (Part-time)

Vicki DeWitt
  • Assists in the identification and creation of high-quality content and resources for the Association’s professional learning
  • Creates timelines and plans for professional learning development and delivery
  • Manages support team in the development of professional learning content
  • Identifies, recruits, and supports new content developers/presenters
Get to Know Me!

Field Service Specialist (Part-time)

Don Farr
  • Available to members to discuss issues, problem solve, and offer professional support and encouragement
  • Contacts members including: those being mentored, attends new administrator workshops, make cold calls to non-members, contact Region officers and State Director, and make welcome calls to new members recently joining IPA
  • Attends Regional activities including Regional executive board meetings, socials and other activities
  • Provides workshop support
  • Coordinates the IPA Regions of Blackhawk, Northwest, Two Rivers, and Western

Digital Platform Director

Adam Geisen

  • Evaluates, develops, and improves online IPA platforms
  • Provides user and staff support for IPA platforms
  • Integrates systems with the IPA database
  • Continues to improve user experience throughout IPA's online presence

Executive Service Specialist

Mari Handy
  • Assists with answering incoming calls
  • Assists with development and updating of the Model Student Handbook
  • Assist with grassroots member advocacy programs
  • Supports Principal Appreciation Program

Get to Know Me!

Creative Director

Dave Heinzel
  • Leads continuous user experience improvements for IPA website
  • Works with Senior Video Editor and other staff members to develop and edit video content
  • Oversees graphic design work for marketing and communications of the association
Get to Know Me!

Deputy Executive Director for Professional Learning

Dr. Susan Homes
  • Coordinates and oversees all aspects of the Association’s professional development program
  • Develops cutting edge, relevant, and cost effective training for the membership
  • Completes data analysis, reporting and compliance related to professional development to meet association, state, and federal requirements
  • Oversees fall and summer conference development and delivery
  • Oversees the development of content for the Ed Leaders Network
  • Oversees the development of the Leadership Continuum
  • Speaks at conferences, region meetings and other Association events
  • Attends meetings and events at the direction of the Executive Director
Get to Know Me!

Field Service Specialist (Part-time)

Dan Kaiser
  • Available to members to discuss issues, problem solve, and offer professional support and encouragement
  • Contacts members including: those being mentored, attends new administrator workshops, make cold calls to non-members, contact Region officers and State Director, and make welcome calls to new members recently joining IPA
  • Attends Regional activities including Regional executive board meetings, socials and other activities
  • Provides workshop support
  • Coordinates the IPA Regions of Abe Lincoln, Central Illinois Valley, Cornbelt, and Illini
Get to Know Me!

Executive Director

Dr. Jason Leahy
  • Serves as Chief Executive Office
  • Provides leadership and counsel to IPA Members, Board, and staff regarding Association matters
  • Develops and leads processes to continuously improve Association effectiveness
  • Provides constant and appropriate information to IPA Members, Board and staff about Association activities
  • Responsible for coordinating communication and cooperative relationships with individuals and organizations consistent with the Association’s mission
Get to Know Me!

Government & Public Relations Director

Alison Maley
  • Lobbies the General Assembly and other entities on behalf of the Association
  • Communicates and works with the Illinois State Board of Education and other state and national agencies
  • Communicates with the general membership on legislative issues
  • Tracks and reports on federal legislation
  • Promotes the Association and the principalship

Tech Service Specialist

Mat Marietta
  • Supports efforts to ensure IPA effectively and efficiently utilizes the appropriate technology to maximize Association services and innovation
  • Supports efforts to ensure database, website, cloud-based software and hardware are securer
  • Manages the integrations of the Association’s internal systems
  • Provides timely technical support to ELN users

Accountant

Rose McCarthy
  • Oversees the procedures of the Accounting Department ensuring tasks are completed
  • Handles payables and refunds
  • Oversees all fund accounts (reconciles for accuracy)
  • Prepares and sends grant monthly, quarterly, and end of year reports
  • Assists with budgeting and analyzing reports
  • Responsible for annual audit

Senior Technology Director

Julie Miener
  • Ensures IPA is effectively and efficiently utilizing appropriate technologies to maximize member services
  • Continually researches for new technologies, systems and software
  • Maintains IPA servers and hardware by providing or ensuring staff provides necessary routine maintenance
  • Works cooperatively with third party technology providers as needed and ensures all third party contracts and purchases are cost effective
  • Develops, implements and maintains the IPA database
  • Ensures the IPA database, websites (including social networks), servers, etc. are secure
  • Provides technology training to IPA staff and members

Communications & Marketing Director

Kim Nehrt
  • Oversees all association communication and marketing efforts
  • Leads efforts to encourage members to share content and engage with their colleagues on IPA Connect
  • Manages the IPA’s social media activity
  • Oversees graphic design work for marketing and communications of the association
Get to Know Me!

Ed Leaders Network Director

Arlin Peebles
  • Leads development and technical assistance for ELN
  • Coordinates the delivery of high-quality content and resources for the Association’s professional learning, including but not limited to ELN courses/programs, micro-credentials, administrator academies and webinars
  • Oversees and facilitates usage of ELN communities
  • Oversees the work of the Senior Video Producer
Get to Know Me!

Receptionist & Administrative Assistant

Daryl Peel
  • Receptionist
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Responsible for bookings and preparations for in-house meetings

Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel

Brian D. Schwartz
  • Serves as the Association’s legal and compliance officer.
  • Provides legal assistance to Association members.
  • Oversees lobbying and legislative operations.
  • Speaks at conferences, region meetings and other Association events.
  • Attends meetings and events at the direction of the Executive Director
Get to Know Me!

Professional Learning Associate (Part-time)

Janice Schwarze
  • Oversees the Mentoring and Coaching programs
  • Oversees the School Leader Pipeline program
  • Supports the Aspiring, Launching, Building and Mastering School Leader Networks
  • Supports the development of new Administrator Academy applications, content and presenters

Accounting & Grants Service Specialist

Sydnee Sturdivant

  • Assist Accountant with reconciliation and accounts payable.
  • Maintain optimized workflow and recordkeeping for grants administrative processes.
  • Support communications of grant programs.
  • Assist with tracking of grant participants and needed reporting data.

Get to Know Me!

Membership Specialist

Lisa Thoele
  • Responsible for Large District Incentive Program
  • Contact for Region Book reports
  • Handles membership partnerships with IRTA, NASSP, NAESP & ISDA
  • Assists with membership recruitment and retention campaigns
  • Oversees monthly membership billing
  • Sends out renewal cards and new member packets
Get to Know Me!

Board & Region Service Specialist

Meghan Tolson
  • Supports Board of Directors and Region Leaders in their roles
  • Coordinates Board of Director Meetings and annual Leadership Conference
  • Partners with Field Service Specialists to schedule and set agendas for Region Leader Trainings and Region Leader Meetings
  • Updates and maintains Award Force for awards application submissions
  • Works with Region Leaders and Award Selection Committee to review award submissions/assist with selection and notification of winners
Get to Know Me!

Field Service Specialist (Part-time)

Karen Triezenberg
  • Available to members to discuss issues, problem solve, and offer professional support and encouragement
  • Contacts members including: those being mentored, attends new administrator workshops, make cold calls to non-members, contact Region officers and State Director, and make welcome calls to new members recently joining IPA
  • Attends Regional activities including Regional executive board meetings, socials and other activities
  • Provides workshop support
  • Coordinates the IPA Regions of DuPage, South Cook, Starved Rock and Three Rivers
Get to Know Me!

Senior Video Producer

Scott Wilkinson
  • Works with ELN Director and Senior Project Development Director to create content for ELN
  • Records, edits, and publishes video content for IPA and ELN
  • Establishes contacts and coordinates scheduling for ELN video shoots
  • Works with Communications and Marketing Director and ELN Director to create content for IPA and ELN for marketing purposes
Get to Know Me!

Conference Coordinator & Professional Learning Service Specialist

Lynne Woodrum
  • Supports and facilitates online administrator academies
  • Supports and facilitates the delivery of the Aspiring, Launching, Building and Mastering School Leader Networks
  • Supports the Illinois School Leader Institute
  • Assists with the oversight and planning of conferences and summits

Field Service Specialist (Part Time)

Travis Wyatt
  • Available to members to discuss issues, problem solve, and offer professional support and encouragement
  • Contacts members including: those being mentored, attends new administrator workshops, make cold calls to non-members, contact Region officers and State Director, and make welcome calls to new members recently joining IPA
  • Attends Regional activities including Regional executive board meetings, socials and other activities
  • Provides workshop support
  • Coordinates the IPA Regions of Egyptian, Kaskaskia, Shawnee, Southwestern, and Wabash Valley

Get to Know Me!

Field Service Specialist (Part-time)

Kim Zinman
  • Available to members to discuss issues, problem solve, and offer professional support and encouragement.
  • Contacts members including: those being mentored, attends new administrator workshops, make cold calls to non-members, contact Region officers and State Director, and make welcome calls to new members recently joining IPA
  • Attends Regional activities including Regional executive board meetings, socials and other activities
  • Provides workshop support
  • Coordinates the IPA Regions of Kishwaukee, Lake, North Cook and West Cook