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The IPA and Horace Mann are thrilled to honor the extraordinary achievements of school leaders across Illinois with the 2025 IPA/Horace Mann Awards for Excellence! Regional winners will be revealed on our website (see dates below) and communicated through the PrinciPal (IPA's weekly newsletter) to IPA members. Mark your calendars as we celebrate our regional winners:
- Elementary Principal of the Year – Announced January 10, 2025
- Middle School Principal of the Year – Announced January 17, 2025
- High School Principal of the Year – Announcement coming January 24, 2025
- Assistant Principal of the Year – Announcement coming January 31, 2025
- Reaching Out and Building Bridges – Announcement coming February 7, 2025
- Herman Graves Award – Announcement coming February 14, 2025
Regional winners will advance to the state-level competition, culminating at the 2025 IPA Education Leaders Annual Conference on October 19-21, where state winners will take center stage.
2025 Elementary Principal of the Year Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Randy Thacker
Mt. Zion Intermediate School
Blackhawk
Tara Bahnks
Washington Elementary School
CIV
Jennifer Dietrich
Marquette Elementary School
Corn Belt
Kristin Mangrich
Woodland Elementary School
DuPage
Dr. Jon Pokora
Waterbury Elementary School
Egyptian
Justin Engelmann
DuQuoin Elementary School
Kaskaskia
Angela Sandretto
Ben-Gil Elementary School
Kishwaukee
Roshaunda Henson
Chesak Elementary School
Lake
Michelle Acosta
Barrington Early Learning Center
North Cook
Dr. Lisa Bucciarelli-Carlos
Plainfield Elementary School
Northwest
Jeffrey Hoese
Fulton Elementary School
Shawnee
Erin Wiltowski
Cobden Elementary School
South Cook
Shahran Spears-Etherly
Neil Armstrong Elementary School
Southwestern
Monet Webster
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Starved Rock
Angie Merboth
Henry-Senachwine Grade & Jr. High School
Three Rivers
Jeff Kulik
Ludwig Elementary School
Two Rivers
Chevi Ingalls
Central Elementary School
West Cook
Kathleen Tomei
Pleasantdale Elementary School
Western
KiLee Lidwell-McFerren
Lincoln Elementary School
2025 Middle School Principal of the Year Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Mindy McGuire
Meridian Middle School
Blackhawk
Tim Sedam
Mercer County Junior High School
Central Illinois Valley
Patrick Sell
Mossville Junior High School
Corn Belt
Jeff Perzee
Watseka Junior High School
Egyptian
Mark Rohlfing
Pinckneyville Junior High School
Illini
Angela Schoonover
Edison Middle School
Kishwaukee
Brian Faulkner
Kaneland Harter Middle School
Lake
Travis Lobbins
Barrington Middle School-Prairie Campus
North Cook
Brandi Boyd
Holmes Junior High School
Northwest
Joe Robbins
Morrison Junior High School
Shawnee
Chuck Williamson
Marion Junior High School
South Cook
Joe Sweeney
Old Quarry Middle School
Southwestern
Travis Klein
Mascoutah Middle School
Starved Rock
Paula Daley
Northbrook Middle School
Three Rivers
Sonia Ruiz
Jane Addams Middle School
Two Rivers
Josh Sorrells
Beardstown Junior/Senior High School
Wabash Valley
Craig Beals
Nuttall Middle School
2025 High School Principal of the Year Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Doug Furlow
Williamsville High School
Blackhawk
Katy Hasson
Rockridge High School
Central Illinois Valley
Mitch Holmgren
Deer Creek-Mackinaw High School
DuPage
William Walsh
Hinsdale Central High School
Egyptian
Dr. Rowdy Fatheree
Mount Vernon Township High School
Illini
Chad Benedict
Mahomet-Seymour High School
Kaskaskia
Roger Freeze
Central Community High School
Kishwaukee
Dr. Marcus Belin
Huntley High School
Lake
Daniel Hill
Waukegan High School-Washington Campus
North Cook
Jeff Wardle
Buffalo Grove High School
Northwest
Dr. Heidi Deininger
Oregon Junior/Senior High School
Shawnee
Cody Cusic
Eldorado High School
Southwestern
Justin Newell
Civic Memorial High School
Starved Rock
Adam Kueltzo
Serena High School
Three Rivers
Brian Davis
Gardner-South Wilmington Twp High School
Two Rivers
Beth Bettis
Greenfield High School
Wabash Valley
John Ritchey
Marshall High School
West Cook
Amanda Brode-Rico
Elmwood Park High School
2025 Assistant Principal of the Year Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Ryan Aikman
Sullivan High School
Blackhawk
Alex Johnson
Sherrard High School
Central Illinois Valley
Todd Herrmann
Morton High School
Corn Belt
Becky Frangella
Normal West High School
DuPage
Sean Byrne
Glenbard South High School
Egyptian
Julie Littlefair
Mount Vernon High School
Illini
Tiffany Huisinga
Kansas Junior/Senior High School
Kaskaskia
Amy Jackson
Greenville Elementary School
Kishwaukee
Jordan Master
Johnsburg High School
Lake
Sean Murphy
Woodland Middle School
North Cook
Erica Perelgut
Gemini Middle School
Shawnee
Stephanie Oldham
Marion High School
South Cook
Colin Nolan
Springfield Elementary School
Southwestern
Nick Seibert
Mascoutah High School
Starved Rock
Nick McGurk
Streator Township High School
Three Rivers
Luke Munch
Mokena Junior High School
Two Rivers
Chad Beam
Beardstown Junior/Senior High School
West Cook
Stetson Steele
Highlands Middle School
2025 Reaching Out and Building Bridges Award Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Jamie Toland
Rochester Intermediate School
Central Illinois Valley
Heather Bowman
Lincoln Grade School
Corn Belt
Dr. Angie Codron
Normal West High School
Egyptian
Bart King
Carmi-White County High School
Kaskaskia
Karrie Scheller
Mt. Olive Grade School
Kishwaukee
Kevin Shelton
Johnsburg High School
Northwest
Ryan Huels
Oregon Elementary School
Shawnee
John Crabb
Harrisburg High School
South Cook
Dr. Keli Ross
Memorial Junior High School
Starved Rock
Emily Leffelman
La Moille Junior/Senior High School
Three Rivers
Claudia Gurney
Bolingbrook High School
Wabash Valley
Andy Julian
Oblong High School
2025 Herman Graves Award Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Jaclynn Shoufler
Riverton Elementary School
Central Illinois Valley
Codi Conway
Washington Grade School District #52
Corn Belt
Bryan Kendall
Regional Alternative School
Egyptian
Judy Logsdon
Retired from Sesser-Valier Elementary School
Kishwaukee
Dr. Jeff Prickett
McHenry Community High School
Shawnee
Lindsay Watts
Marion CUSD 2
Southwestern
Kim Enriquez
Wingate Elementary School
Three Rivers
Dan Laverty
Humphrey Middle School
Two Rivers
Jamie Hobrock
Triopia Elementary School
Wabash Valley
Beth Probst
Newton Community High School