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The IPA and Horace Mann are thrilled to honor the extraordinary achievements of school leaders across Illinois with the 2026 IPA/Horace Mann Awards for Excellence!
State winners will be formally recognized at the 2026 IPA Education Leaders Annual Conference, October 18-20.
2026 Elementary Principal of the Year Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Danielle Lora
Mount Pulaski Grade School
Blackhawk
Grant Putnam
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
CIV
Clint Mathewson
Farmington Central Elementary School
DuPage
Laurel Hillman
Fry Elementary School
Egyptian
Tony Richardson
Wayne City Attendance Center
Illini
Robert Beck
Villa Grove Elementary School
Kaskaskia
Eric Swingler
Greenville Elementary School
Kishwaukee
Heather Baker
Dorothy Simon Elementary School
Lake
Steve Feldman
Rockland Elementary School
North Cook
Catherine Joy
Robert Frost Elementary School
Northwest
Dee Dee Calow
Warren Elementary School
Shawnee
Kari Kilquist
Parrish Elementary School
South Cook
Suzanne Amra
Sward Elementary School
Southwestern
Krista Lunz
Ellis Elementary School
Starved Rock
Heather Ketcham
Kimes Elementary School
Three Rivers
Elisabeth Stoffers
Hunt Club Elementary School
Two Rivers
Tim Chipman
Eisenhower Elementary School
Wabash Valley
Jennifer Fox
Richland County Elementary School
West Cook
Regina Latimer-Lake
Earle STEM Elementary School
Western
Kathy Lafary
West Central Elementary School
2026 Middle School Principal of the Year Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Clay Shoufler
Williamsville Junior High School
Blackhawk
Chad Bahnks
Orion Middle School
Central Illinois Valley
Ericka Bush
Washington Central Intermediate School
Corn Belt
Kimberly Martin-Boyd
George L. Evans Junior High School
DuPage
Maggie Lay
Leman Middle School
Egyptian
Denise Woodsides
Du Quoin Middle School
Illini
Lindsey Prunkard
Bismark-Henning Junior High School
Kaskaskia
John Downs
North Mac Middle School
Kishwaukee
Dr. Richard Lebrón
Tefft Middle School
Lake
Nelson Campos
Miguel Juarez Middle School
North Cook
Elena Ryan
Marie Murphy School
Northwest
Lynn Kalnins
Chana Education Center
Shawnee
Debbie McGowan
Harrisburg Middle School
Starved Rock
Zach Smith
Logan Junior High School
Three Rivers
Bret Pignatiello
Liberty Intermediate School
Wabash Valley
Josh Maxwell
Marshall Junior High School
West Cook
Jeanine Arundel
Pleasantdale Middle School
2026 High School Principal of the Year Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Dr. Mistie Rodriguez
Eisenhower High School
Blackhawk
Nathan DeBaillie
Orion High School
Central Illinois Valley
Jill Uhlman
Tremont High School
Corn Belt
April Hicklin
Heyworth Junior/Senior High School
DuPage
John Mensik
Glenbard North High School
Egyptian
Jason Rakers
Okawville Junior/Senior High School
Illini
Kevin Thomas
Georgetown Ridge Farm High School
Kishwaukee
Carl Hobbs
Harvard High School
Lake
Brian Peterson
Round Lake Senior High School
North Cook
Mark Langer
William Fremd High School
Northwest
Madeline Hawkins
Galena High School
Shawnee
Ryan Thomas
Carbondale Community High School
South Cook
Dr. Jerry Anderson
Bloom High School
Southwestern
Jill Jung
Freeburg Community High School
Starved Rock
Duane Price
Bureau Valley High School
Wabash Valley
Peggy Bueker
Altamont Community High School
West Cook
Jeremy E. Christian
Proviso West High School
2026 Assistant Principal of the Year Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Megan Doerfler
Williamsville Junior High School
Blackhawk
Dean Johnson
Geneseo Middle School
Central Illinois Valley
Amelia Roberts
Dunlap High School
Corn Belt
Sylvester Davis
Kingsley Junior High School
DuPage
Dr. Chris Cirrincione
Hinsdale Central High School
Egyptian
Kara Tinsley
Mount Vernon Township High School
Illini
Nicole Johnson
Oakwood Grade School
Kaskaskia
David Weller
Bond County Community Unit #2 High School
Kishwaukee
Jessica Murphy
Hampshire Middle School
Lake
Nick Atchley
Fremont Middle School
North Cook
Dr. Patty Grow
John Hersey High School
Northwest
Shannon Cremeens
Oregon Junior/Senior High School
Shawnee
Rebecca Apgar
Giant City Elementary School
South Cook
Dr. Michelle Augustyniak
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Southwestern
Ali Hiller
Woodland Elementary School
Starved Rock
Chris Newsome
Putnam County High School
Three Rivers
Jenna O'Callaghan
Jonas E. Salk Elementary School
Wabash Valley
Rylan Rusk
Richland County High School
West Cook
Meghan O'Neil
West Leyden High School
2026 Reaching Out and Building Bridges Award Region Winners
Abe Lincoln
Clay Shoufler
Williamsville Junior High School
Family Guidance Center
Blackhawk
Patrick Versluis
Denkmann Elementary School
FranklinCovey Education
Central Illinois Valley
Dr. Charles Zimmerman
Metamora Township High School
Reclaimed Resale
DuPage
Dr. Courtney DeMent
Downers Grove North High School
Grove Express Foundation
DuPage
Arwen Lyp
Downers Grove South High School
Grove Express Foundation
Kaskaskia
Roger Freeze
Central Community High School
Parents and Alumni Working for Students (PAWS); Committee to Support Central (CSC)
Kishwaukee
Donald "Bo" Smith
Meehan Elementary School
Belvidere Fire Department and Police Department
Lake
Sheonta Myers
Waukegan High School-Washington/AOEC Campus
Mosaic Ministries
Shawnee
Scott Dewar
West Side Primary School
Saline County CEO
Southwestern
Keith Book
Dupo High School
Moms on a Mission
Starved Rock
Amy Jo Lotshaw
Streator High School
OSF Live Well
Three Rivers
Tionia Williams
Dr. James Mitchem and Debbie Sykora Early Childhood Centers
Good Shepherd Head Start
Wabash Valley
Sherry Hoehn
Teutopolis Grade School
Teutopolis Grade School Student Council
West Cook
Dr. Elwanda Butler
Robert Fulton Elementary School
The Resurrection Project