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Awards & Scholarships
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