School Leader Paradigm

Hiring a new school leader is one of the most critical decisions that a learning organization can make. Taking the time to develop a strong recruitment and selection process is essential to a successful search. When done well, the process results in a strong, diverse applicant pool, candidates whose talents match the needs of the learning organization, and enhances leadership succession. Use this School Leader Paradigm resource to Plan, Recruit, and Select the school leader that best meets the needs of your learning organization right now.

The IPA's Model Student Handbook AI tool adds a layer to the handbook that is easy to use, more efficient, personalized to each school in your district, and answers questions from parents and students in many different languages.

This online space is for you and your member colleagues to support and encourage one another in real time and share resources. IPA Connect provides you the privacy needed to ask and answer the hard questions that come with the profession.

The IPA has four standing statewide committees responsible for conducting important association business - Legislative, Membership, Assistant Principal, and Diversity & Equity. Frequently, members are asked to consider applying to chair these committees as a member of the IPA Board of Directors or represent their Regions as a sitting member of the committees.

Each of the IPA's 21 Regions is governed by a board of school leaders serving in various capacities including Region Director, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chair, and other positions. Regions are in constant need of volunteer leaders ready to step up to support the various school leaders in their parts of the state.

The IPA provides many opportunities for school leaders to share their experiences and expertise at both the regional and state level. Specifically, be sure to consider submitting a small group proposal for the opportunity to present at the IPA Education Leaders Annal Conference.

The IPA's Congress serves as the Association's business meeting held every year during the annual conference. Each region is allowed no fewer than two voting delegates to hear an annual report on the Association's activities as well as consider IPA constitutional revisions or dues adjustments

Serving as a mentor or coach for another school leader is a rewarding experience. IPA mentors and coaches receive in-depth training and continuous support to maximize their success supporting others. Often, IPA mentors and coached report growing in their own practice by interacting with other mentors, coaches and their proteges.

This 2-day event held in Effingham in January provides assistant principals and deans an opportunity for networking, recognition, and support among school leaders in similar positions. Administrator Academy credit is also available for attendees.

Engaging in advocacy through programs like Principal for a Day and Principal Partners empowers you to build meaningful relationships with legislators, showcase the realities of school leadership, and influence education policy firsthand. These initiatives provide a platform for you to elevate the voices of your students, staff, and communities—ensuring that decisions made at the state and federal levels are informed by those who understand education best.

If you are interested in elevating your impact on the shaping of education policy, become a member of the IPA's Legislative Committee. This important group is open to all IPA members. The committee is called upon to provide feedback on the development of new education statutes and other policy initiatives. Occasionally, legislative committee members are asked to testify with the Illinois General Assembly and participate as a member of various statewide task forces.

Each year, the Illinois General Assembly introduces hundreds of bills that impact legislation. To help you keep tabs on legislation that most effects school leaders, leverage the IPA's Bill Tracker that summarizes legislation and informs you how it is progressing through the legislative process.

Curious as to the IPA's position on various policy related issues? Be sure to review the association's Legislative Platform. It covers the principalship, principal evaluation and support, school funding, educator preparation, school accountability, mandates & reform, special education, curriculum, and the school environment & construction.

ELN houses calibration video exercises designed to provide teacher evaluators and observers with opportunities to calibrate their perceptions of (1) effective instructional practice related to the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching Domains and Components and (2) high-quality, written feedback. A further goal of the exercises is to increase inter-rater reliability as well as build a common understanding of high-quality practice and feedback grounded in evidence collected during observations.

Throughout the year, ELN provides several free webinars each month on a variety of timely and relevant topics to educators across the country. These one-hour sessions spotlight new strategies, leadership tips, and tools that attendees can consider for immediate use. Attendees of the live webinars may earn professional development credit. All webinars are recorded for future viewing.

The IPA has more than 100 ISBE-approved academies developed and led by content experts with school and/or district leadership experience. The Association develops new topics that meet changing school and legal needs and state professional learning requirements. Academies are available in-person, live online, and on-demand.

The IPA provides ISBE-required Administrator Academies for individuals needing to earn their teacher and/or principal evaluator intial training and retraining. Earned evaluator designations appear on an Illinois educator's Professional Educator License (PEL).

Retirement is a complex topic, and your goal should be to retire well, not just retire. The retirement process goes beyond simply completing your paperwork and turning out the lights as you leave the building. Retiring well means focused preparation for the different stages of your retirement long before you sign the papers. Thanks to IPA partner AMBA, resources are available for to ensure you retire well.