Dear Colleague,

Happy New Year!  This season always invigorates me as I anticipate the "fresh start" that the New Year brings.  It provides a time to rest, refresh, reflect and refocus on what is most important.  I hope this time of year has provided you the opportunity to do the same.  Please read further to get a brief update on your Association and some of the items we will be focused on during the second semester of the school year.

*IPA Strategic Plan - Our Strategic Plan continues to provide focus and guidance as to the goals and objectives that we hope to accomplish this year.  A mid-year report of our accomplishments is available for your review(click here).

*IPA Member Needs Assessment Survey - I appreciate you and everyone who took the time to fill out the Member Needs Assessment Survey last month.  The information is invaluable as we work to provide better member services.  A copy of the results can be found in the Members Only Section of the website.  After reviewing the results, both areas to celebrate and areas for growth stood out.  From member responses, we can celebrate that members overwhelmingly see IPA advocating well for the profession and that members strongly value IPA's professional development, networking opportunities and legal services to name a few.  Areas for growth include promoting and enhancing the diversity of the profession, better communicating events taking place throughout the state and ensuring members know how and feel invited to get involved with the Association.  Let me outline
how we are beginning to address each of these areas:

• Promoting Diversity - Dr. Fred Singleton, Field Services Director, will be hosting a series of focus groups in the spring to flesh out ways IPA can better promote diversity in our membership and the profession.  If you are interested in taking part, please contact Dr. Singleton at fws55@midwest.net.

• Statewide Events - The 21 IPA Regions hold various functions throughout the state which include Region Board meetings, social/networking gatherings and student and/or secretary recognition events.  A Region-by-Region listing of events can be found by clicking here to visit the region events page .  A calendar of events can be found here.  If you are not sure of which Region you belong, click here for a Region Map.

• Member Involvement - Please consider this a personal invitation to get involved with IPA.  The strength of our organization lies first and foremost with our members, and though time is limited, I encourage you to invest in your profession through IPA.  Click here for an outline of several ways to get involved with your Association. Once being new to IPA myself, I recognize that it may seem difficult to know how to best introduce yourself and let someone know that you are available and willing to serve.  If you are in this situation, please do not hesitate to contact me at jason@ilprincipals.org or 217-525-1383.  IPA Field Services Director Dr. Fred Singleton is also available and can be reached at
  fws55@midwest.net.  Finally, consider contacting one of your Region Board members.  Trust that your Region Board is always looking for new leadership to assist, and their contact information can be found at the region leadership page of our website.

*IPA Website - IPA's Website Home Page has a new look!  See for yourself at www.ilprincipals.org.

*Illinois Distinguished Principal Leadership Institute - The IPA has been working with ISBE over the last year-and-a-half to move forward with the Illinois Distinguished Principal Leadership Institute that was developed with IPA's leadership during the spring of 2007.  The purpose of the Institute is to provide participants with a high level professional development experience that will create an increase in both adult and student performance.  Unfortunately, the current state of the economy will not allow for the institute to move forward at this time.  Please stay tuned as IPA will continue to work with ISBE to make the program a reality in the future.

In a related matter, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is in the beginning stages of developing a national master principal certification process synonymous to the certification teachers currently receive.  I have been asked by NBPTS to be a part of the permanent working group that will oversee the certification's development and will begin this work immediately.  The development process will likely take three years, and I'm hopeful that our efforts in Illinois with the Leadership Institute will have a positive impact on the national certification process.  Find out more by clicking here to visit their website.

*Assistant Principals Conference and Deans Day - The IPA Assistant Principals Conference and Deans Day is scheduled this year for February 2-4 in Lisle.  Don't miss out on this wonderful professional development opportunity which will be of value to all educational leaders.  Learn more by clicking here to visit our conference page.

If you have any questions about this update or other matters concerning the Association, please don't hesitate to give me a call.  I hope all the best for you, your family, your school and your students during 2009.

For the Association,
Jason

(Jason Leahy, IPA Executive Director, provides State of the Association updates each quarter)