A Gillespie Technology Magnet Cluster School administrator was one of 26 people recently honored with awards by state education groups.
The Illinois Principals Association named Michelle Willis the Elementary School Principal of the Year during the fourth annual Superintendents of Distinction and IPA Awards of Excellence held in Springfield on May 1.
“Our superintendents and principals are shepherding schools through a transformational time in education,” State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith said, according to a news release. “The leaders we honored today are among those going above and beyond to maximize opportunities and outcomes for each and every student. These leaders are not just building up their communities, but also the social and economic future of our state.”
The Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), Illinois Principals Association (IPA), Horace Mann Companies and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) put on the event. Horace Mann is an insurance company.
Superintendents of Distinction are selected each year by colleagues in their region. Principals are nominated locally, as well. An IPA committee selects an Elementary Principal of the Year, Middle School/Junior High School Principal of the Year, High School Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year from a pool of regional winners.
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2018 Awardees
| Educator | Recognition | Organization | District/School |
| Jack Baldermann | High School Principal of the Year | Illinois Principals Association | Westmont High School |
| Kevin Blankenship | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Scott-Morgan CUSD 2 |
| PJ Caposey | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Meridian CUSD 223 |
| Daniel Cates | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Township High School District 211 |
| Timothy Chipman | Assistant Principal of the Year | Illinois Principals Association | Jacksonville High School |
| Mark Cross | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Peru ESD 124 |
| Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Peoria Public School District 150 |
| Adam Ehrman | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | New Berlin CUSD 16 |
| Crystal England | Middle School Principal of the Year | Illinois Principals Association | Henry W Cowherd Middle School |
| Chris Grode | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Murphysboro CUSD 186 |
| Patrick Halloran | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Morris CHSD 101 |
| Sheila Harrison-Williams | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Hazel Crest District 152.5 |
| Julie Kraemer | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Hutsonville CUSD 1 |
| Scott Kuffel | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Geneseo CUSD 228 |
| Michael Lubelfeld | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Deerfield District 109 |
| Jean Neal | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD 4 |
| Timothy O’Leary | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of
School Administrators | Pinckneyville School District 50 |
| Glenn Schlicting | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | LaGrange School District 105 |
| Rick Schmitt | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Sandwich CUSD 430 |
| David Schuler | Superintendent of the Year, National Superintendent of
the Year | Illinois Association of School Administrators, National Association of School Administrators | Township High School District 214 |
| Jodi Scott | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | ROE 33 |
| Brad Skertich | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Southwestern CUSD 9 |
| Victoria Tabbert | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Queen Bee School District 16 |
| Jonathan Tallman | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | Red Bud CUSD 132 |
| Gary Tipsord | Superintendent of Distinction | Illinois Association of School Administrators | LeRoy CUSD 2 |
| Michelle Willis | Elementary School Principal
of the Year | Illinois Principals Association | Gillespie Technology Magnet Cluster School |
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