In this episode, Dr. Rich Voltz speaks to Tara Tighe Chandler, curriculum director at Paxton Buckley Loda CUSD #10, about how the district is using data to help tell its story and improve instruction. PBL has partnered with the ECRA Group to develop an overall growth score based on local norms, rather than relying on standardized test scores to gauge student progress.

This podcast is sponsored by American Fidelity. Consider American Fidelity for a different opinion on employer benefit solutions for education.

In this episode, IASA Associate Director Dr. Rich Voltz speaks to Vienna HSD #133 Superintendent Josh Stafford. Vienna ranks as the third least adequately funded district in the state. EBM dollars, Stafford says, is helping the district rehire staff, enhance programs and catch up on much-needed maintenance projects. This podcast is sponsored by American Fidelity. Consider American Fidelity for a different opinion on employer benefit solutions for education.

In this episode, IASA Associate Director Dr. Rich Voltz speaks to Dr. Julie Schmidt, Superintendent, Kildeer Countryside CCSD #96 in Buffalo Grove. Schmidt served on the Illinois Balanced Accountability Measure committee and subsequently ESSA committee. Her district volunteered for a pilot program with implementing the framework. Schmidt discusses the Quality Framework works and how it can benefit school districts. This podcast is sponsored by American Fidelity. Consider American Fidelity for a different opinion on employer benefit solutions for education.

In this episode, IASA Associate Director Dr. Rich Voltz speaks to Sebastian Kapala, assistant director of operations at the Lake County High Schools Technology Campus, about career and technical education in Illinois today. Kapala discusses how it fits with vocational training, preparing students for the digital age, and how the school fits academic courses into its learning environment, among other things. This podcast is sponsored by American Fidelity. Consider American Fidelity for a different opinion on employer benefit solutions for education.

Managing a school budget is one of the most important jobs a superintendent does. Dr. Bill Phillips, a retired superintendent who now serves as IASA field services director, is an expert in the area. In this episode, Phillips discusses ways school districts can save money, strategies for crafting a budget and details how important it is to understand the ins and outs of school finance. The IASA Podcast is sponsored by American Fidelity. Consider American Fidelity for a different opinion on employer benefit solutions for education.

IASA associate director/legal counsel Sara Boucek discusses how implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act is going in Illinois and details what superintendents need to know about new school designations being rolled out as part of the law. This podcast is sponsored by American Fidelity. Consider American Fidelity for a different opinion on employer benefit solutions for education.

The Illinois Association of School Administrators will be hosting a New Superintendents Conference August 1-2 in Springfield. Dr. Rich Voltz of IASA talks about what attendees can expect to learn at the conference and how they can build a support network for their first year on the job.

Round Lake Area Schools CUSD #116 was among 10 school districts in Illinois chosen last year to participate in ISBE's competency-based learning pilot. Dr. Donn Mendoza, deputy superintendent, discusses how the effort is going and what it took for his school district to implement the change.

Dr. Heidi Podjasek, director of professional development at Oswego Community Unit School District 308, discusses why and how her district switched to a trauma-informed care approach to better understand student behavior and help students stay on track.

School safety security expert, Ken Trump, joins IASA podcast to discuss ways school superintendents can keep their buildings safer. Trump encourages superintendents to focus most on peoples and procedures rather than products and hardware.