LEAD Project Purpose
Our purpose is to increase principal effectiveness in areas that lead to increases in student achievement.
The project goals include developing effective principals in public and private schools located in rural, suburban, or urban settings that:
- increase principal time spent on instruction improvements
- improve instructional quality by engaging teachers in an on-going change process
- positively impact student learning, particularly with high-need students
Three Major Project Components of the Grant
Cycles of Inquiry
The process of identifying and strategizing solutions for problems that affect student learning.
Leadership Framework
Develop the structures (school improvement teams, district leadership teams, etc.) to bring educators together.
Time Utilization Process
Creating time in the school day to support student achievement.
Project Participants
The project collaborates with four regions including Regional Offices of Education (ROE) 1, 17, 19 and 28 which encompass 123 Illinois schools. The regions serve as LEAD Hubs. The hubs are designed to serve as a regional/local connection point that brings the schools, universities, and communities together. The idea of the hub is to attract, place, support, and retain school leaders that are well trained to meet the needs of the whole child within a culturally responsive context that maximizes regional resources, builds regional capacity, and creates a highly successful, sustainable leadership pipeline. Each hub is staffed with a LEAD Coordinator to help facilitate the work and maximize the outcomes of the LEAD Project.
Impact on ROE 1
Meet the ROE 1 LEAD Team
Brown County
Shelly Sheffler, Principal
Sally Ruble, Principal
Pollee Craven, Principal
Curt Simonson, LEAD Coach
Meredosia-Chambersburg
Thad Walker, Superintendent
Thad Walker, Principal
Jeff Abell, Principal
Anne Cashman, LEAD Coach
Triopia
Adam Dean, Superintendent
Josh Sorrells, Principal
Jamie Hobrock, Principal
Curt Simonson, LEAD Coach
Pleasant Hill
Ron Edwards, Superintendent
Ron Edwards, Principal
Ryan Lowe, Principal
Curt Simonson, LEAD Coach
Virginia
Gary DePatis, Superintendent
Mekelle Neatherly, Principal
Curt Simonson & Anne Cashman, LEAD Coach
Liberty
Kelle Bunch, Superintendent
Jody Obert, Principal
Justin Edgar, Principal
Anne Cashman, LEAD Coach
Quincy Public Schools
Roy Webb, Superintendent
Kim Dinkheller, Director
Sara Cramer, Director
Chrissy Cox, Principal
Melanie Schrand, Principal
Brad Funkenbusch, Principal
Jim Sohn, Principal
Jody Steinke, Principal
Lori Miles, Director
Carol Kilver, LEAD Coach
Payson Seymour
Donna Veile, Superintendent
Julie Phelan, Principal
Dawn VanCamp, Principal
Anne Cashman, LEAD Coach
Waverly
Dustin Day, Superintendent
TBD, Principal
Curt Simonson, LEAD Coach
ROE 1 LEAD Coaches & LEAD Coordinators
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Anne Cashman
LEAD Coach
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Dr. Carol Kilver
LEAD Coach
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Dr. Curt Simonson
LEAD Coach
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Michaela Fray
LEAD Coordinator & Coach
Email Michaela
State-wide LEAD Partners
Federal Grantees
Illinois State University
DuPage County ROE
University Partners
Illinois State University
North Central College
Western Illinois University
ROE Partners
ROE 17, Bloomington-Normal
ROE 19, DuPage County
ROE 29, Atkinson
Loyola Greenly Catholic Center

Impact Across Illinois
For more information on the overall project, please visit Leading Ed Partnerships.