DeKalb Times

A Sandwich CUSD 430 administrator was one of 26 people honored with awards by state education groups.

The Illinois Association of School Administrators named Rick Schmitt a Superintendent of Distinction during the fourth annual Superintendents of Distinction and IPA Awards of Excellence held in Springfield on Tuesday.

“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
Dr. Kevin Blankenship	Superintendent of Distinction	Illinois Association of School Administrators	Scott-Morgan CUSD 2
Dr. 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
Dr. 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
Dr. Patrick Halloran	Superintendent of Distinction	Illinois Association of School Administrators	Morris CHSD 101
Dr. 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
Dr. Michael Lubelfeld	Superintendent of Distinction	Illinois Association of School Administrators	Deerfield District 109
Dr. 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
Dr. 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
Dr. 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
Dr. Michelle Willis	Elementary School Principal of the Year	Illinois Principals Association	Gillespie Technology Magnet Cluster School

Source: Illinois Association of School Administrators; Illinois Principals Association; Illinois State Board of Education