IALAS December Newsletter
December 2023
Dear IALAS Familia,
As we approach the festive season, the Illinois Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (IALAS) Executive Board extends warm wishes to you and your loved ones. This month is not only a time for celebration but also for reflection, as we express gratitude for the achievements and growth of the past year.
I encourage you to take a moment to pause, reconnect with family, and find solace in well-deserved rest. The upcoming holidays offer a chance for us to recharge and gather strength for the exciting challenges the new year may bring us.
In this season of reflection, let's rekindle our commitment to the vision and mission that steer our collective efforts. IALAS envisions a future where educational leaders serving Latino communities stand united to champion equity and empower every student. Our mission is to provide authentic, high-quality learning opportunities by advocating for responsive policy development and building the capacity of education leaders.
Building upon this commitment,I'm delighted to extend an invitation to our upcoming IALAS IMPACTO 2024 Educational Conclave & Gala, slated for January 19, 2024, at Le Meridien Hotel-Oakbrook Center. This gathering is pivotal, bringing together education leaders to address the challenges facing our Latino students in the state. With a dedicated focus on the pressing migrant situation, the conclave aims to foster collaborative solutions. We'll pay specific attention to issues surrounding the teacher pipeline and recruitment efforts—crucial elements for the success of our Latino students. Anticipate engaging panel discussions and ample networking opportunities. To add a touch of cultura, we're delighted to announce a live salsa band and a seasoned salsa instructor. This is an opportunity to infuse a bit of joy into our professional endeavors. We hope you'll join us for this unique blend of learning, collaboration, and, of course, a bit of salsa in the evening hours to keep things lively.
It's my honor to announce that our Illinois State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Tony Sanders, will inaugurate our conference. Additionally, we'll be joined by sitting district superintendents, legislators, organization advocates, and our Illinois Teacher of the Year. While you've received our saved-the-date, stay tuned for email and social media updates in the upcoming weeks for more details regarding our conference leaders.
Don’t forget to Nominate a Spotlight Leader or Teacher. Spotlight Leaders is designed to recognize the phenomenal work of our diverse membership and to provide space for our membership to get to know each other. This is step one in creating networking opportunities for IALAS members. To nominate an administrator and/or a teacher for recognition at our January Conclave, please click here and place your nomination by Friday, January 5th at 7:00 p.m. The winners will be announced at our Conclave.
As we bid farewell to 2023, let's carry forward the spirit of unity, reflection, and anticipation for a brighter future into the new year. Your commitment to IALAS and the communities we serve has been the driving force behind our collective mission. Your dedication is not just appreciated; it's a heartfelt testament to the positive impact we can make together in the lives of the students and the educational community we are privileged to guide. Thank you for being the heart and soul of IALAS, fostering a community that truly cares. Here's to another year of making a meaningful difference together.
Con mucho agradecimiento,
María Burgos
President, Illinois Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (IALAS)
Thank you to those who have signed up to be a mentor or mentee. Individual emails have been sent to members who will participate in this initiative.IALAS will coordinate the partnership, however, both parties will determine what the relationship will look like, sound like, and feel like.
If you are still interested in participating, please complete the forms and we will do our best to connect y’all throughout the school year.
Scholarship Applicants
Interested in subsidizing your graduate course costs? Well, IALAS has you covered. IALAS is offering one-time $1,000 scholarships to three IALAS members in Latino/a serving districts. The final date to submit will be 1/31/24.
If you are interested in applying, please complete the Google Form HERE. You can email Nicholas Guerrero at Nguerrero@ialas.org with any questions. Application deadline will be in early 2024. Quick overview below:
Introductory essay.
Brief biography.
Profile picture.
Professor letter of recommendation #1.
Professor letter of recommendation #2.
Professional reference letter of recommendation.
IALAS member letter of recommendation.
Partnerships by Treasurer Kris Rivera
Cultivating Favorable Relationships with Vendors
As I familiarize myself with my role, I've come to appreciate the significance of fostering positive relationships with vendors. Providing feedback is crucial, enabling practitioners and educators to offer insights to education companies and aiding them in tailoring their products to meet our specific needs. When perusing a vendor gallery, take the opportunity to engage in discussions about their products, contributing to a collaborative effort to address our students' requirements. Through my interactions with vendors, it has become evident that at the heart of their companies are individuals like us who sought to solve educational challenges. The salesperson, in essence, serves as an extension of the creator's vision and mission, often rooted in the passion of the software or product developer.
A valuable approach moving forward is to view your current vendors through a lens that seeks opportunities for enhancement, usually implemented through updates or upgrades at no additional cost. I encourage you to explore this perspective with your existing vendors.
Looking ahead, I aspire to organize focus group conversations with the aim of achieving this collaborative enhancement goal. Wishing you a joyful holiday season, and thank you for your contributions to our Latino community!
Membership Announcement and Career Opportunities by Members at Large Darlene Vargas
Membership Announcement: Please consider becoming a member of IALAS as it provides you with access to exclusive resources, workshops, and events. It also provides a chance to network with other leaders from around the state.
If you are interested in an individual membership click here!
If you are interested in an organizational membership click here!
Renew your IALAS membership today!
Advocacy by Historian Rocío del Castillo
House Democrats press Education Department over Title IX rule delay
K-12 Dive
House Democrats are urging the U.S. Department of Education to finalize its two highly anticipated Title IX regulations as quickly as possible, arguing their continual delay leaves sexual assault survivors, transgender students and other historically marginalized groups without adequate civil rights protections. Read More
Proposed legislation would notify parents of child library checkouts
The 74
A nationwide discussion about which books should be kept out of the hands of K-12 students came to the state Capitol recently. Two proposed bills (SB-597 and SB-598) got a public hearing before the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children & Families. Read More
Leader Credibility
The Essential Traits of Those Who Engage, Inspire, and Transform
By: Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Cathy Lassiter, Dominique Smith
Passion, vision, relatability—can we ever quantify the facets of successful leadership? Is there sufficient “there-there” behind these feel-good words to transform a school into a culture of learning and bold hope? Yes, and yes! Inspired by John Hattie’s impressive research, Fisher, Frey, Lassiter, and Smith bring their trademark clarity to turn aspiration into energized action.
For each of the five components that all effective leaders possess—trustworthiness, competence, dynamism, immediacy, and forward-thinking—leaders learn the first steps and bold leaps to mentor others. Each chapter abounds with professional development tools, including:
Self-assessments so you know your baseline
Pause and ponder questions to envision change
REAL features to lead with alacrity
Checklists to stay focused and strategic
Relevant research to assimilate and share
Now more than ever, schools need to be places where openness and trust are baked into every hallway hello and every meeting, so collective talents can take us farther than we ever imagined. Let Leader Credibility be your guide to steering others to that greatness.
VOICES of ALAS Institute — Webinar Series 2024
ALAS
The Professional Growth and Learning Development Committee was determined to answer a crucial question: "How can we provide effective support to Latino teachers, principals, administrators, and education leaders in their professional development?" The PGLDC believes in the importance of recruiting and retaining strong Latino educators and leaders within their organizations and districts, to ensure that professional development continues throughout their careers. Therefore, the Voices for ALAS Institute was created as a platform to celebrate the Latino voice in education by sharing knowledge and expertise. Together, we can amplify the voices of Latino educators from across the country and celebrate their invaluable contributions to the field of education. Sign up as a speaker for 2024.
IALAS is hosting a variety of events in the coming months that offer members a chance to learn from and collaborate with one another, as well as to get up-to-date on the latest research and trends in the educational field. Additionally, they provide members with the chance to expand their professional networks, which can be invaluable for career growth. Please keep the following dates open:
Winter Educational Conclave: January 19, 2024- More Information to Follow
Annual Statewide Conference: April 12, 2024- More Information to Follow
