2026 Strategic Areas of Focus​
Association efforts to carry out its mission and engage members and member districts with ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ staff, programs, resources, and services are guided by the following board-approved strategic areas of focus for the 2026 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026):
In-District Touchpoints
Strengthening member relationships, increasing participation, and enhancing ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ’s overall impact.
- Division Meeting Participation: Refine outreach efforts to enhance participation in Division Meetings.
- Outreach to Unengaged Members: Strengthen relationships with unengaged members by implementing targeted outreach strategies that encourage participation in association activities and discussions.
- Broaden Online Communities to All Members: Foster a more inclusive and collaborative online environment by providing all members with access to ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ-hosted online communities.
- Develop a Membership-Driven Five-Year Strategic Plan: Create a unified vision and set of actionable strategies that focus efforts statewide on improving district governance and ultimately student outcomes.
Advocacy
Elevating member engagement toward advocacy to impact public K-12 education policy and legislation.
- Fortify local advocacy efforts: Target invitations to members to join Advocacy Ambassadors and local advocacy efforts.
- Enhance legislative engagement: Facilitate direct interactions between school board members and members of Congress, and the Illinois General Assembly.
- Delegate Assembly education & participation: Equip members with knowledge and tools to effectively designate delegates from their local boards to engage in Association-wide policy discussions and decision-making.
Technology-Driven Efficiency
Improve business operations by leveraging technology to increase efficiency, reduce manual work, enhance productivity, and drive informed decision-making.
- Optimize Technology Systems: Implement and optimize internal systems and software to improve operational efficiency.
- Enhance Technology Utilization: Equip staff with the necessary training and professional development to effectively integrate technology into association programs and services.
- Implement Data-Driven Decision Making: Implement and utilize analytics tools to collect, analyze, and report on member engagement to inform strategic decision-making.
The ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ Board of Directors meets quarterly to review progress on the above areas of focus, as well as other work to support​ ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ's mission and vision.
The ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ Annual Report offers a snapshot of the important work of the Association during the fiscal year, which ends on June 30 of each year. ​The report highlights the many efforts to serve ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ members, as guided by the strategic plan.