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MEET OUR PARTNERS AND ASSOCIATES
School Exec Connect consultants can meet the complex needs of education today. School Exec Connect Partners and Associates have exceptional reputations and are regarded as highly knowledgeable about leadership and leaders. We conduct searches for all levels of education executives and consult on a variety of topics related to school improvement, planning, and board governance. We have worked successfully with districts across the nation and bring decades of experience to meet your needs. Please view more details about the services we offer by clicking on “Other Services.”
Our consultants have extensive nation-wide networks that enable them to know personally the finest superintendents and principals throughout the country. Our consultants hold collective memberships in the top state and national educational organizations, teach at colleges and universities throughout the country, are published authors, and have won prestigious educational awards. They are leaders in the field.
Linda Hanson is the president and managing partner of School Exec Connect. She has conducted executive searches nationally for school districts since 1992. She is the retired superintendent of Highland Park/Deerfield High School District (THSD 113) , IL and was the superintendent of Mundelein High School District 120 (IL). She has experience at every level of education from Kindergarten through college.
She has led schools that have been recognized nationally for academic excellence. She has won multiple leadership awards including Illinois Instructional Leader (Illinois Principal Association), Lake County Superintendent of the Year (voted by peers), the Illinois Governor’s Award (for leadership in the arts), Woman of Achievement (YWCA and Girl Scouts of America), and Outstanding Administrator of the Year (Illinois Association of Student Assistance Programs).
She has published numerous articles in state and national journals and has conducted local, state, and national workshops on topics ranging from long-range planning to school board leadership.
Robert Hanson Vice-President of Operations
Robert brings 35 year’s K-14 public school and college level education experience as a music teacher and administrator. He received his doctorate at Northwestern University in Illinois. In addition, he has worked extensively with not-for-profit organizations in Illinois and Michigan. He has served at the music director of a nationally recognized symphony orchestra. He has designed and written regionally and nationally recognized music education programs for K-12 students.
Dave Clough, Ph. D., has conducted school executive searches since 1999. He is the retired superintendent of the Libertyville/Vernon Hills High School District (CHSD 128) in the northern suburbs of Chicago. He has had more than 30 years of administrative experience encompassing all levels of education throughout the Midwest and has served outstanding school districts in Minnesota, Nebraska and Illinois.
Dave is well connected to prospective administrative candidates through a comprehensive network but also through holding a number of key leadership positions, including serving as the past President of the Lake County Superintendents Association, President of the Mid American Association of School Superintendents and President of the Superintendents Roundtable of Northern Illinois. He is also an active member of Suburban School Superintendents (SSS), IASA/AASA and the Illinois Association of School Boards. Dave has presented nationally and regionally on topics ranging from administrative competencies to school quality assessments.
Ken Dragseth, Ph. D., is the retired superintendent of the Edina Public Schools in Edina, Minnesota. He has had experience as a principal, curriculum director, assistant superintendent and superintendent in a highly successful metropolitan district that has been recognized nationally for the excellence of its programs.
He has received many honors including being named National Superintendent of the Year in 2003 by the American Association of School Administrators, Minnesota Superintendent of the Year in 2002, Executive Educators top 100 educators, University of Minnesota College of Education Distinguished Leadership Award, and has received other local, state, and national recognition.
Ken has conducted local, state and national workshops on a variety of topics including school board/superintendent relationships, high school start times, gender bias issues, ethical values, data-based decision-making, and leadership skills. He has published numerous articles in national and state journals.
Antoinette (Toni) Johns Ed.D. is the retired Superintendent of the Brooklyn Center Public Schools in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. She has served in a wide variety of positions in public education from elementary through the college level. Her administrative roles have included coordinator for special education in a local district, and director of special education for an Intermediate District providing services to over twenty districts. Prior to retirement she served as superintendent in a rural district and then in a first ring suburb of Minneapolis for the last 10 years.
Toni has served on many state committees and was in the Bush Public Schools Executive Fellows Program for Educational leaders. Leadership roles have included President of the Minnesota Administrators of Special Education, Treasurer and President of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. She has also served as the Chair of the Northwest Suburban Integration School District and as Chair of the TIES Executive Committee. TIES is a 38 member consortium of school districts formed to provide innovative technology solutions to administrative functions and learning.
Thomas (Tom) Madden, Ed. D., a partner of School Exec Connect, has conducted executive searches for school districts since 1995. He is the retired superintendent of Lemont Township High School District 210 and has experience in public school education at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He has also taught at the college and university levels in both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Tom has conducted workshops and made presentations at the local, state and national levels on topics of leadership, instructional methodologies, classroom management, goal setting, team-building, strategic planning, and effective communication skills.
Ed Olds, Ed. D., is the retired superintendent of La Grange School District 105 in the Western Suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. During his career, Ed served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in both rural and suburban districts throughout Illinois. He has experience in districts ranging from 285 to 70,000 students. He resides in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Ed is uniquely qualified to assist rural districts achieve success in their superintendent search and transition.
Ed represented Illinois administrators as a member of the Illinois High School Association Board of Directors and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Association of School Administrators. He has been a search consultant to both rural and suburban school districts and served as an adjunct professor for both Western and Northern Illinois Universities.
Ed has been a presenter at both North Central Association and Illinois Association of School Board conferences and has been active in Illinois legislative issues. In his retirement, Ed divides his time between his love for flying and local civic activities.
David Peterson, M. S., is the retired superintendent of the Northern Suburban Education District (NSSED). NSSED is a special education joint agreement that serves twenty school districts in the North Shore of Chicago. Dave is the co-director of FED ED, a consortium that addresses federal education issues that impact suburban school districts in Illinois.
Dave is a recognized national and state leader in special education. He was President of the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education in 2000-02, was appointed to the U.S. Department of Education Federal Interagency Coordinating Council by Secretary of Education Richard Riley, and serves on U.S. Congressman Mark Kirk’s Education Advisory Committee. Dave is also the recipient of numerous awards including IAASE’s David Berto Leadership award.
Dave has served as a consultant to districts across the country and has conducted numerous workshops and presentations on topics ranging from alternate models of service to children with special needs to international achievement standards. He has published articles in a number of education journals and several book chapters.
Harry P. Rossi, Ed. D., is the co-director of FED ED, a consortium that addresses federal education issues that impact suburban school districts in Illinois. He is the retired superintendent of Northbrook/Glenview School District 30. During his extensive administrative career, he has served at all building level administrative positions and many central office positions.
Harry is an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University Chicago where he teaches educational leadership as well as conducts practicum and internship programs. Additionally, he serves on two university boards as well as several state and National boards. He has presented and published at the state, national, and international levels.
MEET OUR SENIOR ASSOCIATES
Dr. Gerald Freitag, Site Coordinator and Instructor, Cardinal Stritch University Educational Leadership Program and retired superintendent, Franklin Public Schools, Franklin, WI
Dr. Kent Johansen, Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership, Western Illinois University and retired Superintendent, Meridian CUSD #223, IL
Mr. Lawrence Lobert, Vice-President, Polaris Educational Systems, retired HR assistant superintendent, Gross Point Schools (MI), and New Trier THS (IL)
Dr. Robert O’Brien, retired superintendent, Huron Valley Schools (MI)
Dr. Robert Ostlund, retired superintendent, Wayzata Public Schools (MI)
MEET OUR ASSOCIATES
Dr. Christine Abbott, Special Lecturer, Oakland University (MI)
Dr. Allan Alson, retired superintendent, Evanston THSD 202 (IL)
Dr. Jack Barshinger, superintendent, Glen Ellyn School District 41 (IL)
Dr. Donaldo Batiste, superintendent, Waukegan Public Schools (IL)
Dr. Kathleen Cooke, superintendent, Hamilton School District (WI)
Dr. David Cottrell, Executive Director, Ohio Schools Council and the retired superintendent
of three Ohio school systems (OH)
Dr. Sandy Doebert, superintendent, Lemont THSD 210 (IL)
Dr. Ric Dressen, superintendent, Edina Public Schools (MN)
Dr. Jim Ewing, retired superintendent, LaGrange School District 105 (IL)
Dr. Keith Fuchs, superintendent, Menasha Joint School District (WI)
Dr. Brent Gish, superintendent, Red Lake PSD 38 (MN)
Dr. William A. Hamilton, retired superintendent Walled Lake Consolidated Schools (MI)
Dr. William Hughes, superintendent, Greendale Public Schools (WI)
Dr. Sarah Jerome, superintendent, Arlington Heights School District (IL)
Dr. Carol Klenow, interim superintendent, Madison Schools (MI) and retired associate superintendent
of Oakland Schools (MI)
Dr. Charles Kyte, retired Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators and fomer superintendent Northfield Schools (MN)
Dr. Craig Larson, retired superintendent, Rockwood School District (MO)
Dr. Emmett W. Lippe, retired superintendent, Novi Community School District (MI)
Dr. Peter Lueck, retired superintendent, Lisle CUSD 202 (IL)
Dr. David Markward, retired superintendent, Rock Island/Milan SD 41 (IL) and retired superintendent,
Cedar Rapids Community Schools (IA)
Dr. Kathryn Robbins, superintendent, Leyden High Schools District 212 (IL)
Dr. Jerome Roberts, superintendent, East Aurora School District 131 (IL)
Dr. Diane Robertson, superintendent, Mendon School District 4 (IL)
Dr. John Sawyer III, superintendent, Sandridge School District 172, (IL)
Dr. Donald Senti, retired superintendent, Clayton School District (MO)
Dr. Phillip Sobocinski, superintendent, Warren THSD (IL) and former superintendent,
West Allis-West Milwaukee School District (WI)
Mr. Brad Swanson, principal, Highland Park High School (IL)
Dr. Paul Swanstrom, superintendent, Joliet Township HSD 204 (IL)
Dr. Jerry Thacker, superintendent, Penn-Harris-Madison SD (IN)
Dr. Mike Thompson, Associate Dean for Education, Cardinal Stritch University and
retired superintendent, Menasha Public Schools (WI)
Dr. David Vick, retired superintendent, Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65 (IL)
Dr. Erick Witherspoon, superintendent, Evanston THSD 202 and former superintendent,
Des Moines Public Schools (IN)
EMERITUS ASSOCIATES
Mr. John Scornavacco, retired principal, Deerfield High School (IL)
Dr. Betty Womack, assistant superintendent, School District of Kettle Moraine (WI)
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