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.
Please click on the names to the left to view the Partners' profiles and our list of Associates.
Linda Hanson President
lhanson@schoolexecconnect.com
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.
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David Clough Partner
dclough@schoolexecconnect.com
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.
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Kenneth Dragseth Partner
kdragseth@schoolexecconnect.com
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.
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Tom Madden Partner
tmadden@schoolexecconnect.com
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.
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Edward L. Olds III Partner
eolds@schoolexecconnect.com
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.
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David W. Peterson Partner
dpeterson@schoolexecconnect.com
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.
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Harry Rossi Partner
hrossi@schoolexecconnect.com
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.
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MEET OUR ASSOCIATES
Dr. Allan Alson, Associate Director for Leadership Development for Educational Change (CEC) IL; former Senior Fellow, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; the Executive Director, High School Transformation of the Chicago Public Schools; and retired Superintendent, Evanston THSD 202, IL
Dr. Jack Barshinger, Superintendent, Batavia CUSD 101, IL and the former Superintendent, Glen Ellyn Elementary SD 41 and Winfield Public SD 34, IL
Dr. Donaldo Batiste, Superintendent, Waukegan Community School District, IL
Dr. David Cottrell, Executive Director of the Ohio Schools Council and retired superintendent of three Ohio school systems, OH
Dr. Sandy Doebert, Superintendent, Lemont Township High School District, IL
Dr. Ric Dressen, Superintendent, Edina Public Schools in Edina, MN and former Superintendent, Alexandria Public Schools and Waconia Public Schools, MN
Dr. James Ewing, former Superintendent, LaGrange School District 105, IL
Dr. Catherine Finger, Superintendent, Grayslake CHSD 127, IL
Dr. Gerald Freitag, Site Coordinator and Instructor, Cardinal Stritch University Educational Leadership Program and retired superintendent, Franklin Public Schools, Franklin, WI
Dr. Steven Gaynor, Superintendent, Bloomfield Hills Schools, MI and former Superintendent School District of the City of Royal Oak, MI.
Dr. Brent Gish, Superintendent, Red Lake Public School District 38, MN and Executive Director of National Impacted Indian Schools
Dr. Mary Herrmann, Superintendent, Winnetka Elementary School District in Winnetka, IL and the former Superintendent, Barrington Community Unit School District 220, IL
Dr. William Hughes, Superintendent of Schools, Greendale School District, WI
Dr. Kent Johansen, Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership, Western Illinois University and retired Superintendent, Stillman Valley School District, IL
Dr. Antoinette (Toni) Johns, retired Superintendent, Brooklyn Center Public Schools, Brooklyn Center, MN
Dr. J. Peter Lueck, retired Superintendent, Lisle Community Unit School District, IL
Dr. Robert Oslund, retired Superintendent , Shakopee Public Schools, MN and Wayzata Public Schools, MN
Dr. Jerome Roberts, Superintendent, East Aurora School District 131, IL
Ms. Diane Robertson, Superintendent, Community School District 4, Mendon, IL
Dr. John Sawyer, Superintendent School District 172, Lynwood, IL
Dr. Darlene Schottle, Superintendent, Kalispell Schools, MT
Mr. John Scornavacco, retired Principal, Deerfield High School, IL
Dr. Phillip Sobocinski, Superintendent, Warren Township High School District 121, IL and former Superintendent, Monona Grove School District and West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, WI
Mr. Brad Swanson, Principal, Highland Park High School and former Principal of Libertyville High School and Niles North High School, IL
Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, IN and former superintendent, Logansport Community School Corp.
Dr. Eric Witherspoon, Superintendent Evanston Township High School District 202, IL and former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, IA
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