SAI Report
February 2025 Edition
Download February 2025 SAI Report (PDF)
- Feature Article by Guest Columnist Deborah Bordenaro: Hire and Keep Classified Staff
- Message from Executive Director Lisa Remy: Working with Legislators to Achieve Great Outcomes for Students
- Legislative Notes from Dave Daughton
- Upcoming Events
- In Memoriam
- Legal Vortex with Matt Carver: Immigration Issues and Schools
- The Latest in Learning with Dana Schon: Connecting Effectively Across Generations
- It's Been SAId: Hear About SAIs Upcoming 50th Annual Conference Celebration
- Paul Gebel Named 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year
- Administrator of the Year Highlight: Central Office Administrator of the Year Peggy Murphy
- Father/Son Iowa Superintendents Featured in January 2025 AASA School Administrator Magazine
Each school year, members of the SAI team travel to visit with administrators whose districts are associated with each AEA. Complimentary lunches are provided for each meeting. Registration is required to prepare for adequate seating and meals. View dates to mark your calendar for when SAI will be visiting your area.
- February 6: Mississippi Bend
- February 13: Grant Wood
- March 5: Great Prairie
- March 13: Northwest
Join us for this learning and networking experience intended especially for practicing and aspiring female leaders.
AGENDA
Thursday, March 27
- 5 p.m. — Dinner and Networking
- 5:30 p.m. — Kristin Anderson
- 8:30 p.m. — Adjourn
Friday, March 28
- 8 a.m. — Continental Breakfast
- 8:30 a.m. — Sarah Ciavarri
- 11:30 a.m. — Adjourn
REGISTRATION
(includes dinner and continental breakfast)
- $125 for SAI members
- $250 for non-members
- All participants must register.
- Click HERE to register today.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
A block of rooms has been established at the West Des Moines Marriott for the evening of March 27 for $129 per night. To make a reservation you may use this link, or call 515-267-1500 and mention the School Administrators of Iowa/Women in Leadership room discount. The cut-off date for this block is March 5.
TOPICS AND SPEAKERS
Thursday, March 27
Dr. Kristin Anderson
The Catalysts and Inhibitors of Workplace Wellbeing: Cultivating the Conditions for Women to Thrive and Not Merely Survive
About Dr. Kristin Anderson
Dr. Kristin R. Anderson is an educator, researcher, author, and the co-founder and CEO of The Brilliance Project. She has dedicated over two decades to transforming education and unlocking the personal power of educators, leaders, and change-makers.
Friday, March 28
Sarah Ciavarri, M.Div., PCC, BCC, CRA, CDTLF
Leading with Resilience to Bust Burnout
About Sarah Ciavari
Sarah is the founder and president of Level Up Leadership, LLC, a coaching, leadership consulting, and curriculum design firm. Sarah works with senior leaders and mid-level managers to maximize their adaptability, sustainability, and potential.
- Approved Dec. 11, 2024 Executive Committee meeting minutes.
- Approved 2025 Annual Conference Exhibitor fee increase of $5 to $775.
- Discussed request to amend SAI’s membership policy to include organizations due to a unique circumstance; after discussion, the committee decided to keep the membership policy as is.
- Approved a vendor social to be added to the upcoming 2025 annual conference.
- Executive Director Lisa Remy updated the committee on ISFLC, Executive Leaders, and an Apollo Insurance corporate partnership possibility. The committee approved changes to wording in Policy G-8 Office Hours.
- Finance Director Debbie Wrenn announced that membership is currently at 2,203, which exceeds our numbers from last year. She provided an update on the monthly financial report.
- Professional Learning Director Dana Schon led the group on an energy check and how that contributes to your surroundings. Schon mentioned that the next round of mentor meetings will kick off January 23.
- Schon remarked that we were gearing up for a busy spring with several professional learning opportunities. These include the Women in Leadership Conference, Coaching Program, Elementary Principal Masterminds, Every Leader a Coach, Rewiring Perceptions of Discipline, Take 30: Retention Revolution, and the Spring Law Conference. Neppl was proud to inform the committee of the launch of the Free Aspiring School Administrators Virtual Workshop.
- Associate Professional Learning Director Al Neppl shared the conference theme, 50 Years of Learning, Inspiration, and Innovation and that all of the keynote speakers and thought leaders were set. They are now turning their attention to Promising Practices, so please encourage anyone you know to complete the RFP for consideration.
- Communications Director Laine Buck informed the committee that we signed a contract with Embark for the large conference room renovation which should begin at the end of the month. She shared that the Middle School Principal of the Year finalists have been chosen and the final interviews will be held on January 17. The remaining AOY will be finalized soon. Buck then informed members of the SAI “brand refresh” that she hopes to show everyone next month. She also discussed the recent It’s Been SAId podcast with Darin Haack and the upcoming edition about the 50th Conference with Al Neppl.
- Legal Services Director Matt Carver outlined the recent decision by the Iowa Court of Appeals and the impact on superintendent evaluations and interviews. He is also in the process of finalizing presenters for the Spring Law Conference on February 11. Carver also mentioned he has really enjoyed the recent district meetings that he has attended and the chance to talk to members.
- Carver showed some of the recent graphics put out by IPERS to show how well the fund is doing.
- Government Relations Director Dave Daughton was not able to attend the meeting, so Remy outlined his report.
