About the IASA President

Paula Hawley, superintendent of Pikeland CUSD #10, is the new president of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the state’s premier advocacy organization for public school superintendents.

Hawley is starting her 31^st year in Pikeland CUSD #10 and her 14^th as superintendent. Prior to becoming superintendent in 2005, she served as a teacher, assistant principal and assistant superintendent.

“I am honored and excited to be representing my peers from all across the state as IASA President,” Hawley said. “Education is, and always will be, near and dear to my heart. I look forward to supporting and growing school administrators in my role as IASA President.” 

The Illinois Association of School Administrators, or IASA, provides nearly 2,000 members with high quality professional development, networking opportunities and legal resources and advocates on behalf of school administrators across the state.

The association is governed by a board of directors, comprised of public school superintendents across Illinois, and is led by Executive Director Dr. Brent Clark. Hawley begins her one-year term as president on July 1. She has served on the IASA Board of Directors since 2013, including this past year as president-elect.

“Paula Hawley is a respected educator and leader who always puts the needs of students first,” said Dr. Brent Clark, executive director of IASA. “Her knowledge and leadership will help move the association forward while staying true to our vision of maximum educational success for all students.”

Hawley will take over as president from Dr. Sheila Harrison-Williams, superintendent of Hazel Crest School District 152-5. She was born and raised in Pittsfield, Illinois, and received her bachelor’s degree from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, her master’s degree from the University of Illinois Springfield and her Ed. S. degree from Western Illinois University in Macomb.

Hawley was honored as the Superintendent of Distinction in 2015 by her peers in the Two Rivers Region, which is comprised of Adams, Schuyler, Brown, Pike, Scott, Morgan, Cass, Greene and Calhoun counties. In 2016, she completed the 18-month National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) training program.  

In addition to IASA, Hawley is an active member of AASA, the national school superintendent association. She also serves on the board of directors for the Four Rivers Special Education Cooperative, the Executive Committee for the Western Area Schools Insurance Cooperative, the Dental Advisory Board of Pike County and is president of the West Central Region Vocational Center Board.