Allyship, Connection, Engagement: Women in School Leadership Conference

Located in conference center lobby at the Doubletree by Hilton

Location: Brickyard I, II, & III

Dr. Ani Yazedjian serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and provides leadership in the planning, development, implementation, and assessment of all academic programs and many service areas. The Provost serves as the chief academic officer of the University with responsibility for academic and senior-level internal leadership and serves as the primary representative for the President in his absence.

The Provost also coordinates the team of senior staff to achieve the University's established major goals as identified by the President and the Board of Trustees. This team coordinates reporting units, carries out teaching and learning initiatives, and works with the Academic Senate, Administrative/Professional Council, Civil Service Council, Student Government Association and other representative bodies to maintain the university's tradition of shared governance.

Morning Keynote

by Erin Tarr

Location: Brickyard I, II, & III

9:00-10:45 a.m.

Erin Tarr is a leadership speaker and longtime educator who helps women lead with greater confidence, clarity, and impact.

Erin's leadership journey is deeply rooted in education. A licensed secondary education teacher, she served as the founding Associate Director of Next Generation School and later as Associate Director of the Champaign-Urbana Schools Foundation, giving her a front-row seat to both the rewards and the very real demands of educational leadership.

Erin is the founder of Be the Benchmark LLC, where she works with individuals and organizations to strengthen confidence and leadership from the inside out, and CEO of Keller Williams TREC of Illinois, where she is in the business of developing people - coaching entrepreneurs and real estate professionals to grow as leaders and create meaningful results.

Erin is the bestselling author of Your FIERCE Life: Six Simple Steps to Daily Confidence for Teens and creator of the F.I.E.R.C.E. Framework. Her work is grounded in a simple belief: the way we lead ourselves directly impacts the way we lead others. Through practical tools, intentional habits, and greater self-awareness, Erin helps leaders become more confident in order to create healthier, happier environments for themselves and the people they lead without turning their lives upside down or burning out.

As a speaker and trainer, Erin has worked with organizations including the University of Illinois, FedEx Ground, the Creative Education Foundation, as well as countless women's groups locally and nationally. Known for her energetic, practical, and interactive approach, she invites leaders to look beyond the never-ending demands of their roles and ask bigger questions about their own personal values and long-term purpose.

Erin lives in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, with her husband and three daughters and remains deeply involved in education, the arts, and community leadership.

Conference break between keynote and first breakout sessions

Thriving as a New Administrator

by Jennifer Gill, Retired Superintendent of Springfield School District #186

Location: Brickyard IV

Proactive District/Building Communication Strategies

by Dayne Brown, Director of Communications and Community Engagement
McLean County Unit #5 School District

Location: Brickyard V

Entre Las Llamas: How Our Stories Shape the Way We Lead 

 by Crystal Jimenez, Associate Superintendent of Student Success and Accountability
Addison School District #4

Location TBD

Drawing from my Entre Las Llamas written series, participants will explore how their experiences shape their identity, beliefs, and decisions as women in school leadership. Through guided reflection and conversation, they will build connections and identify one intentional next step in their leadership practice.

Who I Am, Not What I Do: Leading from the Inside Out

by Dr. Brandi Kelly

Location: TBD

High-achieving leaders often fall into the trap of defining their worth by job titles, daily tasks, and external problem-solving. In this transformative breakout session, Dr. Brandi Kelly guides leaders to shift their focus inward. Building a powerful foundation of self-efficacy grounded in core values, self-awareness, and personal identity. Participants will explore their "default settings" using personality and leadership frameworks, unpack the "Achiever’s Trap," and learn practical habits to nurture the whole person. Walk away with actionable tools to overcome imposter syndrome, lead with authenticity, and align daily actions with who you truly are.

Dr. Brandi Kelly is a two-time Principal of the Year, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Maxwell Certified Coach, and former Superintendent with over 20 years of hands-on leadership experience. As the CEO and founder of Spark HOPE Edu, she equips leaders to build resilient, relationship-centered schools and organizations where every person feels seen, heard, and valued. Dr. Kelly is the creator of the System of H.O.P.E. (Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence) and the author of Lead with H.O.P.E.: Building a System of Self-Efficacy, inspiring leaders to step fully into their influence with clarity, courage, and purpose.

The Power of the Co-Pilot: How the Superintendent's Educational Vision and the CFO's Business Operations Align for Staff Success

by Dr. Cassandra Schug & Julie Dillon

Location: TBD

 In many school districts, staff may perceive a tug-of-war between instructional innovation and financial constraints. Led by Dr. Cassandra Schug, Superintendent of Belvidere School District, and Julie Dillon, CFO of Woodstock School District, this session models a powerful partnership that shifts the business office from the "Office of No" to the "Office of Feasibility and Solutions." Attendees will walk away with a practical blueprint for aligning an educational vision with operational resources to foster a supportive, sustainable environment for all staff. 

Dr. Cassandra Schug has served as the Superintendent of Schools of Belvidere CUSD 100 in Belvidere, Illinois, since July of 2022.  Prior to her work in Belvidere Dr. Schug has served as the Superintendent of Schools in the Watertown Unified School District in Watertown, Wisconsin for 11 years.  Prior to her role in Watertown she has held a number of administrative roles including Principal at West Bend East High School in West Bend, Wisconsin, Associate Principal at Nathan Hale High School in the West Allis West Milwaukee School District, and Director of Academics and Assessment in the West Allis West Milwaukee School District.  Prior to her roles in administration, Dr. Schug served as a teacher in the West-Allis West Milwaukee School District and in McHenry School District in McHenry, Illinois. She completed her PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin Madison, and she has been able to participate and present at many local, state and national conferences over the course of her career.

School finance is Julie Dillon’s second career. She first served as a public accounting auditor and in various roles at four fortune 100 companies. However, volunteer work at her kids’ schools inspired her to earn CSBO certification. She then became the CFO/CSBO for a cooperative in Highland Park and later the CFO for Woodstock D200. Dillon has also taught accounting at the community college level, served on the Woodstock City Council, and operated her own tax and accounting business.  

Located in conference center lobby at the Doubletree by Hilton

Thriving as a New Administrator

by Jennifer Gill, Retired Superintendent of Springfield School District #186

Location: Brickyard IV

Proactive District/Building Communication Strategies

by Dayne Brown, Director of Communications and Community Engagement
McLean County Unit #5 School District

Location: TBD

Entre Las Llamas: How Our Stories Shape the Way We Lead 

by Crystal Jimenez, Associate Superintendent of Student Success and Accountability
Addison School District #4

Location TBD

Drawing from my Entre Las Llamas written series, participants will explore how their experiences shape their identity, beliefs, and decisions as women in school leadership. Through guided reflection and conversation, they will build connections and identify one intentional next step in their leadership practice.

Who I Am, Not What I Do: Leading from the Inside Out

by Dr. Brandi Kelly

Location: TBD

High-achieving leaders often fall into the trap of defining their worth by job titles, daily tasks, and external problem-solving. In this transformative breakout session, Dr. Brandi Kelly guides leaders to shift their focus inward. Building a powerful foundation of self-efficacy grounded in core values, self-awareness, and personal identity. Participants will explore their "default settings" using personality and leadership frameworks, unpack the "Achiever’s Trap," and learn practical habits to nurture the whole person. Walk away with actionable tools to overcome imposter syndrome, lead with authenticity, and align daily actions with who you truly are.

Dr. Brandi Kelly is a two-time Principal of the Year, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Maxwell Certified Coach, and former Superintendent with over 20 years of hands-on leadership experience. As the CEO and founder of Spark HOPE Edu, she equips leaders to build resilient, relationship-centered schools and organizations where every person feels seen, heard, and valued. Dr. Kelly is the creator of the System of H.O.P.E. (Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence) and the author of Lead with H.O.P.E.: Building a System of Self-Efficacy, inspiring leaders to step fully into their influence with clarity, courage, and purpose.

The Power of the Co-Pilot: How the Superintendent's Educational Vision and the CFO's Business Operations Align for Staff Success

by Dr. Cassandra Schug & Julie Dillon

Location: TBD

 In many school districts, staff may perceive a tug-of-war between instructional innovation and financial constraints. Led by Dr. Cassandra Schug, Superintendent of Belvidere School District, and Julie Dillon, CFO of Woodstock School District, this session models a powerful partnership that shifts the business office from the "Office of No" to the "Office of Feasibility and Solutions." Attendees will walk away with a practical blueprint for aligning an educational vision with operational resources to foster a supportive, sustainable environment for all staff. 

Dr. Cassandra Schug has served as the Superintendent of Schools of Belvidere CUSD 100 in Belvidere, Illinois, since July of 2022.  Prior to her work in Belvidere Dr. Schug has served as the Superintendent of Schools in the Watertown Unified School District in Watertown, Wisconsin for 11 years.  Prior to her role in Watertown she has held a number of administrative roles including Principal at West Bend East High School in West Bend, Wisconsin, Associate Principal at Nathan Hale High School in the West Allis West Milwaukee School District, and Director of Academics and Assessment in the West Allis West Milwaukee School District.  Prior to her roles in administration, Dr. Schug served as a teacher in the West-Allis West Milwaukee School District and in McHenry School District in McHenry, Illinois. She completed her PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin Madison, and she has been able to participate and present at many local, state and national conferences over the course of her career.

School finance is Julie Dillon’s second career. She first served as a public accounting auditor and in various roles at four fortune 100 companies. However, volunteer work at her kids’ schools inspired her to earn CSBO certification. She then became the CFO/CSBO for a cooperative in Highland Park and later the CFO for Woodstock D200. Dillon has also taught accounting at the community college level, served on the Woodstock City Council, and operated her own tax and accounting business.  

Conference break between second breakout sessions and closing keynote

Closing Session

by Dr. Tiffany S. Brunson

Location: Brickyard I, II, & III

Dr. Tiffany S. Brunson is an accomplished and visionary leader whose three-decade career in education reflects transformative leadership, courageous innovation, and an unwavering commitment to equity and excellence. A proud Chicago native and United States Army veteran, Dr. Brunson has consistently broken barriers and redefined what is possible for students, educators, and the communities she serves. Her lifelong mission is clear: to make the invisible visible and the impossible possible.

Throughout her career, Dr. Brunson has served as a special education teacher, assistant principal, principal, and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. Since 2022, she has proudly served as Superintendent of Elementary School District 159, leading with a commitment to student-centered innovation, belonging, academic excellence, wellness, and opportunity for every learner.

A trailblazer in every sense, Dr. Brunson has often been the first to lead in diverse educational spaces, launching new schools, establishing departments, designing inclusive programs, and influencing policy at the state level. She is a founding board member of the Illinois Alliance of Black School Educators (ILABSE) and currently serves as President-Elect of the Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity (SSCSD).

In 2024, Dr. Brunson became a contributing author to Centering Our Voices: The Anthology, an award-winning collection amplifying the stories, challenges, and triumphs of Black women in education. Her contribution reflects her deep belief in leading with authenticity and uplifting others through narrative, advocacy, and shared experience.

Her progressive and innovative leadership has earned numerous accolades. Most recently In 2024, she was recognized as one of the Amazing Women of Rich Township. She was recently named the recipient of the 2025 Illinois Transformative Superintendent Award, presented by 7 Mindsets, honored as one of the 2025 Most Distinguished Women in Illinois, and awarded in 2026 with the prestigious Award of Excellence in School Administration from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Dr. Brunson’s leadership is often described as visionary, bold, and deeply human. She builds trust across communities, cultivates leadership in others, and inspires systemic transformation. Her superpower lies in connecting purpose with practice, values with vision, and dreams with measurable results. She believes that if given access and opportunities we can all leave behind a meaningful legacy!

Thank yous and final thoughts