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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2003
East Richland Board President is Tops in State
Springfield-Dr. Gerald Mastio, President of the East
Richland Community School District #1 (Richland County)
is the 2003 recipient of the Thomas Lay Burroughs Award,
as the state’s outstanding School Board President.
His nomination cites his achievements in creating an environment
for academic excellence and providing equal opportunities
for all students while overcoming challenges.
Since he was elected president of the East Richland Community
Unit School District #1 School Board in 1999, Dr. Gerald
Mastio has repeatedly demonstrated his outstanding skills
as a leader. The year of his election his district
was already in a crisis. Turmoil surrounded many
of the administration’s actions and public confidence
in the local board was eroding. To an observer the problems
seemed almost insurmountable. However, Dr. Mastio saw
hope in the midst of crisis.
Under his guidance, addressing of problems and conflicts
began. His board meetings were conducted with professionalism
and order. Parents and community members were encouraged
to share their concerns. Mutual respect was fostered
and confidence restored. One of the district’s schools
was recently recognized as one of 27 “Spotlight Schools”
in the state – a designation reserved for high achieving
schools with a high percentage of low-income students.
“Gerald Mastio’s passion for improving education
and providing children with an environment conducive to
successful learning is obvious when you see the changes
within the district,” said State Superintendent of
Education Robert Schiller. “He is a true leader
and an ultimate professional.”
Dr. Mastio is credited with an increase in the rate of
high school graduates, creating a volunteer program that
utilizes community leaders as mentors for at-risk students,
and making the district a lighthouse district for Southeastern
and all of Illinois. East Richland Elementary School
was recently named an Illinois Spotlight School by the
Illinois State Board of Education and the district also
received the 2003 International Reading Award for Exemplary
Schools.
The Burroughs Award was created in 1991 and named after
the late ISBE chairman. Created in 1991, it is intended
to recognize extraordinary leadership on behalf of education
at the local level, especially through characteristics
similar to those shown by Tom Burroughs. The criteria
for this award recognize the following three areas of
accomplishment:
- Leadership on behalf of improved student learning
and educational excellence,
- Leadership on behalf of equal educational opportunities,
and
- Leadership in resolving a crisis or major difficulty.
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