Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has recognized Dr. Adina Hoover, president of the Westmont Community Unit School District 201 Board, with the prestigious 2024 Thomas Lay Burroughs Award. This award acknowledges her exceptional leadership and its impact on student achievement and equity within the district.

Established in 1991 in memory of former ISBE Chair Thomas Lay Burroughs, the award honors school board members who significantly advance student learning and address local challenges. Dr. Steven Isoye, ISBE Board Chair, presented the award to Hoover at the 2024 Joint Annual Conference in Chicago.

"Dr. Hoover is a force for positive change and an exemplar of visionary leadership for her community," stated State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. He highlighted her dedication as a partner to the district's administration and an advocate for students' needs. "Her impact on the current students of CUSD 201 is immense; her impact on future generations of students will be immeasurable."

Dr. Isoye also praised Hoover's contributions: "Dr. Hoover exemplifies the gold standard of leadership." He commended her commitment to improving young people's lives through both her medical career and her work with CUSD 201.

Hoover joined the board in 2020 and applied her expertise as a pediatric emergency room doctor to guide the district during challenging times, including through recovery from the pandemic. Her leadership has led to significant progress in closing achievement gaps at CUSD 201, with three out of four schools receiving an Exemplary summative designation from ISBE.

In nominating Hoover for this award, Westmont Junior High Principal Amy Quattrone and CUSD 201 Bilingual Director Edith Courington credited initiatives she championed such as creating grade-level centers for elementary schools, adopting new curricula, and hiring instructional coaches across all grades.

Hoover has also been instrumental in hiring equity consultants to assess disparities within the district and expanding dual language programs along with summer school opportunities. "Adina Hoover's leadership has been transformative for our district," said Quattrone and Courington in their nomination.

CUSD 201 serves approximately 1,300 students in Westmont, DuPage County, with nearly half identifying as students of color and over a third qualifying as low-income.