Executive Board Election Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kelly Coash-Johnson

913.327.1222

AASPA Announces Election of New Board Leadership

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – August 14, 2024 — The American Association of School Personnel Administrators announced the election of three new members to their Executive Board – Dr. Steve Grubb, Associate Superintendent in the Highline School District in Burien, WA., was elected as President-elect for 2024-2025; Debbie Simons, Chief Human Resources Officer of the Northwest Regional Education Service District in Hillsboro, OR has been elected to serve serve as Region 1 Representative and Josh Chambers, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources at Glenbard Township High School District in Glen Ellyn, IL was elected to serve as Region 2 Representative.

These individuals will take office at the AASPA Annual Business Meeting, scheduled for October 17, 2024 in Seattle, WA.

"AASPA's strength lies in its network and community of educators who volunteer their talents and resources to better the mission to be the leader in the education, support and advocacy for our membership and the students they serve. I am excited to work alongside our newest AASPA leaders and board members to make the kind of innovative changes that will allow us to serve our members now and into the future." said AASPA Executive Director, Kelly Coash-Johnson

The AASPA Executive Board is a 10-member governing body comprised of elected members. Board candidates are selected by the AASPA Nominating Committee and voted on by members during a general election. Find out more about the AASPA Executive Board and governance by visiting https://www.aaspa.org/executive-board

The American Association of School Personnel Administrators is an international organization that provides leadership in promoting effective human resource practices within education. Headquartered in Overland Park, KS., AASPA holds an annual conference in October and various regional professional development opportunities throughout the year in addition to providing other valuable benefits to its 3,500+ members. More information about AASPA can be found at www.aaspa.org.

President-Elect: Dr. Steve Grubb

Steve serves as Associate Superintendent in the Highline School District (17,000
students), adjacent to Seattle. Steve supervises Human Resources, Safety and
Security, Facilities, and Transportation. Steve has served on the AASPA Board
for the last three years as the representative for Region 1, which includes much
of the northwest.

Steve’s professional interests center on leadership, recruitment, retention and HR systems and standards. Reflecting these interests, recent presentations include: Recruiting and Retaining Teachers of Color, AASPA Seattle (virtual due to Covid) October 2020; “Teachers Who Look Like Us”, AASA National Conference, Los Angeles 2019; “High Quality and Diverse Principal Leadership: Flipping the Traditional Preparation Model”, ASU/GSV Summit San Diego 2019; Recruiting Teachers of Color and HR Branding, (Ohio Personnel Administrator’s state conference, 2018), From Transactions to Transformation: Developing Learning Focused Partnerships (AASPA, 2017); Human Resources and
Instructional Leadership (AASPA, 2016), and Human Resources and Evaluation (Central Washington University, annually 2016-2019).

Steve has also served as adjunct graduate faculty for Western Washington University and University of Washington, Bothell. In these roles he has taught graduate-level classes related to: school leadership, school law, education policy,
and human resources.

In addition to receiving a doctorate (and superintendent credential) from the University of Washington in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (2007), Steve attended the Harvard Institute for School Leadership (2007); Harvard’s
Principal Center (2000); Western Washington University Principal certification, and holds a Masters in Special Education from the University of Washington (1992). Steve has also served students and educators as a teacher, principal, and school supervisor. He is married, has four children, and lives in Snohomish,
Washington.

Region 1 Representative: Debbie Simons

Debbie Simons is the Chief Human Resources Officer of the Northwest Regional Education Service District. She has extensive experience as an educator and human resources professional, and includes time as an elementary school
principal, middle school principal, director of human resources in middle
and large school systems, and assistant superintendent of teaching and
learning. She also is a consultant, helping districts with various projects. Debbie
served on the Oregon School Personnel Association (OSPA) board for eight
years, including as president, and she has taught classes for new human
resources professionals. She recently returned to the OSPA board. In addition to
human resources, the portfolio of programs she has overseen includes
technology, food services, athletics, special education and student learning.

“I believe every student, regardless of how they come to us, deserves the very best we can provide every
day in order to help them reach their potential,” says Simons. “From my various roles in educational
settings, I’ve seen how central our personnel are to delivering on this promise.”

Debbie began her educational career during her senior year of high school when she worked halftime in
Mrs. Peacore’s second grade classroom. In addition to leadership positions, she has also worked as a
substitute teacher, middle school teacher, teacher in an alternative program, volleyball and basketball
coach, Title One Coordinator, and leadership and honor society adviser. She received her undergraduate
degree from Western Oregon State College, now Western Oregon University. She earned her master's
degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Southern Oregon University and administrative license through
Portland State University. She enjoys spending time with her husband, five children, eleven grandchildren
and three great-grandchildren, along with cooking, gardening and traveling.

Region 2 Representative: Josh Chambers

Josh began his career as a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools as part of the Teach for Chicago program and has taught at the elementary, middle school and high school levels, where he also served as an athletic coach. He has held multiple administrative positions, including Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Principal, and has served as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources at Glenbard Township High School District 87 since 2014.

Josh has served as the Chair of the IASPA Communication Committee and the Chair, Co-Chair, and member of the AASPA Leon Bradley Scholarship Committee. He is currently a member of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee for AASPA. He has also volunteered as technical support for IASPA events for multiple years. He is also a contributing member of the Northwest Personnel Administrators group.

Josh has presented at the Joint Annual Conference, the National School Boards Association Annual Conference, the EdLeader21 Annual Conference, and IASPA's annual conferences on behalf of the Glenbard School district.

Josh's ability to develop strong relationships throughout his district was foundational as he built and strengthened the systems and processes in the human resources office. He is knowledgeable, fair, empathetic and understanding in all his interactions.

Josh has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence in human resources management, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment for both educators and staff. His dedication to promoting a culture of collaboration, diversity, and professional growth has had a profound impact on his school community and our HR world. This has been evidenced through his formal and informal mentoring of leaders, leadership roles he has undertaken for AASPA and IASPA, and contributions to his district.

One of Josh's outstanding strengths is his ability to navigate the complexities of HR management with grace and efficiency. In the ever-evolving landscape of education, Josh has exhibited a remarkable capacity for adaptability and innovation, implementing forward-thinking strategies to address the unique challenges faced by our school district.

Furthermore, Josh has played a pivotal role in enhancing the recruitment and retention of top-tier talent within the Glenbard schools. His initiatives and efforts have not only attracted highly qualified professionals but have also contributed to the development of a cohesive and motivated team. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Josh consistently demonstrates empathy, integrity, and strong leadership skills. He is known for his approachability, actively listening to the concerns and needs of employees and working tirelessly to create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.