2026 IHSA Board of Directors / Nomination Form

IHSA is now accepting nominations and applications for At Large Board positions. We need strong leaders across roles to serve during challenging times.

Deadline: Applications accepted now through close of business on February 25, 2026.

Apply Online  |  Download the PDF Application

We are looking for executive directors, directors, site directors, parents, managers, administrators, teachers, partners, and other supporters of Head Start and Early Head Start.

• Director Component: 1 At Large member (two-year term)
• Friend Component: 1 At Large member (two-year term); 1 At Large member (one-year term)
• Parent Component: 1 At Large member (two-year term); 1 At Large member (one-year term)
• Staff Component: 1 At Large member (two-year term)

1. Submit a nomination or apply for yourself between now and February 25, 2026.
2. Complete the application to be considered (online or PDF).

Once applications are received

1. The IHSA Nomination Committee will review all applications and select top candidates for each component (Director, Parent, Staff, Friend).
2. The Nomination Committee will schedule virtual interviews with top candidates from each component.
3. Selected candidates will be placed on the nomination slate for approval at the March 16, 2026 IHSA Board Meeting.
4. After Board approval, final candidates will be notified and announced to the membership on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, during the Annual Conference Scholarships and Awards Luncheon.

• a Program Member whose agency has paid annual dues, or
• an Individual Associate Member who has paid annual dues, or
• a Representative Member organization that has paid annual dues.

Parent Component

Parents of children currently enrolled in their local programs or past parents who are current members of the local Parent Policy Council/Committee.

• Any parent with a child currently enrolled in Early/Head Start may become a member of the IHSA Parent Component.
• Only one parent from each Early/Head Start program may represent the grantee or delegate agency as a voting delegate.
• Each parent serving as a voting delegate must be certified in writing with a letter signed by the Early/Head Start Director on agency letterhead.

Director Component

The Early/Head Start Director of each grantee or delegate agency. If the delegate is also the grantee, only one Director represents the agency.

Staff Component

Any current Early/Head Start staff member, other than those in the Director Component.

• Only one Early/Head Start staff member from each agency may represent the agency as a voting delegate.
• Each staff voting delegate must be certified in writing with a letter signed by the Early/Head Start Director on agency letterhead.

Friends Component

Any individual who would like to support the efforts of IHSA and does not fit into the other categories above.

• Only one Friend from each agency/organization may represent the agency/organization as a voting delegate.

Contact: Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, IHSA Executive Director
Email: lfrichtl@ilheadstart.org
Phone: 217-241-3511