IESA Headlines

Leslie Alappattu to Join IESA Staff as New Assistant Executive Director

Illinois Elementary School Association Executive Director Steve Endsley has announced the hiring of Leslie Alappattu as the IESA's newest Assistant Executive Director after the April 10 meeting of the IESA Board of Directors. She becomes the sixth person to fill the administrative role which has been vacant since November, 2014.

"Leslie will bring a wealth of junior high experience to the position," said IESA Executive Director, Steve Endsley. "I was very pleased with the quality of the candidates many of whom were administrators and coaches in IESA member schools. Leslie has strong organizational, communication, and technology skills, she is personable, confident, and well-respected by her fellow administrators, teachers, coaches, and students. She will be an outstanding addition to the IESA staff and we look forward to her being a part of the IESA team."

Alappattu has spent her entire professional career at Bloomington Jr. High School. She has held a variety of positions at the school. She is currently the assistant principal and athletic director. Prior to her current position, she served as a P.E. teacher, 6th grade teacher, summer school principal, and the District 87 mentor program coordinator. In that role, she was charged with the responsibility to develop criteria for the selection of mentors as well as recruit and train those selected to serve as mentors in the district. In her athletic director duties, she has worked with her coaches to review IESA policies, presented at the annual IESA athletic director workshop, as well as initiate community service projects for BJHS athletes.

A 2002 graduate of Hinsdale Central High School, Leslie received both her bachelors and masters degrees from Illinois State University completing her BA degree in middle school education in 2006 and her MS degree in Educational Administration in 2009.

It is anticipated that Alappattu will have administrative responsibility for the sports and activities of softball, cheerleading, chess, and bowling as well as yet to be determined responsibilities related to programs and awards.

Alappattu will start her duties with the IESA on July 1, 2015.