Congratulations to Our Award Winners from the 2026 Annual Conference in Peoria

Cory Robbins — Monarch Award

Stacey Mallek — Ronald E. Everett Distinguished Service Award 

Curtis Saindon — Michael A. Jacoby Advocacy Award

Ann Williams, Ed.D., SFO — Calvin Jackson Career Impact Award

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Awards & Recognition  

Illinois ASBO Foundation awards celebrate extraordinary contributions to the school business profession. Awards are a career highlight for the recipient and demonstrate the impact an individual can have within the profession.

Every year, Illinois ASBO recognizes those who make this profession strong. Nominate a colleague to join the legacy of Illinois ASBO award recipients — Applications are now closed.

View a List of

Past Award Recipients

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Recognitions

Monarch Award

The Monarch Award is one of the highest honors that Illinois ASBO bestows upon its members. The award is not just a measure of extraordinary deeds or a lengthy career – it is a recognition of those school business officials who, throughout their career and lifetime, have demonstrated excellence in service to their school district, communities and their profession. This award is a celebration of the best school business management has to offer. (Up to three awarded per year)

$1,000 will be presented in the name of the Monarch Award recipient(s), to encourage and support community service work by students in their districts.

The Illinois ASBO Award recipient(s) will receive the following:

  • Special recognition at the Illinois ASBO Annual Conference
  • A magnificent glass statue
  • Statewide recognition in the news and trade media
  • Invitation to Illinois ASBO’s Leadership Day
  • Recognition in the UPDATE magazine, and on the Illinois ASBO website

Lighthouse Award

The Illinois ASBO Lighthouse Award was established to recognize outstanding practices and new ideas that result in significant contributions to school entities, the profession of school business management or Illinois ASBO and can be replicated by other school business officials.

The Illinois ASBO Award recipient(s) will receive the following:

  • Special recognition at the Illinois ASBO Annual Conference
  • A magnificent glass statue
  • Statewide recognition in the news and trade media
  • Invitation to Illinois ASBO’s Leadership Day
  • Recognition in the UPDATE magazine, and on the Illinois ASBO website

Ronald E. Everett Distinguished Service Award

The Illinois Association of School Business Officials Ronald E. Everett Distinguished Service Award addresses the recognition of individuals for their diligence, superior performance and achievements in service to the school business public based on the following categories:
  • Outstanding School Business Official
    Any individual working in a school business capacity. This includes all positions involving the administration and operation of a Local Education Agency.
  • Outstanding Professional
    This includes any individual not covered in the above category.

The objective of the award is to honor those individuals who have made significant contributions through dedicated efforts. It is also the hope of Illinois ASBO to promote public appreciation of quality in school business services and to stimulate growth in the profession. Recipients for this award are determined by the Board of Directors.


The Illinois ASBO Award recipient(s) will receive the following:

  • Special recognition at the Illinois ASBO Annual Conference
  • A magnificent glass statue
  • Statewide recognition in the news and trade media
  • Invitation to Illinois ASBO’s Leadership Day
  • Recognition in the UPDATE magazine, and on the Illinois ASBO website

Above and Beyond Award

Each year at the Illinois ASBO Annual Conference, individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the profession of school business management are recognized. Foundation Award Winners personify what getting involved in Illinois ASBO is all about.

The Above and Beyond Award recognizes a Service Associate member within Illinois ASBO who has gone beyond normal expectations in their service to Illinois ASBO and Illinois School districts. A recipient of the Above and Beyond Award has generously dedicated their time, energy and expertise over the past year to helping the Association and its members succeed.

Recognized by Illinois ASBO staff for their efforts, they serve as a shining example of how Service Associate members can become true partners within the Association. In addition to recognition amongst their peers, recipients of the Above and Beyond Award receive a beautiful engraved sunrise statue to symbolize how they have risen above expectations in their service to the Illinois ASBO.

The Illinois ASBO Award recipient(s) will receive the following:

  • Special recognition at the Illinois ASBO Annual Conference
  • A magnificent glass statue
  • Statewide recognition in the news and trade media
  • Invitation to Illinois ASBO’s Leadership Day
  • Recognition in the UPDATE magazine, and on the Illinois ASBO website

Calvin Jackson Career Impact Award

The Calvin Jackson Career Impact Award has been created to honor Dr. Calvin Jackson’s significant service to Illinois ASBO and his leadership within the Statewide School Management Alliance.

After serving on active duty for three years, Cal began his career in schools in 1961 as a teacher, counselor and coach. He earned his Master’s and Doctorate degree from SIU Carbondale, and spent 18 years as a Superintendent in Fairbury before joining the Illinois ASBO team in 1997. Over his 42 years as an Illinois ASBO member and 21 years on staff, Cal has been a devoted mentor and teacher, traveling statewide to help district officials understand the impact of legislative issues and legislators understand how school children are impacted by what they do (or don’t) do. His contributions have helped make the Alliance a go-to resource for legislators and will have a lasting impact on the profession.

Recipients of this award will be active or emeritus School District or Service Associate Members of Illinois ASBO who have demonstrated over the course of their career, a commitment to leverage their expertise to further the quality of the work of Illinois ASBO.

The Illinois ASBO Award recipient(s) will receive the following:
  • Special recognition at the Illinois ASBO Annual Conference
  • A magnificent glass statue
  • Statewide recognition in the news and trade media
  • Invitation to Illinois ASBO’s Leadership Day
  • A letter from the current Illinois ASBO President and Executive Director
  • Recognition in the UPDATE magazine, and on the Illinois ASBO website

Michael A. Jacoby Advocacy Award

The Michael A. Jacoby Advocacy Award has been created to honor Dr. Michael A. Jacoby’s dedicated service to Illinois ASBO as well as his invaluable work enhancing educational advocacy, not just for Illinois ASBO but the entire Statewide School Management Alliance.

After a tenure as a music educator, School Business Official and Superintendent, Dr. Jacoby was named the Executive Director of Illinois ASBO in 2006. In the ensuing 18 years as executive director, Dr. Jacoby focused heavily on legislative efforts to improve education in Illinois. His efforts saw great successes, especially the Evidence Based Funding formula. His leadership in this area has enhanced the Statewide Alliance’s place in Springfield and made a lasting mark on the educational industry both in Illinois and across the nation.

Recipients of this award will be active or emeritus School District or Service Associate Members of Illinois ASBO who have demonstrated over the course of their career, passion for improving educational legislation and advocacy efforts as well as a dedication to the ideals of the work of Illinois ASBO and it’s Statewide School Management Alliance partners.

The Illinois ASBO Award recipient(s) will receive the following:
  • Special recognition at the Illinois ASBO Annual Conference
  • A magnificent glass statue
  • Statewide recognition in the news and trade media
  • Invitation to Illinois ASBO’s Leadership Day
  • A letter from the current Illinois ASBO President and Executive Director
  • Recognition in the UPDATE magazine, and on the Illinois ASBO website