Dr. Steve Webb is Superintendent of Goreville Community Unit School District #1 in Goreville, IL. As a school administrator for the past 28 years, Dr. Webb has ascended to many leadership positions in Illinois including past-president of the Illinois Association of School Administrators where he served for 8 years as an IASA board member, past-president of the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools where he continues to serve as a member of the board, and the National Beta Club Board of Directors where he served as chairman of the Illinois State Beta Club Board of Directors.
In 2016, Steve was elected to represent Illinois on the American Association of School Administrators Governing Board and in July, 2021, he was elected to represent the states of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Canada as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Association of School Administrators. In addition to his K-12 duties, he is the author of the book “Education in a Violent World: A Practical Guide to Keeping Our Kids Safe”, he is a certified Law Enforcement Officer and School Resource Officer, founder of Safe School Systems – a consultant group that helps schools improve safety and security, a Board Member for Southern Trust Community Bank, and he is an Associate Professor in Educational Administration at Southern Illinois University and McKendree University.
Dr. Webb has been recognized by the National Association of School Resource Officers with the “National Safe School Leadership Award”, the National School Public Relations Association Illinois Chapter with a “Distinguished Service Award of Excellence”, named “Superintendent of Distinction” by the Illinois Association of School Administrators, and was recognized as a “Leader Among Us” by the Southern Business Journal.
Past AASA Illinois Superintendent of the Year Winners:
2021 Illinois Superintendent of the Year: Donna Leak
2020 Illinois Superintendent of the Year: Kevin Blankenship
About the Superintendent of the Year:
As a sponsor of the superintendent of the Year program, First Student wants to recognize these leaders in a special way this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the disruption that has affected all education systems but also the innovative approaches that the superintendents and school districts addressed through radio, television, zoom and take-home packages. These superintendents are the very best in public education and are needed more than ever during this crisis.
About the Award:
The superintendent of the Year program, sponsored by First Student and AASA, The School superintendents Association, pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation’s public schools.
State level winners are selected on the following criteria:
- Leadership for Learning
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Community Involvement