Candidates for High School Delegate
Anita Carpenter
College Counselor, Downers Grove South High School
Education
BS, Bradley University; MS, Illinois State University; Administrative Certification, DePaul University
IACAC Member
14 years
Previous Employment
Teacher-Counselor, 1987-1997, Thomas Drummond School-Science; Guidance Counselor, 1997-2003, Downers Grove South High School
IACAC Activities
Conference presenter 2002 and 2004, Conference Hospitality Co-Chair 2007, First Timers Committee member 2010, IACAC mentor, Plane O’ Fun and Bus O’ Fun participant and District Seminar participant.
NACAC Activities
Chicago College Fair volunteer, Conference participant and Member.
Other Professional Activities
College Board and Admissions Conference Session Moderator, Chicago Area Counselors Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Candidate Statement
I am proud, elated and honored to be nominated as a candidate for the 20011-12 IACAC Executive Board. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who had a hand in making this opportunity a reality for me because IACAC, an organization that is revered and looked to, by the membership, for initiatives, is the bedrock of my professional counseling passion. As a college counselor, I am proud and have benefited, tremendously, from belonging to IACAC, which has been a priceless and humbling experience for me.
IACAC views, a community-oriented approach as a design to develop consensus, to establish a common vision for our schools, and to create an action plan. These ideologies have fostered my understanding of the meaningfulness of this view in relationship to my profession, which has also helped me to prepare for innovative practices and relevant issues that exist in my profession. Significantly, I feel that I am better able to assist students in their postsecondary choices, while interacting with concerned parents and teachers because of what I have gained from IACAC.
Further, in keeping with the IACAC basic views, the resources and relationships that I have been fortunate to establish with you my peers, over the past 14 years, has been extremely foundational to me, professionally. Therefore, it would be a privilege and an honor to me to be able to give back to our great organization, the IACAC organization that has been, and is, the epitome of “team work” for the betterment of students and its constituents. For me, my work with it would be challenging and tireless.
If elected to serve as a member of the 2011- 2012 IACAC Executive Board, I humbly vow to enthusiastically, with fortitude, continue to articulate the ideologies of IACAC and its belief of team building, which are educationally valued. Once again, I am humbled by, and thankful for the nomination.
Amy C. Thompson
College & Career Counselor, York Community High School
Education
BA, Art Education, Purdue University; MA, School Counseling, Concordia University
IACAC Member
12years
Previous Employment
I worked as an Art Educator for 7 years before earning my MA in School Counseling. I started as a College and Career Counselor at York High School in 1999 and still work at York. I did spend just over four years acting in a general counselor role but am back in the College & Career Counseling position now.
IACAC Activities
Delegate to NACAC 2010 (substitute); Executive Board Structure Ad Hoc Committee Member, 2010-11; Government Relations Committee Member 2001-current, co-chair 07- 09; Conference Volunteer 2009 -current, Conference co-presenter and/or panel member for four different annual conferences; High School Speaker for Summer Institute, 2000.
NACAC Activities
Member since 1999, IACAC Delegate to NACAC 2010 (substitute); IACAC Representative to NACAC Public Policy Institute in 2005, 2008, & 2009.
Other Professional Activities
American School Counselor Association, Member since 1998; Illinois School Counselor Association, Member since 1998, Secondary Level Vice-President 2000-2003, President 2005-06, Public Policy Chair 2007-current; American Association of University Women, Member since 1993.
Candidate Statement
From the first IACAC event I attended, I knew I had joined something special. IACAC members are fun, energetic, altruistic, ethical, and hard working; I love being a part of that! I’ve met
so many dedicated professionals, made many friends, and become immersed in the world of college admissions from the high school perspective. In my 12 years as a member, I can honestly say I have benefitted even more than I’ve given. Serving as a substitute NACAC Delegate this year was a great experience because I was able to give a little something back to this incredible association of people. I am honored to be nominated for High School Delegate!
As an IACAC member, I’ve served with several groups to present at our annual conference, attended numerous Government Relations Committee meetings and events, and spoken on behalf of our association and our students we serve by traveling to Washington to meet with legislators. Giving my time to this association has always proven to be thought-provoking, enriching, and rewarding.
As a NACAC Delegate, I would bring pressing national issues to the IACAC Board and membership to obtain your perspective and feedback because the most important service I can provide is accurately representing this organization. Though I have a good range of experience speaking up for issues of importance to IACAC through legislative work in Springfield and DC, I won’t speak alone or simply from my single perspective. Rather, I will speak with a collective voice, as part of a strong IACAC Delegation, representing the diverse range of interests and concerns this association serves. In voting for me, you give me that voice. I look forward to speaking up!