IHSA 2025 Conference, Membership Meeting, & Awards Banquet

Mills “Mr. Rodge” Rodgers is an author and speaker on topics related to meeting the needs of students, . He also is a voice on topics related to our service and personal development. Mills has served his country and communities as an Army veteran and as a public school educator. In the Army, he served as a mental health specialist. As an educator, he served in a variety of capacities, ranging from a classroom educator to a substitute administrator for over a decade.

He shares the insights he has gained through those diverse experiences in a fun, engaging manner with audiences. Mills has authored 4 editions of Success Is A Process, Not An Event, with versions targeted to students and educators. Mills believes education is the one reliable, consistent way in this country for the have nots to overcome their circumstances, and it start early. Every kid needs a champion & Mills wants help educators be a champion for kids!

Join us to learn more about multidisciplinary strategies at a leadership level, as well as approaches that create an environment of physical safety, emotional safety, and security for children, families, and staff in Head Start programs.

No matter the status of your program's social media presence, this session will show you how to amplify an existing presence or start from scratch to reach your intended audience and achieve results.

Due to rapid changes and communication freezes at the federal Office of Head Start, representatives from OHS Region 10 will not be able to join us. We will instead welcome Tommy Sheridan, Deputy Director of the National Head Start Association. Bring your questions for Q&A.

All attendees are encouraged to attend the membership meeting working lunch. Voting members are required to attend to vote on member business and nominate and elect new members to the IHSA Board of Directors. Raffle prizes will be given. 

Together we will explore the communication flow that each mid-manager uses to build and support relationships and share strategies in response to the “I’m caught in the middle” phenomenon.

Refreshments will be provided. Newly elected IHSA Board members and existing Board members will convene to learn about their role as a Board, IHSA's strategic plan, policies, and mission, and vote on Board business. Meet your fellow Board members and take home some IHSA swag.

Reinvigorate your "why" with Anselme Sadiki. He is a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is the Executive Director of Children’s Home Society of Idaho, which provides mental and behavioral healthcare services to children. Anselme holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Idaho State University. He previously worked in various capacities with the United Nations Development Programme for 12 years. 

Join the Head Start community and state and national-level leaders for lunch to celebrate the achievements of IHSA's Awards and Scholarships recipients! Hear the story of our Banquet Keynote Speaker, Kurtis Pugh, who attended Head Start and now serves as the Licensed Mental Health Consultant for the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program. The Keynote will be delivered in English and Spanish.