I serve on various committees, groups, and boards both at the state and national level that address educational policy and advocacy.  I am working with the Southern Illinois Future Teachers Coalition (SIFTC), Scaling Educational Pathways in Illinois, Pathways to Prosperity Institute which is an intuitive of Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Advance Illinois, Equity First Superintendents, the Partnership for Resilience/Resilient Southern Illinois which is working with the Education Redesign Lab at the Harvard, Stand for Children as policy fellow on dual credit access and quality, the Illinois Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (ILACEP), National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), the Illinois Interactive Report Card at Northern Illinois University users group, am an active member of the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), the Illinois High School District Organization (IHSDO), Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools, and a member of the Illinois Association of Christian Administrators (IACA). I also enjoy the opportunities to guest lecture in classes at Eastern Illinois University, McKendree University, and the University of Illinois about various topics in education, including finance, public relations, and curriculum.

Student safety has always been a priority for schools, and it is also a continuously moving target. In recent years, this has meant providing a comprehensive approach to wrap-around services to ensure that the whole child and family is supported. We have embarked on many efforts including quarterly school safety meetings (Johnson County Cabinet for Children and Youth), involving multiple agencies and stakeholders, expansion of school based counseling service, facilities related improvements, trauma informed and sensitive training for staff, along with an enhanced school resource officer (SRO) program. I have been actively involved in each of these initiatives. One point of involvement has been becoming a trained, fully sworn, certified law enforcement officer. This process started in April 2018, and since that time, I have attended the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) Police Academy along with all other required training. You will likely not see me in a police uniform because the goal of my participation in the training was not to replace anyone in the SRO program but to provide additional understanding and coverage in case of a shortage, along with building a better bridge, understanding, and partnerships between law enforcement and schools around the state for the sack of students and families. This relationship has allowed for better practices and a more informed policy discussion.

Being a native of Johnson County also allows me to serve in various community roles as well, which include service on the SI NOW board (formerly SI Bridges to the Future) which covers the southern 17 counties, One Shawnee Regional Community Development Board which covers Illinois House District 118, Create Bridges, Little Egypt Emmaus and Chrysalis Camps, service on the Eagle House Ministry Board, and being a youth leader at Fellowship Baptist Church, which is the church that I grew up in.

In addition to seeing our students locally thrive, I have also been involved with missions internationally, including India, Haiti, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, and in the States, which allows me to see school and life in other parts of the world. These experiences fuel my passion to ensure that we "strive to inspire students to become positive, lifelong learners" and provide students with experiences that allow them to be equipped for "a global and multicultural society."

Sincerely,
Joshua W. Stafford
School Superintendent

Brief Biography
Joshua Stafford grew up in Southern Illinois, working for his family's farm businesses, where he learned a great deal about management and hands-on hard work. While working full-time, he pursued his education in business administration, which has led to many opportunities, including serving as school superintendent in Vienna. He has served in the school district since 2004.

Under Stafford’s leadership, Vienna has grown into a comprehensive, early college, career-connected system that, according to Stafford, is always leading with the question, "What is best for kids?" Through this process, Vienna is noted regionally and throughout the nation for its strong early college program and expansion of initiatives connecting all students to meaningful career paths. Vienna offers over 150 college-level dual credit hours on its high school schedule. Vienna also serves as a hub for numerous initiatives that allow students from across the region to participate in opportunities such as college-level courses, meaningful career preparation planning, regional economic development, and various other programs that otherwise would not be accessible.

Stafford is frequently asked to present on educational topics and serves as a guest lecturer at various universities, addressing a wide range of topics. He is active in various regional, statewide, and national initiatives dedicated to education policy and advocacy. Joshua is also engaged with various local boards and committees and is involved with youth ministry at his local church.

Additional Biographical Information
Under Stafford's leadership, Vienna has developed the Career Connected Life Ready program. It has set a goal that upon high school graduation, EVERY student is Employed, Enlisted, Enrolled, or pursuing Entrepreneurial Endeavors. Vienna has utilized numerous tools to ensure that this goal is being met.

Vienna has been noted regionally and throughout the state for its vital early college programs. Illinois has made significant progress in increasing equitable access to dual credit and early college programs, and Vienna has been a voice in advancing these policies. In many ways, Illinois serves as an exemplar with its historic Dual Credit Quality Act, model partnership agreement, and professional development plan to increase equitable access for all students.

Vienna is a comprehensive, career-connected, early college high school offering over 150 dual credit hours on its master schedule in cooperation with three Illinois community colleges and universities. Each year, Vienna graduates anywhere from 7% to over 17% of its seniors, not only with a high school diploma but also an associate's degree. While this is a big highlight and easy to garnish attention, the more important accomplishment has been correcting the need for remedial/development coursework post-high school. Vienna's senior classes have had as few as 9% of students needing remedial/developmental coursework.

This partnership additionally allows senior high school students to earn over 2,000 college credit hours each year. These partnerships have created efficiency with tax dollars and drastically reduced the need for student loan debt. Stafford says, "The outstanding achievements of our students in early college programming are made possible by the hard work and dedication of our teachers and staff who have proven their willingness to put in work, research, and commitment so that our students are provided with the best possible opportunities to prepare for their future. As students see and understand the value of what our staff has worked so hard to offer, they, in turn, step up to the plate and demonstrate the same hard work and dedication." Stafford also shares, "While our dual credit program is in great shape, it is just one of many things Vienna does well."

Vocational programming has nearly disappeared over the last several years due to various issues; however, Vienna has gone to great lengths to maintain and grow its programs. Stafford has strong roots in the trades and vocations from experiences on the family farm and expresses his concern for those programs, "We must provide training in our K-12 systems that not only allow students to be outstanding mathematicians and English majors but also teach them trade-able skills in every industry that has a high demand for workers. Welders, nurses, informational technology people, and many other professions are in demand, and we are doing everything we can to equip students to walk out of high school and into the world of work."

Schools in Illinois were faced with state funding decreases before 2017. When asked about the financial challenges that were facing schools, Stafford expressed his concern, "The bottom line is that we can't receive a nickel in revenue and spend a dime. Due to various issues at the state level, students in Illinois were suffering from unfulfilled and unfulfilled commitments when it came to adequate funding for their education. Relating to finance, we must monitor revenue and expenses while ensuring the success of our students through sound monetary decision-making, retaining and selecting the most competent staff, exploring alternative revenue sources, and working collaboratively with the entire community to determine our schools' future direction." He explains, "Schools across the state are at a critical point regarding financial stability. I am committed to providing a quality education to our students. As a community, we must seriously examine all available options and determine the future of our educational system before outside forces come in and do that for us."

While Stafford served as superintendent, the district maintained a balanced budget each year, which had not been the case before his appointment.

Joshua W. Stafford
618-658-4461 x 222 phone
618-658-8165 fax
joshuawstafford@viennahs.com