Laura Pelen

Brand strategy and marketing project management consultant.
Mom who needs coffee.

[ABC 7 Chicago @ABC7Chicago]

Two Lemont sisters have aced the ACT, scoring a perfect 36. https://t.co/UnZJgIrJfi

[WGN TV News @WGNNews]

Lemont High School junior not the first in her family to get perfect ACT score https://t.co/OJvknyqxX9

[Laura Pelen @LauraPelen]

@WGNNews Congratulations Thornbers! Your futures are bright… but we knew that! 🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻

[Laura Pelen @LauraPelen]

@ABC7Chicago Congratulations Thornbers! Your futures are bright… but we knew that! 🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻

[Trost @TrustTrost]

Pretty spot-on response below.

The more I think about the #IHSA PR crap spin that it actually put out publicly to media last week and tried to get people to believe shows just how misguided and tonedeaf leadership is right now.

It’s time for change.

[Trost @TrustTrost]

#ABC coverage: For the second time in back-to-back weeks, legal action is being talked about with the #IHSA.

And for good reason.

The IHSA banned yet another full school team of kids - this time from Lemont - from its statewide girls volleyball tournament - for playing one extra regular-season game when it let other school teams of kids from Bogan and Hyde Park compete in the boys basketball tournament despite playing extra regular-season games.

It’s a consistent pattern of cherry-picking by the IHSA.

In 2019, Judge Neil Cohen said, “Why is an exception made for football teams to compete when it's not made for individual sports, like cross country? You're cherry-picking who you waive policies for. I’m tired of adults determining whether a child gets to have a childhood.”

In a 2003 ruling against the IHSA, the Illinois Appellate Court wrote, “We caution IHSA to examine each case carefully to determine that parties’ knowledge and intent prior to imposing punishment that would negatively affect a student for the rest of his or her life.”

[Trost @TrustTrost]

Today, I want you to think about the seniors from the #Lemont girls volleyball team.

From losing the #IHSA statewide tournament because of #COVID freshmen year to having their high school careers end on a legit clerical error, we need to start asking ourselves why adults continue to hammer innocent kids?

Mistakes happen in life, but what was the intent? Has this happened before, and do we really think Lemont had a competitive advantage due to the clerical error?

Think about this: A kid can carjack, rob, shoot or steal in #Illinois and get a second chance today, but adults in education leadership positions are banning innocent kids from statewide tournaments.

Lemont offered multiple options as a possible solution like playing less games next year, suspending the coach for regional play, not playing their starters or playing a game down. The goal was to ensure innocent kids weren’t banned for a clerical error.

Tell me this: What happens to the IHSA leadership team or adult officials on fields when they make mistakes?

Do we ban them? Do we end their careers?

Once again, I’m asking all adults: What in the hell are we doing?

[Trost @TrustTrost]

#IHSA fumbles its PR spin: There’s nothing worse than a leader saying, “That’s the way it’s always been done” - especially when it comes to adult leaders in education.

On Wednesday, the IHSA told media, “There is over 40 years of precedence dictating that violating this rule excludes a team from (statewide tournament) participation.”

First of all, the use of “dictating” is in poor taste when talking about innocent kids being banned from a statewide tournament.

Secondly, the thought process of that’s how it’s always been done shows why there needs to be change in IHSA leadership.

[Trost @TrustTrost]

This time, I’m not going away.

This time, the #IHSA went too far.

Before I go any further, let’s be crystal clear on something: No one has ever said there shouldn’t be rules. Structure is always needed, just as consistency is, too.

But the only thing that has been consistent with the IHSA is its inconsistency.

Think about this: A dean doesn’t ban a kid from school over a first-time clerical error.

A teacher doesn’t ban a kid from their class over a first-time clerical error.

Good educational leaders use these moments to engage and educate, because intent wasn’t meant to cheat a system.

Humans make errors, especially first-time errors. Imagine how many adults would be out of careers if they were banned for first-time clerical errors?

Seriously, a group of adult educational leaders thought this was the right thing to do? I am still waiting for someone - ANYONE - to tell me the good that came from this and ending careers of innocent seniors.

We watched the IHSA PR spin this week try to cover these bannings over clerical errors, saying the previous 40 years “dictate” the way it handouts punishments.

When you have arbitrary rules that impact innocent kids, you either have a leadership or institutional crisis.

Tonight, I’m going to take you through specific examples of what this leadership team did this fall vs the past.

Always remember, IHSA: Don’t let the truth get in the way of the facts.

This fall: IHSA bans the Lemont girls volleyball team from the statewide tournament for playing 36 games instead of 35, stating that it gave a competitive advantage to Lemont over its peers.

Past: Three schools were declared ineligible for the boys basketball statewide tournament - Bogan and Hyde Park for playing one too many games and Uplift for participating in an extra tournament.

This fall: IHSA denies appeal.

Past: IHSA reversed ban.

Questions that should be asked: Was there intent? Did the kids know?

Responsibility falls on: Supt, principal, athletic director, assistant athletic director, head coach, assistant coach.

Possible penalty: Game(s) suspension of coach, community service for staff, less games or tournaments in 2024, fine that goes to local charity.

Penalty this year: Ban of kids, families, school and community.

Past penalty: Bogan, Hyde Park and Uplift were allowed to play in the statewide tournament, but they had to play without their head coaches.

IHSA response this year: “These teams received a competitive advantage that no other team in the tournament received, and there is over 40 years of precedence dictating that violating this rule excludes a team from (statewide tournament) participation," IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said.

IHSA response in past: "After thoughtful and deliberate consideration, the Board ultimately felt that a scheduling error by the coaches and administration was not a severe enough infraction that it should result in the team losing the opportunity to play in the postseason," IHSA assistant executive director Kurt Gibson said.

So you tell me who is full of crap when the IHSA puts out a PR spin that says, “There is over 40 years of precedence dictating that violating this rule excludes a team from (statewide tournament) participation.”

The reason why things never change with the IHSA is because families cycle out, schools leaders are exhausted and stretched thin to follow through.

Remember: The IHSA told you they were going to address its strike policy after getting its butt kicked in court. It’s been 1,417 days since Dec. 12, 2019 when they tabled it because of weather and somehow - SOMEWAY - haven’t found time to fix it.

I haven’t forgot those kids and families that we couldn’t help in 2019, and I won’t forget these innocent kids the IHSA crapped on this fall.

This time, I’m not going away. Things are already in motion.

It’s time for change.

[COACH LIZ🏀 @FilmerElisabeth]

@TrustTrost @cbschicago @nbcchicago @ABC7Chicago @WGNNews @GNSportsTV @HawleySports @Josh_Frydman @fox32news @WGNMorningNews @WGNRadioNews #IHSA math is carefully counting every single volleyball game Lemont played this season and punishing a team of incredibly hard-working student athletes who did NOTHING wrong….while COMPLETELY TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE 100+ HS BASKETBALL TRANSFERS ANNOUNCED THIS SUMMER👏

[Tony Baranek @TBaranek]

I don't care how many clicks it gets, this is one story I wish I didn't have to write. My heart aches for those Lemont kids, especially the seniors...
https://t.co/MrMRMBMpeo

[LHS Junior Achievement @LHS_Publishing]

Introducing…. LEMONTOPOLY! 🎲🎲 Coming in winter 2023, you won’t want to miss this one #WeAreLemont @LemontAD @Lemont_HS @lemontparks @6Lemont @VillageofLemont @LHS210principal @LHS210supt @SD113A @LemontPatch

[Lemont High School @Lemont_HS]

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for your favorite Lemonter? @Lemont_HS's Junior Achievement (@LHS_Publishing) has you covered! "The Game of Lemont" is on sale now; purchase by Nov. 30 & save nearly 15 percent! Details and purchase below. #WeAreLemont

https://t.co/k37zmjRJkp

[LHS Volleyball @LHSVolleyball5]

Lemont Girls Volleyball Regional Champs.

[LHS Volleyball @LHSVolleyball5]

South Suburban Blue Conference Champs!!! Finishing 12-1. Congratulations Lemont Girls Volleyball!!!!👍❤️🏐

[Lemont High School @Lemont_HS]

Congrats to @Lemont_HS's Molly Thornber and Isabella Wilton on earning @nationalmerit Semifinalist honors! Austin Belsan, Jayne Pelen and Annette Winterland netted Commended Students accolades! #WeAreLemont

https://t.co/zirrUFIyhD

[Laura Pelen @LauraPelen]

Nice!

[Lemont FBLA @LemontFBLA]

Congratulations to Lydia Pelen for placing 1st in Introduction to Social Media Strategies!🥇#WeAreLemont

[Laura Pelen @LauraPelen]

Quite the duo

[Lemont FBLA @LemontFBLA]

Congratulations to Jayne Pelen and Jackie Wencl for placing 1st together in Social Media Strategies!🥇 @Clubs_LHS #GoLemont

[Laura Pelen @LauraPelen]

Let me know if you want to order Lemont playing cards or puzzles

[LHS Junior Achievement @LHS_Publishing]

Thank you so much to everyone who bought products we have officially sold out of LHS cards. However, we still have more items in stock and today is the last day to order any Little Mountain Games Products. Get yours today while supplies last!

[LHS Junior Achievement @LHS_Publishing]

#NewProfilePic