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Statewide HS/EHS Directors Institute | June 3–5, 2026
06/03/2026 - 06/05/2026
12:00 PM - 12:00 PM CST


Location: Herrington Inn & Spa, 15 S River Ln, Geneva, IL 60134


👉🏽 Register Today with IHSA & Book your room(s) with Herrington Inn & Spa




Need Help with Registration?
If you have any questions or need assistance with event registration, please contact Cathy Welsh at cwelsh@ilheadstart.org or call 217-241-3511.
Event Description

🌟 Calling all Head Start and Early Head Start Leaders in Illinois! 🌟

If you're a Head Start or Early Head Start director in Illinois, this event is for you.

The 2026 Directors Institute is your chance to step away from the day-to-day and connect with people who get what you're navigating—because they’re in it too. Executive directors, program directors, and leadership teams from across the state come together to learn, share, and grow as a community.

We know the landscape is shifting. With evolving guidance from the Administration for Children and Families and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, directors are being asked to do more, respond faster, and lead with greater clarity. This Institute is designed to help you do just that.

Why attend?
  • You’ll get updates that matter, straight from experts who understand the latest from ACF and HHS—and how it affects your work.
  • You’ll leave with real tools and strategies, not just big ideas. Everything is tailored for the realities of running a Head Start or Early Head Start program in Illinois.
  • You’ll connect with your people. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or stepping into the role, this is a place to swap ideas, solve problems, and build relationships that last.
Come ready to talk honestly, think creatively, and walk away with ideas you can actually use. The 2026 Directors Institute is more than a training—it’s a leadership recharge.

SPACE LIMITED - REGISTER FOR YOU SPOT EARLY!
 
Schedule

Wednesday, June 3: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Lunch provided)
Thursday, June 4: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Breakfast and Lunch provided)
Friday, June 5: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Breakfast provided)

Registration Rates
  • Registration Type                        Rate        Availability
  • Individual IHSA Member             $399        All registration
  • Team (3+ from same agency)     $349        Through May 1
  • Non-Member                               $575        All registration
Team Registration Details
•    Team rates are available for groups of three (3) or more attendees from the same member agency or program.
•    All team members must register together in one transaction.
•    Team pricing is available through May 1, 2026. After that date, all registrations default to the individual member rate of $399.
•    If only one person registers at the team rate, IHSA will contact that individual for the $50 balance.
 
Venue & Hotel​

Herrington Inn and Spa Guest Room Rate for IHSA Directors Institute: [Individuals must reserve on their own}
  • The Herrington Inn & Spa, 15 South River Lane, Geneva, IL 60134
  • Occupancy tax: 11% added to room rate
  • To book: Call the front desk at 630.208.7433 and ask for the Illinois Head Start / Directors Institute block.
  • Hotel cutoff: May 4, 2026. Rooms after this date are subject to availability and may not be at the group rate.
  • Check-in: 4:00 PM | Check-out: 12:00 PM (noon)
Room options:
  • Courtyard Double or King: 209.00/night
  • One Bedroom Suite: 259.00/night
  • River Premier: 259.00/night
  • Townview Room: 209.00/night
Please reserve your lodging early: Accommodations are subject to availability. Any additions in excess of the Guaranteed Block after the Cut-off  Date (May 4, 2026) will increase the Guaranteed Block by an equal amount.
 
 Make your reservation by calling the front desk directly at 630.208.7433 and use your company and group name [IHSA Directors Institute].


 
Details
DETAILED AGENDA COMING SOON!
 
STATEWIDE HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START - Directors Institute 2025-2026 - SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
  • Wednesday, June 3, 2025 - 1:00 PM - 4:45 PM 
  • Thursday, June 4, 2025 - 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Friday, June 5, 2024 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

LODGING INFORMATION

Join us at The Herrington Inn & Spa, a charming AAA 4-Diamond boutique retreat overlooking the Fox River in Geneva, Illinois. With European-style architecture, elegant accommodations, and personalized hospitality, this venue offers a quaint and intimate setting for our event.

Guests will enjoy beautifully designed rooms, each featuring a gas fireplace, deep soaking whirlpool tub, and most with a balcony or patio. Start your day with a Morning Starter in the lobby and unwind at night with homemade cookies and milk delivered to your room.

Onsite, Atwater’s Restaurant offers farm-to-table American cuisine, while the luxurious spa provides a serene escape with a selection of massages, facials, and body treatments.
Experience comfort, elegance, and relaxation at The Herrington Inn & Spa!
   
ROOM BLOCK RESERVATIONS

Reservations will be made by Individual call in. Please call the front desk directly at 630.208.7433 and use your company and group name [IHSA Directors Institute]. Reservation details must be provided on or before the date above. If additional rooms are requested after the cut off date we will do our best to accommodate, but we cannot guarantee availability or contracted rate.

Cutoff Date: May 4, 2026

Phone Number: (630) 208-7433 to book your stay.

CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS OR SUBSTITUTIONS
 
Note: Our conference and event registration forms continue to include IHSA’s no refund, credit and/or cancellation clause, a standing policy -- "Once registrations have been submitted online—there are NO refund, credit and/or cancellations.  Name changes will be accepted up to 72 hours before the event."  This is done as a notification for viewer acknowledgment - before he or she chooses to manually click the submit button.  However strict this policy may seem at times, we always still allow for agencies to send a replacement for the original registrant). 

Registration does not include travel and lodging, attendees are responsible for their own arrangements. Potential travelers are encouraged to plan their travel and hotel reservations based on their comfort level and ability. There is always the possibility that the meeting will need to pivot back to an entirely virtual event when the need arise. There are several hotels conveniently located near the event.  

Attendees are responsible for making and cancelling their travel reservations as needed. Please be mindful of cancellation and change fees as you make your travel plans.

PAYMENT METHOD

Register now, and pay later

Online registration does NOT require a credit card payment. Just choose the "Pay via invoice" option at checkout and your agency can pay by mail at a later date. To utilize this option, please select the "PAY VIA INVOICE" option. If you have questions about the registration process, please contact our office.

  • If paying by check, make payable to Illinois Head Start Association or IHSA

Mail to:
IHSA
P.O. Box 13424
Springfield, Illinois  62791

Paying by Credit Card or other electronic payment?

  • Online: By selecting ‘credit,’ you agree to pay a 4.09% electronic processing fee.
  • Over the phone: We're happy to process your credit card payment, but please be aware there is a 4.09% electronic processing fee.
  • If paying by check, the 4.09% electronic processing fee does not apply