Keven Forney has extensive experience in education, including as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Illinois State University and has published and presented widely on topics related to school finance, reorganization, and leadership. Currently he works as an independent consultant, providing training and services to schools through various regional organizations.

1. Keven Dean Forney
PO Box 317
Oakwood, IL 61858
Ph: 217-354-2831
Cell: 217-232-1584
keven_forney_430@comcast.net
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Educational Administration. Department of Educational Administration and
Foundations, Illinois State University. Normal, IL. Research interests: school finance and
funding, school reorganization, superintendent-board relationships, future role of local school
boards. Dissertation: The Property Tax Extension Limitation Law and School Leadership:
Experiences in Central Illinois. Chair: Elizabeth Lugg. December, 2007.
Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration. Department of Educational
Administration and Foundations, Illinois State University, Normal, IL. December, 1990.
Masterof Science, Biology, George Peabody College for Teachers, Nashville, TN. August,
1976
Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN. May, 1975.
PUBLICATIONS
Forney, K. (2013). Four ingredients help build important district partnership. The Illinois School
Board Journal, January-February 2014, vol. 82, no. 1.
Banicki, G., Sappington, N., Forney, K. (2011). Experiences with PTELL in six Illinois school
districts: leadership perceptions and student performance. Blazing New Trails: The 2011
Yearbook of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (pp. 285-
296). Lancaster, PA: Pro-Active Publications.
Forney, K. (2010). Slow progress along the road of school reorganization. The Illinois School
Board Journal, January-February 2011, vol. 79, no. 1.
PRESENTATIONS
Forney, K. and Seymour, K. (2016). NGSS, Phase II. Presentation and consultation with the
Science faculty at Unity Junior High School.
Forney, K. and Seymour, K. (2016). Presentation to HS Faculty on Module 1 of the Next
Generation Science Standards and its relationship with the Performance Evaluation
Reform Act.
Forney, K. and Seymour, K. (2016). NGSS, Phase I. Presentation to science faculty at Junior
High Unity CUSD #7.

2. Forney, K. and Seymour, K. (2016). Foundational Services presentation: Tools to bring the Next
Generation Science Standards to the classroom. Held at Rantoul, IL for ROE
SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Owens, J. (2016). Implementing SEL: Time, Money and People. Preseantation at
the Area IV Conference on Social and Emotional Learning.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2016). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training held in Rantoul, IL, for ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2016). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training held in Iroquois West CUSD for ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Owens, J. (2016). Administrator Academy on Changes in Student Discipline
Mandated By Illinois Senate Bill 100. Held in Rantoul, Illinois, for ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Owens, J. (2016). Administrator Academy on Basics of School Finance. Held in
Rantoul, IL for ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Owens, J. (2016). Staff in-service at Hoopeston Area CUSD #100 on changes in
student discipline dictated by Illinois Senate Bill 100 for ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Seymour, K. (2016). Foundational Services presentation: Tools to bring the Next
Generation Science Standards to the classroom. Held at Macon-Piatt ROE #39 for ROE
SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Owens, J. (2016). Presentation on Illinois Senate Bill 100 (Student Discipline) to
administration at Hoopeston Area CUSD #11 on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K and Owens, J. (2016). Performance Evaluation Reform Act Training for School Board
Members. Held at ROE #11 for ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. (2016). Presentation on Illinois Senate Bill 100 (Student Discipline) to administration
at Bismarck-Henning CUSD #100 on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Owens, J. (2015). Administrator Academy on Basics of School Finance. Held in
Rantoul, IL for ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Owens, J. (2015). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training held in Centralia, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2015). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Vandalia, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.

3. Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2015). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Rantoul, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Greene, T. (2015). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Norris City, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Owens, J. (2015). Administrator Academy on Basics of School Finance. Held in
Danville, IL for ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2015). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Danville, IL, on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2015). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Rantoul, IL, on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2015). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held at Carterville, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney. K. and Dimit, J. (2014). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Rantoul, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2013). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Eldorado, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2013). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Fairfield, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2013). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Vandalia, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2013). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Elgin, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Janeski, M. (2013). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Kankakee, IL on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney, K. and Dimit, J. (2013). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Decatur, IL, on behalf of ROE SchoolWorks.
Forney K. and Dimit, J. (2013). School Board Member. Mandated School Board training session
held at Bloomington, IL for the IARSS professional development series.
Forney, K. and Janesky, M. (2013). School Board Member Training. Mandated School Board
training session held in Rantoul, IL for the IARSS professional development series.

4. Forney, K., Aubry, C., Janesky, M., Seymour, K., and O’Shaugnessy, T. (2012): Essential
Training for School Board Members. Pilot presentation of state-mandated training for
newly-elected, re-elected or appointed school board members. On behalf of ROE
SchoolWorks, in Danville, IL.
Forney, K., Wolfe, G., Lewis, G., O’Shaughnessy, T., Janesky, M. and Bainbridge, S. (2011).
The Cooperative High School Option for School Reorganization: Catlin CUSD 5,
Jamaica CUSD 12 and Oakwood CUSD 76. Presentation to the Classrooms First
Commission in Springfield, Illinois.
Forney, K. (2011). The Catlin-Jamaica-Oakwood Cooperative High School initiative:
reorganization efforts encompassing community engagement, political analysis, and
instructional renewal. Presentation made to doctoral cohort class (EAF 587) at Illinois
State University in Normal, IL.
Forney, K. (2011). The Cooperative High School: a road to reorganization. Presentation made to
the staff of the Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations of
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Forney, K. (2011). Legislative involvement in the Cooperative High School efforts in Vermilion
County. Presentation made to a graduate-level educational leadership class (EAF 494) at
Illinois State University in Normal, IL.
Forney, K. (2011). Staff development and teacher evaluation. Presentation made to the faculty
and staff of the School of Education of Murray State University, Murray, KY.
Forney, K. (2010). The Property Tax Extension Limitation Law and school leadership:
experiences in Central Illinois. Presentation made to the faculty of the College of
Education of Drake University, Des Moines, IA.
Forney, K., and Banicki, G. (2010). Experiences with PTELL. Concurrent presentation made at
the 2010 NCPEA conference in Washington D.C.
Forney, K. (2010). The Disparity in Illinois School Funding. Presentation made to a graduate-
level class in educational leadership (EDL 514) at the Quad Cities Graduate Center.
Forney, K., Henderson, L., Thomas, K. (2008). Teacher recruitment and retention, and student
discipline, Panel presentation to the Leadership Tomorrow developing leaders class
hosted by Vermilion Advantage, Danville, IL.
Forney, K. and Wolfe, G. (2007). The cooperative high school concept. Invited talk to the Board
of Education of Edgar County C.U.S.D. No. 6.
Banicki, G. and Forney, K. (2006). The cooperative high school approach to school
reorganization. Formal presentation at the 2006 Edgar County Fall Teachers Institute.

5. Forney, K., Wolfe, G., Fauver, J., Banicki, G., Janeski, M. & Metzger, R. (2005). The
cooperative high school as a means of school reorganization. Panel presentation at the
Fall Joint Annual Conference of the IASA, IASB and IASBO.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Service
Organizer, School Law Refresher for County Administrators, October 29, 2014
Reader for dissertation committee for candidate for doctoral degree at Illinois State University,
Fall 2013-Spring 2014
Member, Board of Directors, Vermilion County Project Success, April 2013 to Present
Founding Member and Chairperson of Board of Directors of VASE Education Foundation,
October 2012 to Present
Contributor and Presenter, School Board Member Mandated Training Program (for the Illinois
Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools), July 2012-Present
Organizer, Luncheon and Update with Supervisor of Assessments, October 2011
Organizer, Retirement Dinner for Vermilion County Superintendents, 2008, 2009, 2011
Facilitator and Organizer, Legislative Breakfast for County Superintendents, April and October,
2011, April 2012
New Principal Mentor, 2010-2011; Illinois New Principal Mentor Project
Area Planning Council, Danville Area Community College, 2006-12.
Chairperson, Steering Committee, Vermilion Vocational Education Delivery System, 2006-12.
Chairperson, Steering Committee, Vermilion Association for Special Education, 2006-12.
Member, Board of Control, Vermilion Vocational Education Delivery System, 2003-12.
Member, Board of Control, Vermilion Association for Special Education, 2003-12.
Member, Board of Directors, Vermilion Advantage, 2007-10.
Software Programs
SPSS, Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe Acrobat Professional,
Skype.
Affiliations
Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA)
Recent Professional Development Trainings Attended
Administrator Academy “Train the Trainers” on Improving Administrator Knowledge of the
NGSS. November, 2016.
Anne Schober on Social and Emotional Learning. October, 2016.
IARSS Connecting Conference, focused on Social and Emotional Learning. August, 2016.
School Law Update on Student Discipline and SB 100, sponsored by Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk,
Miller, and Wright. April, 2016.
School Law Update on the Changes in Student Discipline Dictated by Illinois Senate Bill 100,
sponsored by the IASA. February 2016.
Next Generation Science Standards, Train the Trainers, Phase III. February, 2016.
School Law Conference sponsored by Franczek and Radelet, Attorneys. January, 2016.

6. Next Generation Science Standards, Train the Trainers, Phase II. December 2015.
Next Generation Science Standards, Train the Trainers. October 2015.
School Law Refresher, Oakwood CUSD 76, October 29, 2014
The Highlights and Lowlights of Illinois School Law, 2013-14, October 14, 2014
Administrator Roundtable, Eastern Illinois University, September 25, 2014
Annual Conference of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, Fall 2012, 2013, 2014
What’s New in Illinois School Law 2010-2011? Hodges, Loizzi, et al. 2011
Eastern Illinois University Administrator’s Roundtable on Building Background Knowledge
(2011)
Miller Law Firm Symposium on the Educational Reform Act, 2011
PREVIOUS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
1977 – 1978: Rossville Community School Corporation, Rossville IN. Teacher of 7th grade Life
Science, 8th grade Earth Science, high school Pre-chemistry and high school chemistry. Served
as coach of junior high school cross country, basketball, and track teams.
1978 – 1994: Pontiac Township High School District No. 90, Pontiac IL; Teacher of Biology and
Earth Science; served as cross country and track coach. Co-chaired North Central Association
accreditation review committee.
1994-2000: Pontiac Township High School District No. 90, Pontiac IL; High School Assistant
Principal; duties included responsibility for summer school, adult education, articulation with
feeder districts, staff development, curriculum and instruction, grant coordinator, student
discipline and textbook purchase program; continued as coach of high school cross country and
track. Nominated for state assistant principal of the year. Assumed a leadership role in the
regional division of the Illinois Principals Association.
2000-2003: Pontiac Community Consolidated School District No. 429, Pontiac IL, Junior High
School Principal. Responsible for all administrative aspects of a middle school building with 450
students and 50 staff members. Developed a proposal for all-day Kindergarten that was adopted
by the Board of Education. Initiated use of handbook committee, consisting of staff, parents, and
law enforcement, as part of a total renovation of the student handbook.
2003-2012: Oakwood Community Unit School District No. 76, Oakwood, IL, Superintendent of
schools. Initiated a unit staff development committee and a district-wide new teacher orientation
program. Collaborated in the creation of an expanded Extended School Year program for
students with significant disabilities. Assumed a leadership role in the strategic planning process
and in the revitalization of the education foundation. Served in leadership roles in the regional
division of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, including three terms as division
president. Served in various leadership roles for the Vermilion Vocational Education Delivery
System (VVEDS) and the Vermilion Association for Special Education (VASE). Provided
leadership in efforts to form a cooperative high school in southwest Vermilion County, including

7. participation in legislative efforts to obtain cooperative high schools eligibility for construction
grants and reorganization incentives.
2012: Adjunct Instructor for Olivet Nazarene University, School of Graduate and Continuing
Studies. Teach in the School Improvement Leadership cohort for the Champaign County area.
Taught EDUC 727 – Foundations of School Improvement in spring and summer of 2012.
2013: Adjunct Instructor for Olivet Nazarene University, School of Graduate and Continuing
Studies. Taught EDUC 730 – School Finance and Operations in the School Improvement
Leadership cohort for the Champaign County area, spring and summer 2013.
2013: Consultant to Vermilion Advantage economic development group. Amass information on
public and private educational facilities and systems in Vermilion County. Put information
together in a format suitable for publication and dissemination to potential new residents.
2013-2015: Independent consultant for ROE SchoolWorks and for the IARSS Trails programs.
Develop and deliver mandated school board training under contract with either provider.
Undergoing training in the new Illinois teacher and principal evaluation systems and will provide
evaluation services under contract through the ROE SchoolWorks organization.
2013: Independent consultant for the Vermilion Association for Special Education. Revised the
cooperative’s policy manual.
2014-2015: Co-interim superintendent of schools, Oakwood CUSD No. 76.
REFERENCES
Jeri Callaway, Director, ROE SchoolWorks, 200 South Frederick Street, Rantoul, IL 61866.
Tel: (217) 443-4086; email: jcallaway@roe54.org
Randy Hird, Coordinator, School Improvement Leadership Cohort, Olivet Nazarene University.
Tel: (217) 474-7261, email: rhird@olivet.edu
Dr. Elizabeth Lugg, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Administration and
Foundations, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790. Tel: (309) 438-8989, email:
etlugg@ilstu.edu
Dr. Guy Banicki, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Administration and
Foundations, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790. Tel: (309) 438-3223, email:
gbanick@ilstu.edu
Jim Owens, Ret. Superintendent of Schools, Westville CUSD No. 2, 125 West Ellsworth Street,
Westville, IL 61883. Tel: (217) 427-5663
Barbara Moore, Director of Special education, Rantoul City Schools,Tel: (217) 893-5400, ext.
5032 (o); 217-586-6584 (h), 217-418-8211 (c), email: bmoore@rcs137.org

8. Jean Neal, Superintendent, Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD No. 4, 400 W. West Street,
Georgetown, IL 61846. Tel: (217) 662-8488, email: jneal@gobuffaloes.org
Tim Lee, Principal, Oakwood High Shool, 5870 East US Highway 150, Fithian, IL. Tel: 217-
354-2358; email: LeeT@oakwood76.org