Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with Steve Endsley
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project
Interview # T20-A-L-2021-003
Steve Endsley, the Executive Director of the Illinois Elementary School Association, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project.
Interview Date & Location:
Date: Feb 17, 2021 Location: Telephonic interview
Interview Format: Digital audio
Interviewer: Philip Pogue, ALPL volunteer
Total Time: 1:59 / 1.98 hrs
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on ( date ).
The interview is archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2021 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
Steve Endsley, Tumultuous 2020, T20-A-L-2021-003
Biographical Information/Overview of Interview: Steve Endsley was born in Peoria, Illinois 1957, and grew up in Bartonville, Illinois graduating from Limestone High School in 1975. Steve then attended Illinois State University, earning a BS degree in industrial education in 1979. He later earned an MD degree in education. Steve's work experiences consist of three years teaching Junior High industrial arts at Pekin Edison from 1979-82. He then worked at Illinois State University in both the Admissions and Development Offices from 1982-1988. Steve joined the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) in 1988 as an assistant executive director. In 1996 he became the executive director of the Association. IESA has over 900 schools who are members. In addition to his work at the IESA, Steve has been selected for the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame and the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame.
Endsley discusses the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), formed in 1929, serving over 900 schools, grades 5-8, with activities and athletics. His review includes IESA governance, sports/activities sponsored, classifications of schools, and the IESA’s structure. He then discusses how the IESA, its member schools, and their students were impacted by the restrictions placed on activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also reviews IDPH rules, and Governor Pritzker’s regulations. This involved canceling tournaments (wrestling/volleyball) in mid-March, eliminating the spring 2020 seasons, limiting fall 2020 events to golf, cross country, baseball and softball with restrictions, and holding no events from November through mid-January. He also reviewed the restructuring of winter activities/sports starting in mid-January, and preparation for the 2021-2022 school year. Another topic reviewed was the major financial impact that all these restrictions and cancellations placed upon the Association with the loss of tournament revenue and reduced entry fee collection. To provide financial assistance, the IESA applied for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans 1 & 2, and created a Go Fund Me account. Other topics Steve covered included working with the IHSA, IDPH, and the Governor's office, and working with parents, school officials, board members, and IESA employees regarding season and state tournament cancellations
Subject Headings/Key Words: Illinois Elementary School Association; changes to sporting events due to COVID-19 pandemic; Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans; Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH); impact on state sports tournaments due to COVID-19;
Notes to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.
COPYRIGHT
The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone (217) 785-7955