BELLEVILLE — Woodland Elementary School in Edwarsville Assistant Principal Ali Hiller has been named the Illinois Principals Association Southwest Region Assistant Principal of the Year. The recognition was presented Thursday evening, Jan. 15, 2026, at the IPA Southwestern Region Awards held at Cooper Fire in Belleville.
Hiller, who is in her second year at Woodland Elementary, expressed both surprise and gratitude upon receiving the award.
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“I was surprised, but am honored to receive this award,” she said. “Personally, this award means a lot, and professionally, it speaks to Woodland and the family we have here.”
Before her current role, Hiller served as an administrative intern at Hamel Elementary and Midway Elementary. She also taught first grade for eight years and second grade for three years at Goshen Elementary.
“Leadership has always been collaborative to me,” Hiller said. “It’s a collective group of people lifting each other up and working in the best interest of kids.”
Hiller holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Greenville College and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She also earned her principal endorsement from SIUE.
