A Neuqua Valley High School senior has been selected to join the Illinois State Board of Education’s Student Advisory Council for the 2020-21 school year.
Kaitlyn Zhou is one of 13 new student members on the 21-member council, which researches and presents information on student- and school-specific issues to the state board.
Members can be high school sophomores, juniors or seniors and must apply for consideration, according to a news release. This year’s advisory council members are from St. Charles, Villa Park, Schaumburg, Chicago and other parts of the state.
“One thing I hope to accomplish as a part of the Student Advisory Council is to advocate and bring in student voices within decision making, as well as help improve mental health and inclusivity in school environments, especially during this current pandemic,” Zhou said at the Oct. 21 Illinois State Board of Education meeting.
State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala said she’s eager to hear what the council members have to contribute this year.
“This year’s Student Advisory Council is a fantastic group of young adults ready to make a difference not only in their community, but across the entire state,” Ayala said in the release. “ISBE looks forward to listening to these students’ ideas and perspectives as we work to address the issues facing Illinois’ classrooms.”
The advisory council this year will focus on developing ways to respond to the student achievement gap and COVID-19’s impact on it; creating a diversity, equity and inclusion framework; student well-being; and the state’s teacher shortage and teacher recruitment, the news release said.
Established in 1975, the Student Advisory Council has in the past provided input on issues like equity, mental health, competency-based education, college and career readiness, special education and classroom technology.
The students will also be tasked with running ISBE’S Student Voices microsite, www.isbe.net/Pages/Student-Voices.aspx.
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