Eldorado's Jimma Gass named to ISBE Student Advisory Council

ELDORADO - Eldorado senior Jimma Gass is one of 20 high-schoolers across the state to represent her peers as part of the Illinois State Board of Education's Student Advisory Council.

Gass is one of 13 new members to the council.

Eldorado High School Principal Cody Cusic said the school and district are proud of Gass's inclusion on the advisory council.

"EHS is honored to have a student on the state council this year," Cusic said.

Illinois State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala said students serving on the council are an exemplary group.

"As educators, we have the responsibility and the honor of nurturing young minds," Ayala said. "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. ISBE looks forward to listening to these students' ideas and perspectives as we work to address the issues facing Illinois' classrooms."

The Student Advisory Council provides an important student perspective as ISBE develops policy.

The council will research and present to ISBE on topics affecting students' success in Illinois. Students will focus on developing ways to respond to the achievement gap widened by COVID-19; creating a diversity, equity and inclusion framework; ensuring the safety and emotional well-being of students; and addressing the teacher shortage and rethinking recruitment.

The council will continue to develop the Student Voices microsite at www.isbe.net/studentvoices. The Student Voices site provides space for students to ask and answer questions and access resources about preparing for college and career. Follow along with the council's work on its independently managed Instagram account at www.instagram.com/isbe_sac.

Besides Gass, the new members of the 2019-20 Student Advisory Council are:

America Gutierrez, senior at Collinsville High School in Collinsville

Araha Uday, junior at Schaumburg High School in Schaumburg

Cruz Garza, sophomore at Zion-Benton Township High School in Beach Park

Eric Veal Jr., junior at Willowbrook high School in Lombard

Hannah Lawrence, senior at Lane Tech High School in Chicago

Kaitlyn Zhou, senior at Nequa Valley High School in Naperville

Kiersten Hornberg, senior at Huntley High School in Huntley

Langston Span, sophomore at Champaign Central High School in Champaign

Lia Rivera Mendoza, sophomore at Jefferson High School in Rockford

Ranyia Cox, sophomore at East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis

Serena Thakkar, junior at St. Charles East High School in West Chicago

Talib Becktemba-Goss, senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park

The returning members of the council are:

Amir Sykes, senior at Manual Academy in Peoria

Anna Foster, senior at PORTA High School in Petersburg

Chloe Goodman, senior at Red Bud High School in Red Bud

Faith Drescher, senior at Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale

Leo Krueger, junior at Vandalia Community High School in Vandalia

Nathaniel Youman, senior at Stillman Valley High School in Stillman Valley

Theodore Johnson, senior at Urbana High School in Urbana

Tucker Poshard, senior at Carbondale Community High School in Carbondale

The Student Advisory Council has provided input on topics such as equity, mental health, competency-based education, college and career readiness, special education, and technology in the classroom. Last year's seniors on the council also made videos to share what they're most proud of and their favorite memories from school with other seniors who graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find the videos, part of a nationwide virtual graduation celebration, at https://www. isbe.net/classof2020.

ISBE will make applications for the 2021-22 council available in the spring of 2021.

The State Board established the council in 1975. Learn more at www.isbe.net/studentvoices.