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For Immediate Release
August 25, 2005
Illinois Education Excellence Task Force
continues dialogue with major employers,
college administrators, parents and educators at Chicago
hearing
Meeting set for Monday, August 29
at the James R. Thompson Center
Chicago, Ill. –The Illinois Education Excellence
Task Force (IEETF) will bring together educators, the
business community, college administrators and parents
at its second public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, August
29, at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph,
Chicago, Room 9-040.
The Task Force was formed by Illinois State Board of
Education (ISBE) Chairman Jesse Ruiz and announced May
16 by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. It is chaired by former Chicago
Public Schools President Gery Chico.
“While education funding is important, we need to
look beyond just the dollars and determine how we can
better prepare our kids for successful lives and rewarding
jobs, whether they attend college or go directly into
the work force,” Chico said.
“Our first public meeting last month in Naperville
sparked some serious synergy between the people who will
be hiring our children and those who will be preparing
them for their futures,” Chico said. “We expect
to hear some exciting perspectives at our upcoming Chicago
meeting as well. After all, better preparing our kids
for solid jobs is a win-win-win for them, the schools
that help prepare them, and the employers who require
their skills.”
“We want to make certain Illinois school children
are receiving the best possible education,” ISBE
Chairman Ruiz said. “That means preparing them for
the real world that awaits them outside of high school
and beyond college. This Task Force is providing some
diverse insights that we hope will lead to some fresh
approaches to education in Illinois.”
“We have already established a meaningful dialogue
between our state’s job providers, the people who
prepare our children and the people who run our universities,”
Chico said. “We need to make certain that everyone’s
needs are being met.”
“I am pleased to serve on this Task Force which
is already establishing an expansive dialogue and exploring
constructive ways to best prepare our children for the
future,” Task Force member Max McGee said. “The
Task Force is working to find the best means of helping
each Illinois school child to achieve his or her potential.”
“This is a critically important effort to synchronize
education with our vision for the future,” Task Force
member Avis LaVelle said. “Young people must emerge
from our schools with skills for the jobs of the future.”
Members of the Illinois Education Excellence Task Force
include:
- Gery Chico (chairman), Chicago – Chico
previously served as President of the Chicago Public
Schools. He is law partner at Chico and Nunes LLP in
Chicago. He completed his undergraduate studies at the
University of Illinois and his Juris doctorate from
Loyola University.
- Georgia Costello, Belleville – Costello
serves as Assistant Superintendent for the St. Clair
County Regional Office of Education. In addition, she
serves on the Board of Trustees at McKendree College.
She has been recognized for her work to support elementary,
secondary and higher education. She completed her undergraduate
studies at McKendree College. and her Master’s
Degree at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (SLU-C).
She is a doctoral candidate at SIU-C
- Sherry Eagle, Aurora West – Eagle retired
as Superintendent of West Aurora School District 129
on June 30 after a noted career in which she successfully
led the district through a time of dramatic growth.
Eagle has received the Quad County Urban League Leadership
Award, the Illinois Education Association’s Friend
of Education Award, and the Illinois State Board of
Education’s “Break the Mold” Superintendent
Award. Eagle completed her doctoral studies in Leadership
and Educational Policy at Northern Illinois University.
- Avis Lavelle, Chicago – Lavelle served
on the Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees. She
is a communications professional, having served as vice
president of government and public affairs for the University
of Chicago hospitals. Lavelle completed her undergraduate
studies at the University of Illinois and her post-graduate
studies at the Keller School of Management.
- Glenn “Max” McGee, Wilmette –
McGee is currently Superintendent of Wilmette District
39. He previously served as Illinois State Superintendent
of Schools. He began his education career working in
New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. He is a graduate
of Dartmouth College and completed his doctorate at
the University of Chicago.
- Lou Mervis, Danville – Mervis is currently
Chairman of the Illinois Business Roundtable Education
Task Force. He previously served as Chairman of the
State Board of Education and is nationally recognized
and respected as an advocate for education and prominent
Danville businessman.
- Glenn Poshard, Carbondale – Poshard is
a veteran public servant who currently serves on the
Southern Illinois University (SIU) Board of Trustees.
His education career included teaching in high schools
to serving as director of the Southern Illinois Educational
Service Center. He has served in the Illinois Senate
and the United States Congress. He completed his bachelor’s,
masters and doctoral degrees at SIU.
| WHO: |
Illinois Education Excellence Task Force |
| WHAT: |
Open Meeting |
| WHEN: |
Monday, August 29, 2005 - 6 p.m. |
| WHERE: |
James R. Thompson Center, Chicago
100 W. Randolph
Room 9-040 |
Agenda
1. Public Participation
The Illinois Education Excellence Task Force invites
public testimony on the education challenges in Illinois
so that we can better prepare our children and all of
Illinois to compete in the global economy.
2. Adjournment
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