Springfield – Anna Bittman of New Trier High School and Michael Byerley
of Lemont High School will serve as co-chairs for the 2006-2007 Student Advisory
Council (SAC) to the Illinois State Board of Education. The two seniors were
elected by the 2006-2007 members at the SAC’s November meeting held
in Springfield.
“I’m excited to co-lead such a diverse group of students from
around Illinois,” said Bittman, of Winnetka. “Each one of us
brings so many different ideas to the table, and we have a great history
of combining the ideas into presentations for the State Board of Education.”
The Student Advisory Council is comprised of 15 high school students from
across Illinois. The SAC was originally formed in 1975 to bring student concerns
to the attention of ISBE. The students who comprise the SAC are very diverse.
They come from different geographic locations and ethnic backgrounds. The
students appointed to the Student Advisory Council possess a strong work
ethic, are creative and interested in public service.
“As a co-chairman, I have both the honor and responsibility to voice
student body opinions directly to ISBE,” said Byerley, of Lemont. “This
is a unique opportunity and one which has the potential to enlighten and
aid the board in policy and legislative decisions.”
Additional officers elected were:
- Vice-Chairman: Joya Anthony, a junior at East St. Louis High School in
East St. Louis.
- Secretary: Stephanie Matos, a senior at Carl Schurz High School in Chicago.
- Parliamentarian: Samuel Schoenburg, a senior at Springfield High School
in Springfield.
Both Bittman and Byerley served during the 2005-2006 academic school year,
along with returning SAC members Nicholas J. Diaz, a junior at West Leyden
High School in Chicago; and Andrea L. Lockley, a senior at East Richland
High School in Olney.
Newly appointed SAC members include: Micah S. Berman, a junior at the University
Laboratory High School in Urbana; Kent E. Kiefer, a senior at Hamilton County
High School in Hamilton; Emma L. LePere, a junior at Belleville Township
High School in Belleville; Amy Maldonado, a sophomore at the School for Social
Justice High School, Little Village Campus, in Chicago; Alix M. Olian, a
senior at Highland Park High School in Highland Park; Ryan H. Ornstein, a
sophomore at Grayslake North High School in Grayslake; Allison K. Tharp,
a senior at Newton Community High School in Newton; and a designated student
from Chicago Public Schools.
As SAC members, the students can review Board programs and policies, and
work with the Board to sponsor conferences related to student affairs. Students
also have the opportunity to weigh-in on changes the State Board made to
school programs and policies that could impact their own classroom experiences.
The Student Advisory Council will meet approximately three times during
the 2006-2007 school year and the present their work to the State Board of
Education at their meeting in May, 2007.
