SPRINGFIELD — State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch is seeking seven individuals to serve on the Illinois Advisory Council on Bilingual Education. The Council helps review and guide policy decisions to support education for more than 200,000 English Language Learners in Illinois public school districts.
The council, established through
state law more than 40 years ago, recently contributed to providing a set of recommendations about standards and bilingual teacher qualifications, teacher evaluations and the proposed Seal of Biliteracy which will recognize students who are fluent in at least two languages.
“We’re grateful for council members who donate their time and expertise to develop policy and practices that support students as they learn English,” said Superintendent Koch. “The volunteers on this council bring important perspectives to help schools ensure students learn English while still retaining their first language as we all move to a more diverse and multi-cultural society.”
Individuals appointed would join 10 others on the 17-member council and will be expected to attend four meetings per year, as well as actively participate in additional meetings and special projects. Bilingual program directors, superintendents, parents, university faculty and members of community-based organizations have served as members on the council.
The 10 current members of the Illinois Advisory Council on Bilingual Education are:
Name |
Representing |
Title |
Term start |
Term End |
Carmen Ayala |
Berwyn 98 |
Superintendent |
9/1/12 |
6/30/15 |
Elizabeth
Cardenas-Lopez |
Chicago 299 |
Director |
9/1/12 |
6/30/15 |
Stephanee Jordan |
Moline 40 |
ELL Coordinator |
9/1/12 |
6/30/15 |
Matthew Klett |
North Boone 200 |
Principal |
9/1/12 |
6/30/15 |
Theresa Mah |
Coalition for a Better Chinese-Am. Community |
Policy Consultant |
9/1/12 |
6/30/15 |
Joe Wiemelt |
Urbana SD 116 |
Program Director |
9/1/13 |
6/30/16 |
Anne McDonnell |
Streator 44 |
Program Director |
9/1/13 |
6/30/16 |
Bruce Law |
Hinsdale SD 86 |
Superintendent |
9/1/13 |
6/30/16 |
Ngoc Diep Nguyen |
Northeastern Illinois University |
Professor |
9/1/13 |
6/30/16 |
Matthew Rodriguez |
IL PTA |
President |
9/1/13 |
6/30/16 |
The members whose term expired June 30 this year are Jean Barbanente, assistant superintendent in DuPage District 88; Trevor Cottle, a program director in Beardstown District 15; Margarite Crivellone, professor at Governor’s State University; Diego F. Giraldo, North Shore District 112; Fredy Quevedo, a parent in Elgin Unit District 46; Ed Rafferty, Superintendent of Schaumburg District 54; and Josie Yanguas, Director of the Illinois Resource Center.
“Recommendations and advice offered to ISBE regarding different policies concerning our state's English learners (EL) are key points of discussion at BAC meetings,” said Yanguas, who has served as chair of the council. “This broad cross-section of education partners and advocates allows for a rich discussion regarding EL policies from multiple perspectives on complex topics such as accountability, assessment and teacher evaluation.”
Individuals interested in serving on the council are asked to please email a cover letter and resume to
dell@isbe.net before the close of business July 28. State Superintendent Koch will notify successful candidates to serve on the IACBE in August, and their three-year term of office will begin Sept. 1.
“Many changes are ahead for our students with the implementation of Common Core and PARCC, but also with the new English language learning test, ’ACCESS 2.0,’ and with the implementation of a more comprehensive accountability system under the Illinois ESEA waiver,” said Reyna Hernandez, Assistant Superintendent of English Language Learning and Early Childhood Education at ISBE. “The Council will be an essential instrument to provide advice about the implementation of these programmatic changes for our students.”
