Illinois State Board of Education

Kudos to Hoffman Estates High School Britney Machetta for being named the 2024 Art Educator of the Year! The Illinois Art Education Association award recognizes art educators throughout Illinois who are committed to their students and the art, design, and media education profession 🎨

Join us for an exclusive, informative webinar 1-2 p.m. on Nov. 6. That's when ISBE and Lion Electric come together to guide your school district through the opportunities of the 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Program. This session will provide an overview of the current EPA rebate application process and highlight how electric school buses can positively impact your district. We’ll begin with an exploration into the financial advantages of electric buses, illustrating how the reduced total cost of ownership allows funds to be redistributed to other essential operational areas. Next, we’ll discuss the powerful health benefits electrification can bring to your fleet — notably improved air quality for students and drivers and overall green benefits for the greater community. Additionally, we are thrilled to share experiences from Illinois school districts that are successfully integrating Lion Electric school buses into their fleets in real time and are already seeing financial dividends. Concluding with a live Q&A, this session provides the perfect opportunity to get your questions answered by industry experts. Don't miss the bus! 🚌Register now: https://okt.to/mvpC2P

Woo hoo! West Chicago Community High School student newspaper adviser 📰 and English teacher Leslie Fireman is a national 2024 Journalism Education Association 2024 Rising Star ⭐ Congratulations, Leslie!

Need a quick response to a licensure question? Contact your local Regional Office of Education or Intermediate Service Center for assistance. Find your local office at https://okt.to/FDIVsQ.

Did you know the Illinois Teacher of the Year takes a state-funded one-year sabbatical? Check out the October edition of Soar to see what Dr. Rachael Mahmood has been up to. https://okt.to/n24HCY Want us to send Soar, ISBE's educator recognition newsletter, straight to your inbox? Subscribe at https://okt.to/m3F5uf!

Happy #NationalPrincipalsMonth! Watch State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders' special message to Illinois' amazing principals. Thank you for all that you do every day of the year! https://okt.to/uMvlas

Deadline Extended! The Illinois Girls Lead Program is open to girls in middle and high school (grades 5-12) who have a strong desire to learn about the inner-workings of state government. The program offers participants the opportunity to shadow a woman in state government, including Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, state legislators, agency heads, communications directors, and chiefs of staff. Please share this opportunity with your students and encourage them to apply!

Since its launch in July, our teacher recruitment campaign has received more than 6,245 inquiries from potential teachers! Share this link https://okt.to/Xsaiwg with anyone you know who could make a positive impact on Illinois students. We especially need teachers for special education, bilingual education, and in rural areas of the state. And it's never too late! We have programs that pave the way for career-changers to join this great profession. https://okt.to/5qy6PU

DEADLINE EXTENDED! The Illinois Council on Women and Girls, chaired by Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, has extended the deadline for nominations for its Girls Committee to Oct. 27. The Council is specifically seeking additional nominations of girls in Central and Southern Illinois (IARSS Regions 3, 5, and 6). Please share this opportunity in your networks and consider nominating girls in your school or district. The Girls Committee is an exciting opportunity for female or nonbinary youth in grades 9-12 to develop leadership skills, engage with elected officials who are women, and learn about public service. The Girls Committee will meet with each other and with the council over the 2025 calendar year, research a critical issue facing young women and girls in Illinois, and eventually present their findings to the council. Ideal candidates are those who have not yet held leadership positions in school clubs, sports, or extracurriculars and who may not otherwise have access to this type of leadership and mentorship experience. The council highly values diversity in its membership and seeks nominations from a range of geographic, racial, academic, and personal backgrounds. Selection for the Girls Committee will be based on the perspective and life experiences each girl could contribute to the council, rather than an evaluation of their academic or extracurricular experiences.

No degree? No problem! Use your industry work experience to obtain an Educator License with Stipulations endorsed as a Career and Technical Education. Find out how at https://okt.to/WU5DQV