CHICAGO – May 5, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn named five educators to the Education Funding Advisory Board.  The Education Funding Advisory Board, in consultation with the State Board of Education, makes recommendations to the General Assembly on funding levels for school districts with a high volume of children at or below the poverty level.

 

The new members include:

 

Sylvia Puente, Board Chair – Puente, of Cook County, is the Executive Director of the Latino Policy Forum, a public policy and advocacy organization dedicated to working to improve educational outcomes for children, making housing accessible and affordable and building influence and leadership in the Latino Community.  She has served the Latino community for more than 25 years, winning numerous community service and leadership awards.  She received a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School.

 

Dean Clark, Member – Clark, of DuPage County, is the President of Graphical Chemical and Ink Company.  He is a former board member of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Education Funding Advisory Board and the National Association of State Boards of Education. A veteran of the United States Navy, Clark has been active in his Glen Ellyn community for several decades, including serving on the local school board and planning commission.

 

Arthur Culver, Member – Since 2002, Culver, of Champaign County, has served as Superintendent of the Champaign Unit 4 School District, which serves more than 9,000 students. He was the first African American principal in Galena Park since integration, serving Tice Elementary from 1989 to 1993.  Culver then rose to Director of Elementary Programs for the LaMarque district in 1993, Area Superintendent for the Fort Bent district in 1995 and district Superintendent for the Longview district in 1999.

 

Ed Geppert, Jr., Member – Geppert, Jr., of St. Clair County, is the president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.  He has been an educator, public servant and labor advocate for more than 40 years, beginning his teaching career in 1969 at Cahokia High School.  Geppert has served on countless education boards and commissions from his local Parent-Teacher Association to the Illinois State Board of Education.

 

Ken Swanson, Member – Swanson, of Boone County, is the President of the Illinois Education Association-NEA (IEA-NEA). He began his teaching career in LaGrange, before moving to Lincoln Elementary to be an upper elementary science teacher. Swanson became president of the IEA-NEA in 2005, after serving two consecutive three-year terms as IEA-NEA Vice President.

 

            For more information on Illinois Boards and Commissions, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.