Gov. Pritzker Announces Appointments to Affirming and Inclusive Schools Task Force

Governor JB Pritzker has appointed two co-chairs and 25 members to the Affirming and Inclusive Schools Task Force, which the governor created through Executive Order 19-11.

"Public education is a right for all of our children, no matter their citizenship, race, sexual orientation or gender identity, and this task force will help ensure that our state always lives up to those values," said Governor JB Pritzker. "The incredible group of leaders on this task force will focus on disrupting the patterns of discrimination we see too often in our schools and work toward guaranteeing inclusive school environments for students of all gender identities."

The group is tasked with identifying strategies and best practices for ensuring welcoming, safe, supportive and inclusive school environments for transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students and promoting cooperation and collaboration between relevant stakeholders and the state.

The Affirming and Inclusive Schools Task Force will be comprised of the following co-chairs and members:

• Darren Reisberg, Chair of the Illinois State Board of Education, Co-Chair
• Jax Wokas, current high school student, Co-Chair
• Emily Jade Aguilar, recent high school graduate 
• Nicki Bazer, Attorney at Franczek P.C.
• Amy Biancheri, Teacher at Batavia High School
• Keith Brown, Principal of Illini Bluffs High School
• Marcus Campbell, Assistant Superintendent/Principal at Evanston Township High School
• Ginger Colamussi, Prevention & Wellness Coordinator at Oak Park and River Forest High School
• Brian Coleman, Counseling Department Chair at Jones College Prep
• Myles Brady Davis, Director of Communications and Press Secretary at Equality Illinois
• Meghan Duffy, Principal at Audubon Elementary School
• Nat Duran, Youth Engagement Manager at Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, a program of Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago
• Jordon Eason, recent high school graduate 
• Jennifer Gill, Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools
• Jamie Gliksberg, Senior Attorney at Lambda Legal
• Benton Goff, recent high school graduate 
• Tre Graham, current high school student 
• Ghirlandi Guidetti, Staff Attorney at ACLU
• AJ Jennings, Teacher at University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
• Jennifer Leininger, Associate Director of Community Programs and Initiatives at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
• Betsey Madden, Chief Legal Counsel & Ethics Officer at the Illinois Department of Human Rights
• E Marshall, Sexual Health Project Manager at the Chicago Public Schools Office of Student Health and Wellness
• Veronica Noland, School Board Member at Elgin School District U-46
• Channyn Parker, Manager of Strategic Partnerships and External Relations at Howard Brown Health Center
• Charlie Wysong, Attorney at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd.
• Mika Yamamoto, parent 
• Jordee Yanez, graduate student at the Illinois State University School of Social Work

Their recommendations will be delivered to the governor's office by January 1, 2020.