Illinois State Board of Education Student Advisory Committee

Each year a group of students is chosen from around the state to be student advisors to the Illinois State Board of Education. Students have the opportunity to see the State Board’s policymakers in action and work with them to provide student perspectives and concerns on the state’s education policies. Students come together several times throughout the year and work remotely on a research project that is presented to the Board. St. Charles East Senior Serena Thakkar is now serving in her second year on the committee. She talks with Dr. Person about why she applied to serve, what she has learned from working with other students, why the work the committee does is so important, and how it felt to present ideas to legislators.