Education
My Position
I plan to continue increasing educational opportunities for all our students. This includes strengthening vocational training programs in our school districts, hiring more teachers, increasing their pay, and increasing access to colleges or apprenticeships.
What I’ve Accomplished
I have sponsored and supported legislation to increase support for teachers and our school districts. I was able to bring hundreds of thousands of dollars back to our school systems to help them prepare our children for a life after high school. I have always voted to support making college accessible and am a strong advocate for our state’s Monetary Assistance Program for students.
I introduced legislation to allocate $15 million for a new career and technical education school in Northern Illinois (HB 4315), have the State Board of Education develop a program that will provide high school students with advanced technical manufacturing skills (HB 0082), and to offer vocational training courses starting as soon as 6th grade (HB 2759).
I have secured state funds to help the Harlem School District construct their new career and technical training campus. I am proud to have gotten tens of thousands of dollars to support Rock Valley College and all our local school districts. I am also honored to have sponsored legislation to create IGROW scholarships to assist students in pursuing highly in-demand tech careers (HB1378).
Future Plans
I will continue working to expand vocational training opportunities and college accessibility for Illinois students. All of our students deserve to follow the path they wish and have every pathway to be successful. In addition to making this state the best we can for each student, we must make Illinois the best place to teach. I will always have the backs of our teachers in Springfield.