Joliet Public Schools District 86 celebrated Illinois School Board Members Day on November 15, 2021. The day was an opportunity to honor citizens across the state of Illinois who volunteer their time and energy for the benefit of students and community residents, while also acting as front-line education advocates providing a local voice and vision for school districts. Never has school board leadership been more important than the past two years.
For board of education, the recent challenges and difficult choices go beyond the routine educational decisions. While continuing to ensure students have quality learning opportunities, board member must also consider their decisions in terms of the health and safe of students, employees, and community members.
The Joliet Public Schools District 86 Board of School Inspectors include (front row, from left to right) Vice President Deborah Ziech and President Erick Deshaun Dorris and (back row, from left to right) Antione Edwards, R. Emil Standfield, Gwendolyn Ulmer, Elvis Madison, Jr., and Matthew Pritz.
These Board of School Inspectors continue to work to ensure that the opportunities offered by District 86 are equitable for all students and that everybody has the resources available to achieve their goals.
“Each year, the demands become greater for school board members to help lead our schools,” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse, “I appreciate their leadership and dedication to District 86.”
Deborah Ziech was first elected to the Board of School Inspectors in 2003. Gwendolyn Ulmer have served for 10 years. Erick Deshaun Dorris has been on the board since 2017 and R. Emil Standfield was elected in 2019. Newcomers Antione Edwards, Elvis Madison, and Matthew Pritz joined the Board of School Inspectors this year.