Vella Encourages Residents to Nominate Exemplary Local School Board Members for Education Award

LOVES PARK, Ill. – State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford, is encouraging residents to submit nominations for the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) annual Thomas Law Burroughs Award. Nominees for this award should be local school board members who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and service. 

“Our local school board members work tirelessly to ensure that our schools represent the values of our hardworking community,” Vella said. “This award is a great opportunity to show appreciation for those whose dedicated service in our schools often goes unrecognized. I encourage anyone who has seen a school board member go above and beyond for their community to nominate them for this opportunity.” 

Created in 1991, ISBE’s Burroughs Award recognizes extraordinary leadership on behalf of education at the local level for members of local school boards. Criteria for the award includes outstanding service in the following three areas of accomplishment:

• Personal leadership in improving student learning, closing achievement gaps, and supporting educational excellence; and/or 
• Personal leadership in expanding educational opportunities for underserved students; and/or 
• Personal leadership in resolving a crisis or major difficulty with the result of more equitable outcomes for students.

Nominations are due to ISBE by Oct. 21, 2022. Additional information and an online nomination form can be found at https://www.isbe.net/Pages/thomas-lay-burroughs-award.aspx.