Yasir Espinoza, a Waukegan High School senior, spent a week in June meeting peers from throughout the state at the American Legion’s Premier Boys State. He said they talked about their schools and education.

He learned they had something in common.

“They were from all over,” Espinoza said. “We all cared about education in Illinois. We talked about curriculum and AI (artificial intelligence). Our schools are doing a good job, but we can do it better.”

Then Espinoza learned about the Student Advisory Council of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). He saw it as a place where he could make his voice heard, along with the 20 other members, so he applied.

Espinoza will be introduced as one of 21 members of the 2025-2026 ISBE Student Advisory Council on Wednesday in Springfield, maki

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