Illinois State Superintendent Carmen Ayala retiring in February

Illinois State Superintendent Carmen Ayala introduced Thursday she’s going to retire in February. 

Gov. J. B. Pritzker appointed Ayala to function the state’s high schooling official in 2019 – making her the first lady and individual of shade to carry the place. 

“For the final nearly 40 years, I’ve been so blessed to serve the scholars in Illinois,” Ayala stated to board members on the state board of schooling assembly on Thursday. “If anybody is aware of me, they know that fairness is my ardour. I’ve been known as an fairness warrior.”

As state superintendent, Ayala oversaw greater than 850 college districts serving greater than 2 million youngsters.  She helped navigate the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when Pritzker ordered all colleges to shut amid the outbreak. She labored with the administration on the state’s steerage for reopening colleges and has led the state board as districts have skilled two tough restoration years. 

Earlier than the pandemic hit, Ayala launched into a yet-to-be realized overhaul of state standardized testing. Earlier this yr, the state board determined towards making adjustments to the way it assesses scholar studying. Like the remainder of the nation, Illinois college students’ math and studying scores dropped through the pandemic and have but to get better, in accordance with the newest information. 

Pritzker will get to nominate a substitute. His workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.  

Ayala beforehand served as superintendent of west suburban Berwyn North Faculty District 98 and was assistant superintendent at Plainfield District 202 within the far western suburbs. She led variety and inclusion work whereas in Plainfield at a time when the district had change into more and more racially various.

Steven Isoye, chairman of the Illinois state board of schooling, applauded Ayala’s work on fairness and inspired her to “choose up the cellphone” if the board doesn’t proceed specializing in that.

“You despatched a robust message to the entire leaders throughout the state about how we actually have to embrace the work on fairness for all college students and it was loud and clear,” Isoye stated. “And it reverberates and can proceed to reverberate at the same time as you retire.” 

Ayala began her profession at Chicago Public Faculties, the place she was a trainer for 5 years, and labored as each a trainer and administrator at Group Consolidated Faculty District 300 in Algonquin and Aurora East Faculty District 131.

Becky Vevea is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Chicago. Contact Becky at bvevea@chalkbeat.org.