McHenry Times

Veteran state Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is taking the time to salute teachers everywhere across the state.

“Teacher Appreciation Day of Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to thank all the teachers in the 33rd district,” DeWitte recently said in a video posted on Facebook. “I cannot imagine a more problematic year to have dealt with. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the teachers in the 33rd district.”

DeWitte leaves no doubt he thinks teachers went above and beyond this school year in dealing with all the challenges brought on by COVID and other issues.  

“Every teacher in this district has found the right chemistry to reach out to your students and maintain those connections that are so important for the learning process,” he said. “More importantly, making sure all your kids get through their classes and can move on to the next level. To the teachers, we appreciate everything you do and next year, hopefully it gets back to normal.”

DeWitte is a member of the newly formed Illinois Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care Funding appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. DeWitte hopes the 29 member commission can play an active role in ensuring Illinois’ youngest children are getting the education and care they deserve over the long term. 

Part of the Commission’s charge is accessing the state’s entire early childhood education and care system to develop funding goals and mechanisms to ensure access to high-quality early childhood education and care for all Illinois children up to 5 years old.

“In 2018, only 18 percent of low-income children and 25% of all children in Illinois demonstrated kindergarten readiness in reading, writing, and arithmetic,” DeWitte recently posted on his website. “That statistic is unacceptable. Every child in our state deserves access to high-quality early education services regardless of income or where they live.”

Comprised of one member from each legislative caucus and several child care providers, advocates, and educators from around the state, the Commission is expected to deliver its final recommendations to the Governor by January 2021.