Dr. Laura Taylor, Ed.D. '06 EPOL, assistant superintendent for achievement and student services at Champaign Unit 4 School District and adjunct instructor in EPOL, is being recognized by the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance as its Ally of the Year. The alliance will recognize Taylor at its launch event on June 9 in Champaign.

She will be honored for her social justice work in her former role as principal of Urbana High School and for her leadership in founding the Champaign Unit 4 Schools Social Justice Committee. The district committee—which holds monthly meetings that are open to all staff, students, and families—aims to systematically improve the district's ability to support student learning through the lens of social justice.

"The alliance is thrilled to honor Dr. Laura Taylor—an outstanding leader—for her exemplary work to help advance the alliance's vision of a world in which youth can develop to their fullest potential in safe and nurturing schools," said Shannon Sullivan, the alliance's executive director. "Dr. Taylor has been a visionary in the work to make central Illinois schools safer for all youth regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression."

Read College News story about Dr. Taylor's McKinley Foundation social justice award…