Senator Craig Wilcox Launches Second Annual “My Inspirational Teacher” Essay Contest
To help celebrate area teachers during Illinois’ Teacher Appreciation Week May 5-9, I am launching my second annual My Inspirational Teacher Essay Contest for students in 6th through 8th grade in the 32nd Senate District. This photo shows some of last year’s winners.
The contest offers students an opportunity to showcase their favorite teacher’s talents and explain how that teacher has made a special difference in their lives. Specifically, students are invited to write a 250-500-word essay about the one teacher who has been the most inspirational to them in their educational journey thus far.
When writing the essays, students should relay how a teacher’s specific actions made a positive impact and also outline the results of exactly how the teacher changed them as they continued through school. Each entry must include the child’s name, school, and grade level, and the teacher’s name, school, and the subject taught. A panel of education leaders will read and evaluate the essays, and will consider persuasiveness, correct spelling and grammar, and adherence to contest instructions.
There will be several winning essays, and the grand prize winning essay will be posted on my legislative website (SenatorWilcox.com). Excerpts from all of the winning essays will be displayed for a week in the State Capitol rotunda in Springfield.
Eligible Participants: Students in Grades 6-8
Theme: How My Teacher Inspires Me
Entry Deadline: April 25, 2025
Announcement of Winners: Winners will be notified by email
The 32nd Senate District includes all or portions of the following communities: Antioch, Bull Valley, Cary, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Island Lake, Johnsburg, Lake Villa, Lakemoor, Lakewood, Lindenhurst, McCullom Lake, McHenry, Oakwood Hills, Port Barrington, Prairie Grove, Richmond, Ringwood, Round Lake Beach, Spring Grove, Trout Valley, Volo, Woodstock, and Wonder Lake.
For additional information about this essay contest, please contact Kim at kjohnson@sgop.ilga.gov.
Wilcox Pushes Back Against Latest Cash Grab from Democrats
Illinois families are already paying more for groceries, gas, and everyday essentials, and now Springfield Democrats want to add another cost every time you check out at the store.
Senate Bill 1872 would ban the use of plastic bags and require a minimum fee of 10 cents for each paper bag used at stores in Illinois.
The Senate’s Environment & Conservation Committee heard this bill on March 20 and all Republicans voted against it. Unfortunately, because the committee is comprised of 2/3 Democrats, the bill received a favorable vote and will now come to the Senate floor for final action. I will be voting against SB 1872 when it is brought before the full Senate for a vote.
This legislation only applies to larger retailers; the big-box stores, and they would get to keep the funds generated by the proposed fee on paper bags. Small businesses are exempt from the bill.
This initiative caters to big-box retailers and environmentalists at the expense of taxpayers who are already struggling with higher costs at the grocery store. SB 1872 also strips local communities of the power to make decisions for their own residents and is yet another one-size-fits-all solution coming out of Springfield.
I have created a petition so you can express your opposition to this latest cash grab. Click here to sign the petition.
Republicans Push for Fairness in High School Sports with New Letter to IHSA
Last week I joined my Senate and House Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the Executive Director of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), urging the organization to clarify its policies regarding transgender athletes in high school sports and ensure fairness for women who have worked hard to compete.
The letter calls on the IHSA to align its policies with recent federal guidelines that protect the integrity of women’s sports. The lawmakers emphasized that federal law clearly mandates that participation in women’s sports should be based on biological sex, in order to preserve fairness and competitive balance.
In their letter, lawmakers requested an update on how the IHSA plans to revise its policies to comply with federal requirements while ensuring a level playing field for women in sports. They are standing up for the women who dedicate themselves to training, sacrificing, and competing, ensuring they are judged on their skill.
Republican lawmakers are committed to protecting the opportunities that women athletes have worked so hard to earn. The message is clear: they are demanding transparency, accountability, and a commitment to maintaining fairness in Illinois sports.
Click here to read the letter.
Homeschool Families Pack Illinois Capitol to Defend Education Freedom
Thousands of homeschooling families packed the Illinois State Capitol last week to protest House Bill 2827, which advanced out of the Education Policy Committee on an 8-4 vote with all House Republicans voting against it. Democrats advanced the bill despite a record-breaking 51,000 witness slips filed against it.
Known as the “Homeschool Act,” HB 2827 would impose new regulations on homeschooling families, including mandatory forms, educational portfolios, and potential criminal penalties for non-compliance.
The bill has sparked widespread concern among parents who view it as a direct attack on their rights to educate their children without government interference. Opponents argue that it would undermine parental control and open the door for further restrictions on homeschooling.
The bill threatens to undermine the freedoms of parents who choose homeschooling, with many concerned it marks the beginning of broader government intrusion into private education.
Illinois Takes Bold Step with Bipartisan Senate Bill to Combat Human Trafficking
Senate Bill 2323, a new bipartisan proposal, seeks to improve Illinois’ response to human trafficking by streamlining support services and enhancing coordination among state agencies. The bill takes a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach, designed to better identify, assist, and protect trafficking victims across the state.
Based on recommendations from the Joint Human Trafficking Working Group, formed in 2023 with input from over 60 stakeholders, the bill proposes a strategic plan to build a comprehensive network of services for survivors. This includes the creation of standards of care for medical and legal service providers.
Key provisions of SB 2323 include:
Coordinated Services for Victims: The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will lead prevention efforts, provide resources for staff, and coordinate services for youth in care who have been victims of human trafficking or are at high risk of being trafficked.
Expanded Training for Key Agencies: The bill requires expanded training for staff in DCFS, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Corrections to better identify and assist victims, especially youth in state care. It also aims to improve screening processes for at-risk populations in the justice system.
Multidisciplinary Task Forces: SB 2323 will create multidisciplinary law enforcement task forces to coordinate investigations and responses across jurisdictions, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of human trafficking cases.
Extended Legal Rights for Survivors: The bill removes the 25-year time limit for victims to bring lawsuits against their abusers, ensuring that survivors trafficked as minors can seek justice at any stage of their healing process.
SB 2323 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee on March 18.