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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Illinois Secretary of Education Will Leave Governor's Office Friday

State of Illinois

Illinois State Secretary of Education Beth Purvis will leave office on Friday. That's according to a news release from Governor Bruce Rauner's office.

Purvis will be joining a national nonprofit organization and overseeing educational philanthropy.

“Beth has been a tireless advocate for Illinois children and families,” Gov. Rauner said in the news release. “We are deeply grateful for her efforts.”

Purvis co-chaired the governor’s education transition subcommittee. She was a proponent of ensuring Illinois children, regardless of zip code, have access to programs “from cradle-to-career,” according to the news release. 

During the last few years, Purvis worked with leadership of the 17 state agencies that oversee educational programing, chaired the P20 Council, co-chaired the Early Learning Council and chaired the Illinois School Funding Commission.

“It has been a privilege for me to work with Governor Rauner and his team,” Purvis said in the news release. “I am proud of what we have accomplished and know that his administration will continue to ensure that Illinois children have access to high quality programs that will prepare them to be engaged community members with meaningful and rewarding careers.”

Emily Bastedo, an attorney who served on the governor’s legal team and as the First Lady’s chief of staff, recently was promoted to senior adviser to the governor. She will assume oversight of the governor’s education policy team and has been a member of the governor’s senior team for the past two years. 

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