2 D202 Students Tapped For ISBE Student Advisory Council

PLAINFIELD, IL — Two Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 students were tapped to serve on the Illinois State Board of Education's prestigious Student Advisory Council for the 2025-26 academic year.

Plainfield North High School junior Mowosimi Kolawole and Plainfield South High School sophomore Miranda Moreno-Balderas were chosen through a competitive application and interview process.

The students' participation makes Plainfield stand out: District 202 is the only school district in Illinois this year with two representatives on the 21-member council.

Established in 1975, the SAC allows high school students to strengthen their leadership skills while providing their input on education policy.

Kolawole, a junior class representative and founder of the nonprofit FoodEco, said he applied to the council to serve his community and hopes to focus on student mental health and motivation during his term.

"I've always been passionate about helping out in any way that I can," he said, per a district news release. "When I saw an opportunity to directly benefit my community by serving on the Student Advisory Council, I had to apply."

Moreno-Balderas, on the other hand, plans to promote a positive student use of artificial intelligence and improve school cafeterias.

"I did not expect my application process to go the way it did, and I'm very grateful for this privilege," she said in a statement. "I hope to turn artificial intelligence use into something positive for students, and I'd love to explore community business partnerships to bring new options into school cafeterias."

Moreno-Balderas, who is active in Student Council, Key Club and tutoring at PSHS, is also completing her associate’s degree in paralegal studies at Joliet Junior College while taking legal courses at Northwestern University. She aspires to a career in corporate law.

Of the council members statewide, State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders said, "This group represents the best of Illinois' student leaders, who are ready to use their voices to address challenges and shape solutions."