West Central Reporter

Awake Illinois Director Steve Lucie, a 17-year school board member with Warsaw Community Unit School District 316, is cheering GOP gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Darren Bailey’s (R-Xenia) support of the group’s Parents Bill of Rights. 

“Leaders stand up and say when something is wrong if people are being hurt," Lucie, also the founder of We Stand For Our Students, said. "We are going to stand up, take it on our shoulders, and fight for what is right for our kids.”

Awake Illinois founder Shannon Adcock announced the parental rights campaign in an April 20 meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education. In that meeting, she called for the resignation of ISBE director Carmen Ayala. Awake Illinois is a non-profit social welfare organization. 

"Carmen Ayala should resign, as should every member on the board who did not fight for children and lawful due process the last two years who all waged war on our children. They should all be gone, every one of them. Other than that, they're doing great," Adcock said, according to Prairie State Wire. 

Awake Illinois’ Parents Bill of Rights lays out fundamental principles by which it expects children to be treated in the state’s schools. According to the group, all candidates who are running for elected office are encouraged to pledge their support. Their names will be listed on the Awake Illinois Parents Bill of Rights website as pledges are received.

"There is a war on children and parental rights in IL but families are winning," the organization stated. "It’s taking a lot of work by Moms, Dads, and communities. This initiative aims to support improved empowerment of IL parents and families. The pledge list will give constituents a transparent glimpse into who supports parental rights versus special interests, i.e. teacher unions." 

Bailey was the first gubernatorial candidate to pledge support to Awake Illinois’ Parents Bill of Rights.