CONGRATS-CRAIG BENES

104th Regular Session Introduced by Seth Lewis

The bill publicly honors Craig Benes for his long career in education, highlighting district leadership, curriculum improvements, facilities upgrades, and community collaboration.

Resolution Adopted

Summary of SR0822 (104th Illinois General Assembly)

What the bill is

Type: Senate Resolution

Purpose: To congratulate and honor Superintendent Craig Benes on the occasion of his retirement from Itasca School District 10.

Sponsor: Senator Seth Lewis (co-sponsor)

Main purpose and intent

Officially recognize and commend Craig Benes for his career in education, leadership, and service to Illinois schools.

Acknowledge his professional achievements, community impact, and leadership during his tenure as superintendent.

Key provisions and changes

The resolution lists and highlights Mr. Benes’s:

Educational credentials (master’s degrees, post-graduate certification, superintendent endorsement).
Career trajectory (special education teacher, curriculum writer, assistant principal, principal at Talcott Fine Arts and Museum Academy, CAO at Chicago Public Schools, and superintendent of Itasca SD 10 since 2015).
Achievements at Talcott: improvements in attendance and ISAT scores, emphasis on professional development.
Accomplishments as Itasca SD 10 superintendent:
Comprehensive updates to core curricula aligned with research-based practices.
Expansion to full-day kindergarten.
Capital investments: Raymond Benson Primary School addition; HVAC upgrades at F.E. Peacock Junior High; library revitalizations at Elmer H. Franzen Intermediate and Raymond Benson Primary.
Leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Support for robust programs in arts, world languages, and athletics; expansion of field-learning opportunities.
Budgetary stewardship: balanced budgets and stable labor contracts.
Strong partnerships with local taxing bodies and community collaboration.
Recognitions: three “exemplary” designations from the Illinois State Board of Education; Guiding Light Award in 2025.
Personal note on his family’s involvement in education (wife, son, and other children pursuing teaching/nursing).

Who would be affected

Primary beneficiary: Superintendent Craig Benes, acknowledging his retirement.

The broader Illinois education community benefits from public recognition of leadership and the example set for district improvement and community partnership.

No policy changes or statutory amendments are proposed; the resolution serves as an official commendation and expresses esteem from the Illinois Senate.

Procedural and timeline aspects

This is a concurrent formal resolution celebrating a retirement; it does not create new requirements, funding, or timelines.

Once passed by the Senate (and typically by the House in concurrent resolutions), a copy is presented to the honoree as a token of esteem.

Impact assessment

Symbolic and ceremonial value: publicly honors a long career in education, highlighting successful district leadership, academic improvements, facility upgrades, and community collaboration.

May serve as a public record of appreciation and could be cited in profiles or retrospectives about the district’s history and leadership.