Former Vice Chair, Education Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Executive Subcommittee on Special Issues, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Redistricting Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Civil Rights, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Education, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Redistricting I, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Special Issues, Illinois State Senate

Chair, Assignments

Member, Committee of the Whole

Member, Education

Member, Energy and Public Utilities

Member, Executive

Member, Executive Appointments

Member, Special Committee on Oversight of Medicaid Managed Care

Member, Special Committee on Supplier Diversity

Chair, Subcommittee on Charter Schools

Chair, Subcommittee on Government Operations

— Awards:

• Friend of Education Award, Illinois Education Association-National Education Association, 2012
• Women of Excellence, Chicago Defender, 2011
• Education Champion Award, Alternative School Network
• Certificate of Commendation for Support of Public Education, Chicago Teachers Union
• Energy Legislative Partner Award, Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA)
• Freeing the Human Spirit Award, Habilitative Systems, Incorporated
• Champion of Senior Care Award, Health Care Council of Illinois
• Legislative Leadership Award, Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
• Friend of Illinois Principals Award, Illinois Principal Association
• Good Government Civic Award, Proviso/Leydon, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• Citizen of the Year, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
• "Appreciation for Your Efforts on Behalf of the School Based Health Center", Proviso East High School
• Woman of Distinction Award, Rainbow Push Coalition
• Carre Visionary Award, The Safer Foundation
• Alumni of the Year, Western Illinois University