Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday announced 15 appointees to a new Educator Advisory Council (EOC) charged with making recommendations on education-related policy matters.

Eight MEA members were named to the new panel. They include:

• Angela J. Pérez of Muskegon, an elementary Spanish two-way immersion teacher with Muskegon Public Schools.
• Anthony M. Greenburg of Lansing, a professor of college preparatory English at Lansing Community College: The Early College and a member of the Michigan Early and Middle College Association Teacher Leader Network.
• Margaret Lincoln of Ceresco, the Lakeview District librarian for Lakeview Public Schools and a member of the Michigan Association for Media in Education, American Library Association, and American Association of School Librarians.
• Cathy Longstreet of Hastings, a counselor with Hasting High School, chair of the K-12 Counseling Department, and an instructor at Michigan College Access Network’s school counselor post-secondary planning course.
• Benedict L. Pineda of Lansing, a middle school social studies, life skills, drama and speech teacher with Haslett Public Schools and a former adult education teacher with Holt Public Schools.
• Ruth J.L. Ryynanen of Chassell, an English teacher at Houghton High School in Houghton-Portage Township Schools, the chair of the English Department and head coach of the Houghton High School girls golf team. She is the chair and co-founder of Right Start UP non-profit organization.
• Gregory Talbert of Williamston, an AP psychology, U.S. government, social issues, and sociology teacher with Howell Public Schools and the former president of Williamston Community Schools Board of Education.
• Laura Chang of Scotts, an instructional consultant, academic coach and interventionist at Sunset Lake and Tobey Lake Elementary Schools of Vicksburg Community Schools.

Chang will serve on the council as the 2018-19 Michigan Teacher of the Year for a term expiring Aug. 31. She will be replaced by the newly named 2019-20 MTOY, MEA member Cara Lougheed on Sept. 1.

Gov. Whitmer said in a statement she wanted to bring a diverse group of educators to the table to discuss important issues.

“I know this group is ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work boosting our education system and ensuring our students get the skills they need to thrive and our educators are treated with the respect they deserve. I’m excited to work with all of them, and I know that we can accomplish great things together.”

In addition, the two administrators on the council – Ramont Roberts of Saginaw and Mandy Stewart of Petoskey – have a track record of working with local union leaders in those communities.

The Educator Advisory Council will be responsible for:

• Identifying and analyzing issues impacting the effectiveness of Michigan’s public education system;
• Identifying best practices in public education;
• Recommending changes and improvements to our public education system; and
• Reviewing and making recommendations regarding legislation relevant to our public education system.