Alderman Shiller's commitment to ensuring a quality education for all of our children and youth predates her public life. Shiller was active at Stockton School in the mid 1970s, and was a leader in a citywide parent group that addressed curriculum issues in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

As alderman, one of the first pieces of legislation that Alderman Shiller introduced was a budget amendment that would have funded a full-time nurse at each of the 250 Chicago Public Schools with the highest absenteeism rate in the city, along with funding 50 Chicago Police Officers to act as security coordinators for public schools. "The first step in education is ensuring a safe and healthy environment," Shiller said.

In the 46th Ward, Alderman Shiller was instrumental in creating a series of innovative youth programs throughout the ward. In one instance — the Youth on Youth Program — a program that began in 1992 as a summer school program was the seed that eventually became the city's most successful Renaissance 2010 School — The Uplift Community High School.

"I always feel re-energized whenever I go to Uplift," said Shiller. "There is a real energy and excitement at the school, and it was born out in the amazing test scores their first year." Uplift's seventh and eighth graders on whole scored higher than almost all other open enrollment schools, and scored higher than half of the city's exclusive enrollment schools. "It is truly gratifying to see a group of young men and women that grew up in Uptown now being the leaders of the community and teaching the next generation."

Alderman Shiller has sought and obtained private resources to supplement the budget of the Ward's public schools. Shiller has also fostered several successful relationships between the schools themselves, resulting in unique bridge programs between the schools and area colleges.

Over the next four years, Shiller will continue to work for resources for all of the Ward's schools and educational institutions. Shiller will continue to foster relationships between the area's schools and area's colleges.