2004 Child Advocate of the Year
Ken Tilley and Jane Bankos

Virginia PTA presented its "Child Advocate of the Year" award to Ken Tilley, Executive Director, Virginia High School League (VHSL), and Jean Bankos, Immediate Past President, Virginia Education Association (VEA), at its 99th Annual Convention in Portsmouth, November 19-20, 2004.

Ken Tilley, a former high school coach, joined VHSL, which oversees athletics in the state's public schools, in 1986 and became executive director in 1994. Kathryn Brunick, Virginia PTA, Legislation Chairman, said that his dedication to high standards for student activities and competitions has lead to excellence in education and athletics at the more than 300 public high schools in Virginia, benefiting over 150,000 boys and girls in 25 sports and an additional 25,000 students in 9 academic competitions.

Jean Bankos, a classroom teacher for 30 years, recently completed service as President of VEA and has served on numerous state and national committees and associations, including chairing the Virginia Education Coalition (VEC), a consortium of statewide education organizations of which Virginia PTA is a member. Her advocacy work on behalf of the public school students of Virginia has taken her before state agencies and General Assembly committees to testify to the needs of public education in the Commonwealth and according to Brunick, "students are in a much better position today."