Dupage Policy Journal

Shannon Adcock, founder of Awake Illinois, announced that the group is prepared to file another federal complaint aimed at preventing the exploitation of children in Illinois. She noted that progress has been slower than anticipated.

"While I'd prefer they gallop a little faster, the Calvary is coming," said Adcock. "Awake Illinois is prepared to file another federal complaint to ensure all 2 million children in Illinois are no longer exploited with the lies that violate Title IX protections."

In a post on X, Adcock said that Awake Illinois is aware of community concerns regarding potential Title IX violations across the state. She referenced a case in Naperville where a transgender female student was allowed to participate on a girls’ sports team, asserting that the student "smokes all the girls." Adcock indicated that the organization is ready to file additional civil rights complaints with the federal government to continue investigations into state agencies and officials she accused of failing to protect children. She attributed concerns over transgender students' rights to an "agenda" initiated years ago when educators and policymakers emphasized inclusivity and tolerance.

Screenshot of Shannon Adcock's May 16 post on X | X

Awake Illinois previously filed a civil rights complaint against Naperville Community Unit School District 203 on May 19. This followed an incident where a transgender student competed on the girls’ seventh-grade track team at Jefferson Junior High and won several events at the Napier Prairie Conference Meet. The district’s board policy does not explicitly state whether male students may participate on female athletic teams or address access to opposite-sex bathrooms or locker rooms. According to Awake Illinois's press release, government officials, state agencies, and local school districts are misapplying the Illinois Human Rights Act and guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education in ways conflicting with existing federal Title IX protections.

KBTX reported that this incident occurred in May when a transgender female student won multiple events in a girls’ track competition at a middle school meet. The issue drew significant attention at the May 19 Naperville Community Unit School District 203 board meeting, necessitating an overflow room for parents and community members who attended.

Shannon Adcock is also known as the president of Awake Illinois, a nonprofit organization founded in May 2021 advocating for parental rights, educational transparency, and civic engagement. A native of Illinois, Adcock graduated from the University of Illinois in 2002 as the first woman in her family to earn a college degree. Residing in Naperville with her husband and three children, her community involvement includes serving on the PTA and leading local fundraisers. Her activism began during efforts to reopen public schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which led her to run for a seat on the Indian Prairie School District 204 Board of Education in 2020. In addition to Awake Illinois, she founded Awake Americans, another nonprofit organization.