Chicago Board of Education Election: Get to know the candidates

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicagoans are poised to take part in a historic election this year — regardless of how the presidential race shakes out — with residents electing Chicago Board of Education members for the first time.

To help voters make the most informed decision when they head to the polls, WBBM Newsradio surveyed each school board candidate and has recorded their unedited answers below.

Each candidate was asked the same three questions:

1. How will your previous jobs and experience help you serve Chicagoans as a member of the Chicago Board of Education?

2. What are two to three goals that you hope to accomplish as a member of the Chicago Board of Education?

3. What is your connection to Chicago Public Schools?

Candidates' responses have been listed in order of district — with District 1 at the top and District 10 at the bottom. Don't know which district is yours? Use the map below to see which district your residence is located in. (Tip: If you click the "view larger map" button in the top-right corner, you can search for your address.)

For more information on voting, check out our voters guide here.

Jennifer Custer

1. I have served in public education for the last fourteen years. Throughout this time, I was a classroom teacher for 10 years, teaching 7th Grade Language Arts. While in the classroom I served on numerous school-wide and district-wide committees, earning me the respect from my peers in the district. They voted me in as their Union President, where I worked closely with our Superintendent, other district leaders, and School Board for two years, including contract negotiations. After getting my master’s degree, I became an Administrator at Indian Trail Junior High School in Addison, serving for four more years. My various roles and many years of service have prepared me to know what a school board does, how it serves the district, and will bring me a well rounded perspective to serve in this role.

2. In this role, I hope to continue to work with the district in looking at student growth and achievement throughout the years. This includes supporting efforts in using the most up-to-date and rigorous curriculums, and looking at student growth and achievement data across the district. It also means supporting teachers and staff in the classroom with continuous professional development opportunities. I also want to work hard on making sure our Diverse Learners are getting the support they need to be successful, including providing wrap-around services for all buildings, and making sure our IEP and Special Education services are in compliance with state law. Lastly, the upkeep of our facilities and buildings is a must. We need to be sure we are giving all students and staff a safe building to go to everyday, free of lead, espartos, and clean and well maintained.

3. I am a Chicago Public School parent. My connection to CPS is the most intimate it can be. I send my child (shortly children) to CPS schools and trust that they are receiving the best education they can, from trusted staff. If I can continue to be part of making that a reality for them, and all the other students in the district, I will be dedicated to and work hard for the other parents of CPS schools.

Michelle N. Pierre - WBBM has not received a response from this candidate at this time.

Ebony L. DeBerry

1. As an education organizer, I’ve grown parent mentor programs from one school to eight. In these schools I work with principals, teachers and parents, mostly women of color, to provide voluntary service in classrooms where additional support is needed. I was also an integral part of Illinois’ Grow Your Own, a teacher recruitment program that focused on placing teachers of color in front of students of color. With GYO, I had the honor of supporting parents, adult learners and community members as they balanced busy lives all while working towards their goal of being a teacher.

In 2012, I fought alongside many others against the mass school closures. To this day, Gale School, where I was developed and taught, is still here because of education organizing and power building I helped lead. As an organizer, I believe that those most affected by the issues have the answers. I continually build power with my community and make decisions in collaboration with others.

I believe decision making in relationship with others is the precedent that needs to be set after our first elections for this board, and I believe I am the candidate that can do just that. My work and life experience have revolved around the betterment of students and families in my community, and elevating their voices and setting priorities with them. This feels like a natural next step.

2. Strengthening early childhood education, expanding the Sustainable Community Schools model as well as Parent Mentors, and increasing diversity for both students and teachers in the classroom.

3. I am a graduate of CPS, a former Gale teacher, a former Gale LSC member, the current president of Gale Grows Kids, and an education organizer with ONE Northside. I also sent my son to CPS schools his entire academic career.

Kate Doyle

1. My experience in education is broad, deep, and well-suited to bring fresh perspectives to CPS, data-driven analysis to the Board’s decision-making, and the consensus-building skills to help move an ideologically diverse 21-person Board to consensus around advancing equity, improving student outcomes, and bringing accountability for both through greater transparency. I am about to be a CPS parent who will send my son to our CPS neighborhood school next year.

I have been an attentive CPS observer informed by the expertise I’ve developed working on the front lines of big-city public education.
I have worked as a special education teacher in a high-needs high school in the New York City Public Schools; I have worked in corporate community engagement; I’ve been a consultant to non-profits in job training and education policy spaces. For the last six years, I have run KindWork, an award-winning nonprofit organization I launched to help low-income young adults break through barriers to prepare for and enter careers in tech industries.

Nobody else in this race has the mix of experience in teaching and education entrepreneurship, experience in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, and experience conceiving, creating, and managing an organization focused on education and job training.

It’s through these experiences, working with hundreds of young adults, that I have become increasingly concerned about the many shortfalls in our K-12 system that create barriers to real post-secondary success. I am committed to using all of my diverse experience to advocate for CPS students as a school board member.

2. #1 Improving Achievement
#2 Improving Special Education
#3 Equitable Funding

We must close the opportunity gap; this is particularly evident in third-grade reading scores when students transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”. This milestone is an indicator of future success, and it is deeply concerning that it is not being achieved among a large proportion of our students, particularly students of color.

Improving achievement for ALL students requires directing funding equitably to ensure learners who need extra support receive it. Students with disabilities must receive their full service minutes and the education they need to thrive. We must strive to be a district that can confidently say we are doing right by ALL our students, especially those furthest from opportunity.

3. I am about to be a CPS parent who will send my son to our CPS neighborhood school, and I have been an attentive CPS observer informed by the expertise I’ve developed working on the front lines of big-city public education.

I have worked as a special education teacher and was a proud AFT member in a high-needs high school in the New York City Public Schools, as well as in the corporate and non-profit sectors, as I mentioned in Question 1.
I am an active volunteer at two of my neighborhood CPS schools, working with their Friends of organizations to support activities that bring the school and community together. Over the past few years, I’ve attended numerous Chicago Board of Education meetings and LSC meetings across the 2nd District. My campaign is informed by, and rooted in, the voices of those closest to our schools: CPS students, teachers, families, and staff.

Margaret "Maggie" Cullerton Hooper

1. Professionally, I have dedicated my career to Chicago’s nonprofit and government sectors. I have most recently served as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events and then as the Chief Philanthropy & Partnerships Officer City of Chicago in the Office of the Mayor. Currently, I work as a senior consultant to the Alliance for Black Equality (ABE), a PAC founded by Dr. Alvin Tillery to help drive Black youth turnout for Vice President Harris in the upcoming Presidential election.

I have ample experience managing multi-million dollar city budgets, maximizing the impact of limited funds, and building sustainable partnerships across government, philanthropic and non-profit sectors. I am a unique candidate in that I possess a keen understanding of how government functions, how to navigate the legal system and how to most effectively lobby state and federal funding sources. My extensive experience means I understand how the systems work and where to cut through bureaucracy to create lasting change.

2. Balancing the CPS Budget, reforming Special Education and improving the needs-based funding model are three issues I am particularly excited to tackle as a member of the School Board. My website (maggieforchicago.com) details my proposed solutions and policies for these three issues as well as a myriad of other issues.

3. First: I am the only candidate running in District 2 who currently has children in Chicago Public Schools. I am a woman with disabilities and the parent of a child with disabilities, so I have seen how challenging it is to navigate the special education system and the myriad flaws in our schools. These experiences led me to become a parent advocate for other CPS families - helping them to more fully understand their rights, joining them for IEP meetings to advocate on behalf of their children, and using every opportunity available to move disability justice forward in Chicago Public Schools. I am also a trained parent organizer with Raise Your Hand for IL, am deeply engaged in racial justice and equity organizing, stood in solidarity with teachers and families during the COVID-19 pandemic when we were pushed to re-enter unsafe classrooms, and have served on our school’s Local School Council for 8 years - as a community representative, parent representative, and Chair. These experiences have allowed me to build a robust network of relationships with parents, teachers, staff and administrators of CPS schools all across the city.

Bruce Leon - WBBM has not received a response from this candidate at this time.

Carlos A. Rivas, Jr.

1. Currently, I serve as Director of Public Affairs for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA.) In this role, I manage our community engagement efforts across the city. I am able to forge partnerships with community organizations, talk to residents and learn about their issues related to police accountability. Prior to COPA, I was a college counselor and alumni counselor at UIC College Prep, a Noble School. In my work at Noble I collaborated with community groups, led our parent engagement efforts, and helped our students succeed in college and beyond. I believe my experience in the classroom and in the community uniquely prepares me to serve on the Board of Education.

2. I am running for Chicago School Board because I believe that every student deserves a quality education and should be able to count on their school as a pillar of their support system, just as I did. As a former teacher, I believe schools can be a transformative force in communities. First, I will fight to expand wrap-around services for the whole family, including educational and extracurricular opportunities. Second, I will fight to increase transparency at the Board and CPS to ensure greater community engagement and responsible budget management. I will champion access to high quality public school options for families because every child in our city deserves a good school.

3. I began my career in education at Lowell Elementary School, the same neighborhood school where I graduated 8th grade. Lowell has always been a special place for me because of the caring teachers and staff that supported me throughout my educational journey. At Lowell I was able to hold a variety of positions, including Teacher Assistant II, Security Officer and Substitute Teacher before beginning my teaching and counseling career at UIC College Prep, a Noble School.

Jason C. Dones

1. I was raised in Humboldt Park, I went from being a CPS student to a CPS teacher, to a CPS parent. Having served on the LSC at Moos Elementary for three terms, I have a unique and holistic perspective on CPS, how it functions, how it serves our students, and its deficits. Like many students from predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods, I faced under resourced neighborhood schools, and I firsthand understand a low-income parent’s struggle to find the highest quality education for their child in this town. A very large responsibility within this role is budget management; I am confident about my ability to oversee complicated budgets thanks to years of experience in leadership roles in education and nonprofit management. In my current role as Chief of People & Operations at Beyond100K, I oversee the allocation of financial resources for a national organization dedicated to ending the STEM teacher shortage. This role requires me to manage a complex budget and balance operational costs with programmatic needs, all while ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with our mission. I also have practical experience managing a school budget through my work as a Local School Council Chair at Moos Elementary, where I regularly collaborate with parents and school leaders to prioritize spending in a way that maximizes student outcomes despite serious financial constraints and limited resources. These experiences have equipped me to navigate the complexities of budgeting within the public education system and make decisions that prioritize equity, student success, and staff needs.

2. 1) Equitable funding across the district - My first priority would be to analyze and strengthen the systems we use to allocate the resources that go to neighborhood schools. Nurses, case workers, engineers, teachers, SECAs, qualified admin, adaptive spending and more are all necessary aspects within this plan. Our system currently relies on the creativity of parents and school staff to stretch a dollar and cover as many positions with as few people as possible. I intend to audit and understand our equity and opportunity metrics so that we may level the playing field and restore confidence in our public education system by working to fully fund our schools.

2) Elevating student, parent, and community voice - I will work to better understand the ways in which students and families are overlooked as the best advocates for quality schooling and I will center the voices of those most often marginalized and excluded from decision-making bodies. This will be done in the form of student surveys, LSC and parent group listening tours, school visits and faculty meetings. It's crucial for our school leaders & teachers to have the freedom to decide what truly matters for their students.

3) Reinforcing collective bargaining efforts - Our schools are strongest when we have the right to organize. As a former teacher, I understand how every staffer is expected to stretch themselves to make up for the limited resources available. The least we can do is ensure that these community centers are adequately meeting the needs of its students, families, and workers and the only real way to meet that responsibility is to reinforce collective bargaining and resist efforts to privatize our public institutions. We should not perpetuate conditions that lead to harm on working families.

3. I grew up in a working class, underserved community within the district for which I am running–the district I still call home. I attended Chicago Public Schools (K-12) and I am the son of a CPS graduate. I am a parent to a current CPS student who attends our neighborhood school where I also serve as Local School Council (LSC) vice-chair. The decisions of this board directly impact me, my family, and the community that raised me.

I have 14+ years of professional experience in Education, I am a former classroom teacher having served in predominantly black and brown communities including within CPS. I bring an experienced and unwavering commitment to equity in policy and practice: I co-authored Illinois’ first culturally responsive teaching standards. I am a founding member of various DEI collaboratives and I served as a member of the CPS Instructional Equity Working Group.

Kimberly Brown

1. I am the most qualified candidate in District 4 based on my professional experience, which is all transparently documented on my resume here and with a candidate scorecard here.

I am a CPS parent, an educator, and an experienced organizational leader who has the track record of working with community stakeholders, government leaders, c-suite professionals, and varied employees to build cultures of growth, trust and accomplishment.

As a candidate 100% Independent from the CTU and the Mayor, I can guarantee no ethical issues or questions about putting children and families first. I also am free from political pressures from state elected officials who would be putting their politics above CPS families.

As an executive leader managing $10 billion+ budgets, I know the complexity of highly matrixed organizations, procurement, contract negotiations, and managing a positive workplace culture during times of transformational change.

As an experienced leader with local, state and federal governments and highly regulated organizations like finance, insurance, healthcare, and education, I understand data laws, privacy, regulations and growing trust and resources through those complex relationships.

As an adult educator at multiple universities in Chicago, currently teaching at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management at Roosevelt University, I’ve taught and mentored adults from 18 to 60 years olds through change management, business strategy and marketing with some of the highest student feedback scores of the institutions.

As a working parent of young children, my husband and I personally know the struggles of making ends meet, paying for childcare, getting to work and school on time, and trying to advocate for our child and community.

As a trained journalist focused on mental health and ongoing advocate, a person who has battled anxiety, and a Survivor of Suicide, we need to look at the whole human. We need to acknowledge the trauma that happens when shots are fired and any level of lockdown occurs and protect our young people from that trauma. We need to identify issues that happen at home and how that affects school. We need to support teachers and school leaders who are also carrying or experiencing trauma. We need to strengthen agency partnership related to home and food insecurity, domestic violence, generational trauma, foster care, and medical issues.

We need to put medical systems inside the school for physical and mental health care. The Board's job is to create and govern the culture change that supports the immediate needs of today AND also ensures we do root cause analyses to develop and implement solutions to modernize our public schools for thriving population + provide district-wide infrastructure to take the burden off principals.

I am running for the Chicago School Board to create a sustainable system of governance across Chicago Public Schools (CPS) that prioritizes equality, equitable resource distribution, innovation, transparency, and strong principalship. I believe that public schools are essential for creating vibrant, safe cities and viable futures for all citizens. I am committed to ensuring every student feels valued and is equipped with the skills to learn throughout their lives. I see strong public education as the foundation for broader societal improvements, including economic growth and community well being.
We all choose Chicago. I have the professional and lived experiences that are critically needed on the CPS Board. It’s my service to volunteer my skills and time for this role to make our community and city a better place for everyone - and that starts with a thriving public school system.

2. These top 3 priorities are also listed on my website here:
● BRING BACK BUSES: If you can’t get to school, nothing else matters. Every student needs safe transportation. Whether it is a bus*, bike bus, or walking group. Let’s build a CPS-wide community culture and have it start with a basic bus to school. *Redefining “bus” from being big and yellow to being a group commute. Kimberly Brown is proudly endorsed by CPS Parents for Buses

● IMPROVED PROCUREMENT: CPS spends 1.2-1.5 more than retail pricing too often. Improved financial management across people, process and technology is critical to make every dollar work harder and is the fiduciary mandate to taxpayers. Best in class procurement & financial management is critical to earning and accessing additional resources from every level of government and grant providers as well.

● ACCESS & TRANSPARENCY: We will begin the culture change with CPS HQ to match our CPS families. Mobile-friendly, multi-language, easy-to-search websites across departments and schools. School and District visualizations that easy to read, updated bi-annually, and based on performance and feedback. Children with disabilities will not require lawyers to be treated fairly. Principals will stay at schools for 10+ years and be top performers across every metric.

*All of these 3 priorities are how we will tackle equity for special education children as well as English as a Second Language learners.

3. We are a CPS family attending Nettelhorst, a neighborhood + arts magnet school. I have a preschooler and first grader, so voters can be assured I deeply understand the criticality of early childhood & elementary education. I am personally invested in CPS for at least the next 12 years. My husband and I choose public school out of financial necessity and true belief that it is a quality education and foundation for a rich life in our city.

My mom’s side comes from Chicago, and almost all CPS graduates from the South and West side. My mom became a high school home economics teacher as her second career for the Proviso Township and Lyons Township high schools, which had many CPS families who left the city looking for better opportunities after the 2008 recession. My aunt has been a speech pathologist in the suburbs around Chicago, working with former CPS families who left the district after experiencing discrimination or lack of support for their disabled children or those with additional learning support needs.
We choose CPS. I have the experience, time, and commitment to volunteer for this Board to improve our public schools. And I also know that a better CPS will create a better Chicago.

Karen Zaccor

1. I just retired from teaching in CPS after 28 years. As a teacher at Arai Middle School, my colleagues and I created an award-winning literacy program that significantly increased our students’ standardized test scores and nurtured a love of reading. When Arai was closed as part of Renaissance 2010, we wrote the proposal for Uplift Community High School so that our neighborhood school would not become a charter and did the groundwork for establishing the school. I also wrote the proposal for Uplift to become a Sustainable Community School and have worked on my school’s SCS leadership team as well as co-presented on creating challenging, engaging and culturally relevant curriculum at cohort professional development sessions. I currently co-facilitate the Anti-Racist Educator Committee of Sustainable Community
Schools. My breadth of teaching and school experience gives me insight into teaching and learning needs and problems and practices in establishing school culture and climate. My experience in starting Uplift familiarized me with school basics through creating the initial budget for Uplift, hiring staff, and establishing school programs and policies. I also have extensive
knowledge of current problems schools face, which are different than even 5 years ago, from having taught during and post-pandemic and in different class settings including co-taught classes, classes of students with low-incidence disabilities (such as autism, Down syndrome), and classes with newcomer students. Our job as the Board is to improve student outcomes for students in every school in every neighborhood. My background is precisely in this area.

2. #1: Ensure that every school is a well-rounded, fully resourced, high quality school that parents are proud to send their children to. Schools have not been equitably supported and that has to change. One model for equity is Sustainable Community Schools, in which schools are hubs for
their communities, with strong academics, wrap-around services and programs during the day and after school for students and the surrounding community, safety through building a restorative culture, and a leadership team made up of all stakeholders. I support that model and think it should be expanded.

#2: Ensure that the Board is transparent and accessible to the public. As we worked for an elected school board, we heard this from parents. I will “bring the Board to the people” by regularly coming to schools, community organizations, and other gatherings in my district to hear ideas and concerns from students, staff, parents, and community and to share what is
being discussed by the board. I will also hold monthly briefings for LSCs.
#3: Work toward clean, green schools. Schools should be clean, free of toxins, and at an appropriate temperature to facilitate learning. Students should feel valued and inspired when they come to school, with attractive and meaningful classroom and hallway displays and infrastructure that is whole and well cared for. The entire school community should be involved in learning about and applying sustainable practices and a CTE program in green technology should be developed to provide students a pathway to green careers.

#3: Work toward clean, green schools. Schools should be clean, free of toxins, and at an appropriate temperature to facilitate learning. Students should feel valued and inspired when they come to school, with attractive and meaningful classroom and hallway displays and infrastructure that is whole and well cared for. The entire school community should be involved in learning about and applying sustainable practices and a CTE program in green technology should be developed to provide students a pathway to green careers.

3. Besides what I have shared about teaching, I was a CPS parent in the 1980s and 1990s. I was an LSC member at multiple schools, including being the first LSC chairperson at Stockton Elementary School. As a member of Northside Action for Justice, I have opposed privatization and school closures both as part of Renaissance 2010 and the closing of 50 schools and have fought for full and fair funding for all schools. I participated with members of other organizations around the city in GEM, Grassroots Education Movement, which worked on getting the elected school board and pushed for the Sustainable Community Schools model that has been implemented in Chicago. I also participate in the LSCs4ALL coalition which works toward
ensuring that every school, including small schools, alternative schools, schools with intensive supports, and charter schools, have a fully empowered Local School Council.

Ellen Rosenfeld

1. I have been an involved CPS parent for all four of my children, served as a Local School Council Parent Representative and Chairwoman, served on the Local School Council Advisory Board, and taught 3rd grade at Hartigan and Dulles Elementary Schools. My dedication to education goes even further—I currently work as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist at CPS and help run a Parent University. My personal connection to CPS, as a parent, a teacher, and a community member, gives me a unique understanding of the system. I have seen what CPS gets right and where they need to improve. I stand firm in my belief that every child regardless of income, race, religion, or circumstances, deserves a safe, rigorous, high-quality education. I have witnessed children and families thrive at CPS while others struggle. My diverse experiences have provided me with a deep understanding of the complexities and opportunities within the education system, particularly in Chicago Public Schools. Serving on the Board of Education would be the perfect way to marry the knowledge I have earned with my sincere desire to improve student outcomes across Chicago schools. It would provide me with the opportunity to use my experiences and insights to make a broader impact on education policy and practices for all of our students. My ultimate goal is to bring forward solutions that will improve educational outcomes for all students in CPS, and I am committed to working tirelessly toward this goal.

2. The top three goals I hope to accomplish as a member of the Chicago Board of Education are: equitable school funding, improving the mental health of our students, and authentic community engagement. As an elected school board member, I will begin with an intensive look at what we are spending the money on and how it is affecting student outcomes. We need to look at what investments are coming back to us in terms of student successes. Student outcomes and experiences will be my main focus for addressing the budget. I will look for alternative funding opportunities to address budget shortfalls and ultimately decrease our reliance on property taxes. This will allow CPS to balance out funding inequities without taking resources away from schools that are already using them well. I will prioritize students’ mental health by setting goals for schools to form mutual support groups and ensuring schools have access to behavioral specialists, social workers, restorative practices coordinators, and other professionals skilled in mediating conflict
and helping students work through issues. Having worked as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist for CPS for the last eight years, I have heard the voices of the community. I will work towards authentic parent engagement by listening to stakeholders and inviting LSC members to board meetings before we create policies. I will include student and parents voices and other stakeholders in policy discussions, and will be available to listen to all of my constituents.

3. I have been involved in CPS for 30 years. I began my career in CPS as a 3rd grade teacher at Hartigan and Dulles Elementary Schools. When I stopped teaching full-time, I worked part-time as a substitute teacher for CPS while raising my four children, all of whom attended CPS K-12 schools. While my own kids were at Bell Elementary School, I was elected to the Local School Council and served as Chairwoman and Parent Representative. I was also appointed to the LSC Advisory Board. For the past six years, I have worked for CPS as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist. In this role, I serve as a liaison between parents, community based organizations, and other stakeholders, and the district. I help run a Parent University on the Northwest side of Chicago. We offer free classes that help families get more involved with their children’s educational journeys and improve their own lives. All of my experiences have filled me with passion for CPS, its mission, and its families. This connection, as well as my exceptionally strong record of experience, will make me a powerful and effective voice on the Board of Education.

Thomas Day

1. I’m a U.S. Army veteran, a former journalist, a social entrepreneur, and a teacher and adjunct professor at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. I’m also a CPS dad. Taken together, I think my professional and life experiences offer demonstrated curiosity, empathy, and yes, perhaps some measure of courage.

All these virtues, especially courage, will be needed from the Chicago Public School Board. CPS confronts an extraordinary confluence of challenges, including a massive $505 million structural deficit and an urgent need to reverse learning losses suffered during the COVID-19 lockdowns. These challenges will not fix themselves. We can balance the CPS budget and deliver the services CPS families expect only through embracing tough decisions and confronting Mayor Johnson and his allies. I am prepared to do so.

2. We cannot continue to punt decisions necessary to balance the CPS budget and effectively serve CPS families. Spending on Chicago Public Schools has nearly doubled in the last ten years, while enrollment has decreased by 80,000 students. Property taxes to fund CPS schools are maxed out. The results? Students are a year behind pre-COVID test scores and chronic absenteeism is at 40 percent. We face $3 billion in urgent capital repairs and a $505 million structural deficit that the mayor, incredibly, wants to quintuple! I will fight to make certain we’re balancing our budgets and investing in kids.

A related challenge is the need to consolidate disenrolled schools. Last academic year, CPS supported 12 high schools that operated at less than 20 percent utilization. Only one of these schools enrolled a white student in the most recent academic year, and only one percent of students tested at grade level in math. The average age of the main buildings of these schools was 88 years. Doubling down on segregated, ineffective, outdated, and nearly empty schools is not progressive—it’s deeply irresponsible. I will fight for schools that are modern, fully enrolled, and integrated.

As we consolidate under-enrolled schools, we can free funding to strengthen
neighborhood schools, provide busing, support special needs students, and expand career programs. Mayor Johnson wants to squeeze funding for selective enrollment schools because he believes that these schools pit CPS kids against one another. I will defend selective enrollment schools because our best-performing schools accelerate excellence.

3. I am a CPS dad and a CPS substitute teacher. My son is a new kindergartener at Hawthorne Scholastic Academy. I have also served as a substitute teacher for Tubman Elementary in Lakeview during the previous and current academic year.

Andrew A. Davis

1. My previous service as a Board member of several different Education and other not for profits have given me experience in Board Governance that will help me be an effective Board Member at CPS. I served for 17 years on the Board of Trustees of Beloit College the last five years I was Board Chair. This involved making sure that the staff, the faculty and the students/parents were able to work together to advance the cause of the College, education. I also served as a Board member and Treasurer of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. I had financial oversight responsibilities there and dealt with politically sensitive issues at both the state and federal levels. Finally as the Executive Director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission during the Great Recession, I was responsible for six billion dollars of taxpayer assets as well as providing financial aid to hundreds of thousands of Illinois students. We continued to support students when Wall street left them in the lurch and paid down over 3 billion of state debt at a profit to taxpayers and to the benefit of our students.

2. Make a focus on Student Achievement the top priority.
    Protect parental choice in selecting schools for their children.
    Creating a hyper transparent budgeting system.

3. I am a CPS parent. I have served on a LSC, I am a Chicago real estate tax payer. As you know roughly 50% of the real estate tax bill funds public education.

Carmen Gioiosa

1. My 23 year background in education is extensive and varied. My experience will have a direct impact on leading conversations, building consensus, and analyzing policy. I have a Doctorate in Education Organization Leadership with an administrative certificate. I am an adjunct professor educating future CPS teachers through a culturally responsive framework. I was a CPS high school teacher that led a team to earn a $1.25M grant to reorganize into Small Learning Communities, creating a Freshmen Academy through
career academies for upperclassmen. I then worked at CPS Central Office, bringing an MTSS resolution before the BOE with the accompanying academic and social-emotional interventions for students identified in need. I served as an LSC member even prior to having children in CPS. I have subsequently been elected to our LSC 4 times and have been nominated 3 years in a row as LSC Chair. I’ve served as room parent and take every opportunity to support our school including fundraising. Families, community, teachers, and administrators all work together to make schools a successful place to learn.

My experiences have shaped me to have a CPS soul with a Chicago heart. I came to Chicago as a non-English speaking student; I thrived in a learning environment with caring, supportive teachers. Those same teachers are here in CPS. I was one of those teachers, and I want all students in CPS to thrive and be successful today and in the future. A successful CPS benefits all Chicagoans, regardless if you have students in CPS.

2. Three goals I hope to accomplish as a member of the Board of Education encompass early learners to young professionals. My first goal is to increase preschool enrollment, even if only through a half day model. Children may miss critical language, numeracy, and social emotional skill development by delaying entry to school until the age of 6. Early intervention can change the education trajectories for children and fill gaps before Kindergarten. My second goal encompasses reading and math proficiency. I will have a
laser focus on increasing the Reading proficiency level of all students by the end of 2nd grade. By 4th grade there is a shift from students learning to read to reading to learn. At this stage, students are rapidly acquiring new information and knowledge in multiple content areas at the same time learning gaps begin to widen. Next, students must be proficient in Algebra before entering high school. Algebra is a gatekeeper to high school
graduation and linked to future college success. My third goal is to focus on career planning in grades 4, 8, and 10. We must reframe the conversation around secondary school options in CPS and outline multiple paths to career and postsecondary education. I am an avid proponent and supporter of Career and Technical Education (CTE)! It should be expanded to all schools and neighborhoods in Chicago! We need more industry involvement in supporting and funding this expansion. Please read my policy brief: Gender Equity in CTE and STEM Education (2014).

3. My connection to CPS began on my first day teaching in 2001. A few years later I met my husband, a CPS alum from the northwest side, and together we are raising two children that have attended our local neighborhood school since Kindergarten. I like to think my lived and teaching experiences and Chicago heart have shaped my CPS soul.

Beyond that, I am connected to CPS through the many young professionals out in the city that once sat in my classroom, supported through my Central Office roles, or taught to become teachers at National Louis University or Loyola University. I want to continue serving my students and their families as a member of Chicago’s Board of Education.

There are teachers, lawyers, police officers, carpenters, computer scientists, auto technicians, and business owners that work and live in our city that were once CPS students.

Last year I thanked a fireman responding to a large building fire on my block,
coincidentally he recognized me as that hard teacher he had in high school. You see, through the soot covered face, it was an extraordinary honor to see that someone who was once a CPS student was there to serve and protect Chicago...it could have been my building and my family that he had rescued. CPS does not exist in a vacuum, it exists in this microcosm of a great city. If you care about investing in Chicago’s safety, growth and remaining a world class city, it all starts with educating our future.

Aaron "Jitu" Brown

1. For the past 30 years, my work has focused on educational justice and equity. I served on Local School Councils from 1999 to 2013 and became a certified LSC trainer, coaching hundreds of LSC members across the city. I was the community school coordinator at Chicago’s first community school, South Shore School of Entrepreneurship. I taught Black history at St. Leonard’s Adult High School, the nation’s only accredited high school exclusively serving people returning from incarceration. And I spent many years as the education organizer at the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO) where I organized campaigns for greater investment in public education, worked toward improvement of schools serving Chicago’s Black students, and ran culturally relevant youth leadership programs in CPS schools. Staunchly opposed to racist school closures, this work involved the campaign to save Dyett High School, which culminated in a 34-day hunger strike that led to Dyett being reopened as a community school with over $14 million in new investments! Out of that campaign, I helped envision the Sustainable Community School model now being implemented in communities across the country and helping to transform schools into places that invest in the holistic needs of their students and the communities they exist within. Since 2013, I have served as National Director for the Journey for Justice Alliance of grassroots organizations in 40 cities organizing for community driven school improvement. My understanding of school communities, systemic failures, and vision will equip me to be both effective and accountable when elected.

2. Every young person deserves world class pre-k through 12th grade system of education within safe walking distance of their home. Together, I believe our city can transform CPS into a sustainable community school district rooted in equity. It is not right that there are some schools in our district that barely have a library or a counselor, while others have world languages, nice facilities, diverse sports options and the kinds of programs and investments that all young people deserve. This means my priorities will be to secure full and equitable funding for Chicago Public Schools, to invest in neighborhood public schools, and ensure we have culturally relevant curriculum, educators, and practices for academic assessment.

3. I am a graduate of Chicago Public Schools and the parent of a CPS high school student. My work for the past 30 years has mostly been focused on organizing school communities and supporting the holistic development young people. Just in District 5 where I am running to represent, I have coordinated youth leadership programs in John Smyth, Nash, Douglass, and Al Raby – not to mention the many other CPS schools across the city where I have led youth programs. Over the course of that time, I have seen the City and the CPS system close schools and privatize important parts of our system. I have seen divestment from Black and Brown young people’s education, and the pushout of Black teachers. After being involved in the campaign to win an elected school board for many years, I am proud to run to represent the West Side’s District 5 and bring the voices of school communities with me.

Michilla "Kyla" Blaise - WBBM has not received a response from this candidate at this time.

Jessica Biggs

1. I was both a special education teacher and a Principal at CPS's Burke Elementary. During my tenure at Burke, student performance increased dramatically and the school was taken off probation. Today, I work as a community leader and organizer building systems of partnership between schools, healthcare, behavioral health and community-based organizations that work to support the holistic needs of students and families. I believe that my experience as an educator, school administrator, and community organizer has given me the relevant and diverse on-the-ground experience to bring about the change our children need. This is a pivotal moment in Chicago’s history, and I want the best for my daughter and every CPS student. Our kids deserve so much more!

2. The most pressing issue is that of equitable school funding. Without meeting the needs of schools we will be unable to solve any of the issues CPS faces. To this end, I support using CPS’s Opportunity Index to guarantee that funding is equitably distributed to schools. I also support growing the total pie of available funding for all schools by more effectively spending what we have available and advocating for the state government to fully fund the Evidence Based Funding formula. Aside from funding, I see improving achievement and mental health as major issues that the Board must tackle. As a school leader, I improved reading and math achievement by selecting rigorous curricula, investing in teacher and staff professional development, creating time for proper planning, and consistently prioritizing collaboration. Collaborative planning and reflection around teacher practice and student data are essential to ensure lessons are responsive to student needs and foster academic growth. To apply the above at scale, we need to ensure that our schools have the funds, staff, and time in teachers’ schedules to support such systems of collaboration and development. Lastly, we must diligently care for our students’ mental health. This means ensuring that our schools are the safe, supportive community anchors our kids and families deserve. We must properly fund and staff school-based mental health resources and facilitate partnerships with community-based organizations to provide holistic wrap-around services for families.

3. My connection to CPS is broad and deep; not only am I a parent of a CPS student–a 5th Grader at Galileo Scholastic Academy, but I was an award winning principal at Edmund Burke Elementary School from 2012 to 2018 and a Resident Principal at Canter Middle School from 2011 to 2012.

Anusha Thotakura

1. I have always been passionate about educational equity. It is a value that was instilled in me by my immigrant parents, who attribute our family's opportunities to their educational experiences. Previously, I was a middle school math teacher at a bilingual school, where I witnessed firsthand how students could fall behind without the targeted interventions they needed. When I talk about issues like needing smaller class sizes, more focus on early childhood education, and fixing unsafe school infrastructure, it's because I know how that affects students' learning in the classroom.

I believe that my passion, training, and grasp of the policy and politics of CPS make me the best candidate for this role. I hold a Master of Public Policy from Harvard and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During my teaching career and graduate school, I remained engaged in electoral politics, managing campaigns for equity-focused candidates for school board and various other positions. I managed successful campaigns for more than a half-dozen school board members and state representatives. I now serve as the Director of Citizen Action/Illinois, where I organize at the federal, state, and local level to advance policies that help working families.

We need a leader who can handle the policy and politics of this new elected position. I have worked hard to build relationships in Springfield, and it is a simple fact that CPS cannot get the funding it needs without officials who have these relationships. I am the only candidate running in District 6 who has meaningful experience working with state legislators. If elected, I plan to be an active voice on the Board and in Springfield.

2. #1 Focus on early intervention: We need to start our reforms of CPS at the Pre-K and Kindergarten level, where success in math and reading sets students on trajectory for success.

#2 Improving achievement: Anything we invest in, whether it's mental health services, smaller class sizes, or improving school infrastructure, has to be so that our students are better able to learn. The Board should authorize a broad framework of high-quality curriculum and allow for flexibility for educators to enrich and adapt the curriculum for students. I also support keeping selective enrollment schools open. We should continue investing in neighborhood schools to close the gap between the quality of neighborhood schools and selective enrollment schools.

#3 Balancing the budget: With the Board's unfortunate history of fiscal mismanagement and corruption, the community is looking for honest representation that will hold CPS accountable. I intend to do so. We need our budget to be balanced so that students, families, and teachers do not have to worry about impending cuts and destabilization from year to year. I support the current Board's planned hiring freeze and cuts for central office positions, but we need additional funding to reduce classroom sizes, have social workers and nurses in every school, and to expand after school and extracurricular programs. Our city should be advocating for more state funding. We should also prioritize using school building space efficiently to generate revenue and meet other community needs by, for example, expanding School-Based Health Centers.

3. I am a proud supporter of CPS which advocates for policies that will improve the lives of students, parents, teachers, and staff in my work as a progressive policy advocate. I also volunteer as a coach for the Spanish-language debate team at Columbia Explorers Academy in Brighton Park.

Andre Smith

1. My experience as a finance manager and business owner will be invaluable in serving on the Chicago Board of Education. As a finance manager with over six years in the car industry, I developed a strong ability to manage budgets, analyze financial data, and ensure fiscal responsibility—skills that are essential in overseeing the financial health of a large school system. Additionally, running my own business has given me the ability to make strategic decisions, manage operations, and lead effectively. These experiences will help me ensure that Chicago Public Schools allocate resources efficiently, prioritize funding to support student achievement, and maintain transparency and accountability with public funds. Ultimately, my financial expertise will contribute to creating a school system that works better for students, teachers, and the community.

2. 1) Improving Academic Outcomes: I aim to raise the academic performance of students, particularly focusing on improving reading and math proficiency. In my district, only 22% of students are reading at grade level and just 16% are proficient in math. These numbers are unacceptable, and I am committed to advocating for targeted interventions, better resources, and enhanced teacher support to turn these statistics around.

2) Financial Transparency and Accountability: Ensuring that the district’s budget is managed responsibly is crucial. I will push for regular audits and clear reporting on how funds are being allocated to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and directly benefit our students and schools. Having served as a finance manager and a business owner, I understand the importance of transparency and accountability in driving successful outcomes.

3) Expanding Access to High-Quality Education Options: I will work to expand access to magnet and charter schools, giving parents and students more choices in their education. I believe in preserving neighborhood schools while also offering alternative options that meet the diverse needs of our students. My goal is to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has access to a quality education that prepares them for success.

3. My connection to Chicago Public Schools is deeply rooted in both my personal and professional life. I have a long-standing commitment to ensuring educational equality and access in Chicago, a fight that began with my great-grandmother, Carrie Williams, who was the first person in U.S. history to file and successfully win a lawsuit for equal pay and equal rights for both students and teachers in 1892. In 2015, our family received a letter from President Barack Obama, who acknowledged her trailblazing work, stating that it is people like Carrie Williams who paved the way for people like him, and that he stands on their shoulders. Now, in 2024, as Chicago elects its first school board, I am proud to continue the legacy as her great grandson, carrying forward the fight for educational equality, making history again.

In addition to my advocacy work, I serve as a beat facilitator for Beat 311, working between the Chicago Police Department and the community to enhance safety and communication. I am also the vice president for residents in Washington Park, where I work to address community needs and improve neighborhood conditions.

As a community organizer and CEO of an anti-violence organization, I have worked closely with schools to ensure the safety of children both inside and outside the classroom. I also advocate for improved educational outcomes for students, particularly in underrepresented communities. Running for the 6th District, I am deeply invested in addressing the challenges CPS faces, from low academic performance to financial transparency, and I am passionate about creating a better future for the students of Chicago.

Yesenia Lopez - WBBM has not received a response from this candidate at this time.

Eva A. Villalobos - WBBM has not received a response from this candidate at this time.

Raquel Don - WBBM has not received a response from this candidate at this time.

Angel Gutierrez

1. I bring over 25 years of accomplishments and experience in executive leadership, governance, financial management, fundraising, operations, policy, and program development, serving our most vulnerable in our communities in Chicago and Denver. I’ve led and managed large scale programs and multi-million dollar budgets. I have served on a number of public and private boards, including as a chairman and I have been appointed and worked on public projects like the Denver Public Safety Task Force and the Manual High School redesign, bringing diverse stakeholders together to solve complex issues and reach consensus. I have experience building collaborative environments, making difficult decisions, meeting deadlines, managing budgets, and keeping my team focused.

I also have extensive experience in policy work, including nutrition and workforce policy. I worked closely with schools, organizations, and government agencies to ensure that our young people had access to nutritious meals and economic opportunity. I worked to improve the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and school meals, ensuring that students received the nutrition they need to succeed. Beyond that, I made sure that students were getting connected to jobs and internships that exposed them to different career paths in manufacturing, other trades, computer science, and health sciences.

And most importantly, I am a father of school-aged children. When speaking with my neighbors about this election, I deeply understand their desire for strong, safe, and supportive schools on a personal level. I will never forget that the board’s objective is to serve the City of Chicago and all its students.

2. Establish Board Transparency - I aim to establish transparency within the Chicago Board of Education so that no stakeholder feels "left in the dark." In order for all our community members, school staff, educators, parents, and students to advocate for the necessary change they need, they need access to clear, accurate, and timely information. I aim to empower our constituents by bringing transparency while bringing everyone together.

Ensuring Top-Quality Education for Every Student - I will work to ensure that families have more top-quality education options to choose from. As the current system leans into becoming a one-size fits all model, we will see this serve some families but not all. I will lead with a true, equity lens and try to serve all families based on their specific needs.

Responsible Management of Chicago Tax Dollars - In addition to providing more transparency around the district’s budget, I will work towards a budget formula that equitably distributes resources without compromising the quality of education at high-performing schools. The current approach does not account for the unique needs and context of every school. The board should work towards understanding all these needs and challenge themselves to meet those needs with the resources available.

3. Throughout my career and personal life, I’ve had a longstanding and deep connection with Chicago Public Schools. While at Catholic Charities, I worked with CPS youth through the One Summer Chicago program. Beyond providing jobs and a paycheck, I worked to develop career exploration programming, personal development training, and additional opportunities to compliment the work experience our students received. I was very invested in ensuring that we met all aspects of our mission at every stage of our work with all communities that interacted with Catholic Charities. Throughout my professional career, I’ve had the opportunity to work for, hire, and collaborate with CPS students and alumni, including working closely with CPS students at our WIC Nutrition centers.

The food nutrition work I led meant that I supported delivering meals to hundreds of thousands of students, including during school closures where we had to work quickly to ensure our students had access to meals when schools were closed. I’ve volunteered extensively serving on career panels and reading to kindergarten and first-grade classrooms at schools across the city. Lastly, I was very honored to serve as Principal for a Day at Marine Leadership Academy in recognition of my work in the community but in service of our young leaders.

Felix Ponce

1. I have been teaching music for 9 years. In that time I have worked in multiple educational settings, with hundreds of educators and thousands of students. I have worked in schools that have full extracurricular programs and 3 nurses daily and in schools that have 1 nurse present 1 day per week and unfunded arts and sports programs. I am the only candidate in this district with this direct knowledge of the impact of these disinvestments on our students.

My mission as a music educator has always been to bring people together into a community where we can build something together that is greater than what any of us could build on our own. As a teacher, I have directed these efforts, helped students communicate with each other and play to each of our strengths. And that is exactly the work of this board. I am not just someone who can problem solve but who knows how to be part of a team and how to bring people together for the greater good.

2. - Make arts and sports access more equitable across the district by making sure programs are fully funded so teachers and students actually have the staff and materials they need to have a functioning program.
- Improve student mental health by ensuring each school has appropriate staffing - including a case manager, social worker, counselor, and nurse in every school everyday and manageable caseloads for those workers. We need to make the job sustainable in order to reduce staff turnover and maintain the relationships students build with those adults.
- Hire and retain more Black and Latine staff so that our staff across buildings reflects the communities we serve. We can make sure staff feel supported and stay in CPS by providing mentorship support and maintaining manageable workloads by fully staffing schools.

3. I was the founding band director at Back of the Yards College Prep, building the band program from the ground up. When I arrived at BOYCP, we had a classroom but no instruments and no budget. For our first performance, I purchased buckets from a hardware store, borrowed drum sticks from colleagues, and set up a small bucket drum line with my first 7 students. 7 years later, BOYCP could proudly boast 3 levels of concert band, a drumline, color guard, jazz band and mariachi group. I am also a future parent - my son is still too young to attend pre-school but he will be a CPS student when he’s old enough.

Therese Boyle

1. My undergraduate degree in finance and economics led me to a position in banking where I worked for several years in the accounting and investment departments. I have extensive coursework in statistics and understand numerical relationships. I served on the United Credit Union Board where my financial background was utilized to serve credit union members. As a School Board member, I will be responsible for approving the district budget and capital improvement plan. I will be tasked with approving purchasing decisions, contracts, and intergovernmental agreements. My financial literacy skills would help me to serve Chicagoans as a school board member.

2. Goal 1: Improve Student Outcomes
Goal 2: Address Structural Budget Deficit
As an educator, my guiding light was to keep the focus on supporting students’ educational success and their social-emotional well-being. As a School Board member, I will remain focused on the students - making sure we use our financial resources wisely to improve student outcomes.

3. For over 35 years, as a teacher and school psychologist, I spent my career in service to the students and families of our Chicago Public School (CPS) communities. I worked in schools all across the Southside; providing educational supports and psychological services. Now retired, I remain committed to Chicago’s students and families. Chicago’s children deserve world class academic experiences and robust social emotional learning supports. My 35 years working at CPS has given me a deep understanding of the complex issues faced by Chicago’s students. I will use my experience to improve student outcomes.

Lanetta M. Thomas

1. My background in public service, advocacy, and community leadership positions me to effectively serve Chicago Public Schools. As an Army veteran, I've developed discipline and problem-solving skills. My work in digital media, public relations, and community activism has sharpened my ability to communicate and advocate for equitable resources. Additionally, my leadership roles in community-based organizations have given me firsthand experience working with diverse groups, particularly around education and resource distribution.

2. 1) Increased Special Education Programming and Funding: I aim to ensure that special education programs receive adequate support and that students with diverse learning needs have access to the resources they deserve.

2) Fully Funded Music, Arts, and Vocational Curriculum: My goal is to restore and fund these vital programs, giving students a more well-rounded education that includes creative and practical skills.

3) Full-Time Social Service Professionals in Every School: I will advocate for each school to have full-time social workers, counselors, nurses, and other essential support staff to address the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of students.

3. As a former CPS student, parent of a CPS student, and a longtime advocate for education reform, I have a deep personal and professional connection to Chicago Public Schools. I have worked with various community organizations to address equity in education, housing, and the justice system and have consistently advocated for policies that benefit all CPS students and families, including those from historically underserved communities.

Miquel Lewis

1. I began my career working with adults with severe mental illness and young people adapting to independent living. I was also appointed to the Chicago Board of Education in 2023. Today, I serve as the acting director of the Juvenile of Education in 2023. Today, I serve as the acting director of the Juvenile Probation Court Services Department in Cook County’s Juvenile Justice System.

In this role, I spearhead the institution’s public safety initiatives while actively addressing systemic challenges within our justice system. These experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective on the challenges our youth face, both within and outside of the classroom. Serving individuals with mental health needs and working within juvenile justice has deepened my understanding of the importance of creating safe, supportive environments for students to thrive. As a school board member, I will draw on my background to advocate for policies that prioritize students, ensure equity, and foster a positive school culture, all while addressing the broader societal issues that impact their educational success.

2. As a member of the Chicago Board of Education, I hope to accomplish the following goals:

i. Support the allocation of resources to ensure a safe school environment to foster student success.

ii. Work to ensure that every student has equitable access to high-quality schools- regardless of where they live.

iii. Advocate for parental choice and diverse educational options that meet the needs of all students.

3.  I was born in the Englewood community. My parents bought their first home in the Fernwood community. I have raised my children in the Beverly community- My roots run through Chicago Public Schools.

My wife, daughters, and I are all alum of CPS and I am privileged to have graduated from the first class of the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. One of my daughters is a teacher in CPS and I am a former appointed CPS BOE member- Education is in our values. We are deeply connected to Chicago Public School and the success of the students served by the district.

La'Mont Raymond Williams

1. I graduated from Upper Iowa University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree and graduated Loyola University Chicago’s law school in 2014. I currently serve as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry serving Cook County's Third District. I continue to serve in this role since 2018. As Chief of Staff and General Counsel, I work with a wide range of community groups, elected officials, and stakeholders to tackle governmental issues throughout Cook County. I successfully help create and develop a small business program at Cook County. I analyze, consult on, and prepare Commissioner Lowry’s budget preparation pertaining to Cook County’s over $9 billion dollar budget. I successfully developed several governmental programs, drafted legislation and ordinances, and submitted successful fiscally responsible amendments to government budgets, specifically, Cook County's budget. I also work daily with community stakeholders to address and solve a variety of government-related issues. Additionally, I am an Illinois licensed practicing lawyer for over nine (9) years with experience in government relations work, contract negotiations, and consulting. I currently serve as a youth mentor, 4th and 5th grade basketball coach, and tutor/guest lecturer for the nonprofit Minority Legal Education Resources, Inc., tutoring minority law students to pass the bar exam.

2. If elected my top three priorities are: 1) addressing the fiscal challenges facing CPS, as evidenced with the newly adopted $9.9B budget and the projected $505M budget deficit, by exploring more federal, State, and local revenue without unduly burdening taxpayers; 2) ensuring the implementation of policies and resources dedicated to assisting our students with disabilities and special needs; and 3) committing to safer schools under the adopted Whole School Safety Plan including advocating for district-wide transportation for CPS students as to eliminate the added stress of transportation insecurity for students and parents.

3. I was born and raised on the South side of Chicago in the 9th CPS District, the same district I am running to represent on the CPS Board. I currently live in the Ashburn neighborhood. I am a proud CPS alum of Clissold Elementary, Ogden Elementary, and Lincoln Park High School. My entire family, including my mother, father, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins all attended and graduated from CPS. I currently have a niece who attends CPS where I serve as a chaperone for her school.

Che "Rhymefest" Smith

1. As Co-Founder and President/CEO of a 501©3 organization (Art
of Culture), as well as a business owner, entrepreneur and
executive producer with Golden State Entertainment (a
subsidiary of the Golden State Warriors athletic franchise) I have
deep experience managing and facilitating large budgets,
creating relationships leading to measurable and meaningful
outcomes for constituents and clients, and being at the forefront
of equitable decision-making.

My experience in the classroom, teaching innovative courses,
informs my work. As a Dartmouth Montgomery Fellow, I
conducted creative writing courses that instructed students on
how to leverage impactful narratives for positive social change.
Later, as a Pritzker/Axelrod Fellow at the University of Chicago I
led a seminar series unpacking the social and political value of
“Cultural Currency”.

As a Grammy and Academy Award winning songwriter and
recording artist, I have relationships which can help Chicago
Public Schools develop impactful business and philanthropic
partnerships.

2. a. I will advocate and prioritize CPS student improvement and
achievement by championing arts infusion components into the
standard state curriculum. Chicago Public Schools success
stories have traditionally depended on the social economic
status of the population attending the school or the affluence of
the neighborhood where they are located. We must instead
prioritize neighborhood schools, teachers and administrators
that haven’t equitably benefited in resources and funding.

b. Make an impact to ensure that neighborhood schools receive
an equitable allotment of finances, resources, and highly
qualified teaching and staff personnel. I will fight to ensure
every school has arts education, a library, a full-time librarian
and a nurse. I will fight to remove lead pipes and toxins from
our schools.

c. Strive to stabilize and improve CPS finances by demanding the
state to come into constitutional compliance to adequately fund
our schools.

3. I grew up on Chicago’s South Side and attended Chicago
neighborhood public schools attending Bouchet Elementary (formerly
known as Bryn Mawr) and South Shore High School. My son
attended McCorkle Elementary and Shoesmith Elementary School.
As the co-founder of Art of Culture, I’ve had the honor of hosting
writing workshops with children at Whitney M. Young Magnet High
School. I’ve worked with the Healthy Hood Chicago organization to
present a civic engagement class at Crane Academy. I frequently
volunteer with Champs Mentoring to do young men’s mental health
presentations at the Gary Comer School.

This year I gave the commencement speech for Fort Dearborn
Elementary 8th grade graduating class.

In a collaboration with Art of Culture and Cook County Commissioner
Stanley Moore, we took 350 children from Fort Dearborn Elementary
to the Brookfield Zoo to celebrate their last day of school with outdoor
experiential learning.

Maintaining close ties to Chicago and CPS, I earned a G.E.D.
Diploma and was blessed with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane
Letters from Chicago State University (2024).

Adam Parrott-Sheffer

1. As a twenty year educator, former award-winning principal, special education teacher, and current CPS parent, I bring a commitment to our schools and a deep understanding of how learning happens and how to create the structures that support young people at scale. I have led teams that increased learning at a faster rate than our peer schools, reduced chronic absenteeism and behavioral referrals, and partnered with organizations to make our school a hub within the community. In NYC I led efforts that increased access to quality education for over 200,000 students with disabilities. With degrees in education policy and leadership and experience managing multi-million dollar budgets, I will be ready to advocate and deliver on the success of each student from day one on the board.

2. 1- Create joy-filled schools where kids feel significant, they know they belong, and they have fun. This will require addressing inequity across schools and elevating the needs of students with disabilities, multilingual learners, students from low-income families, LGBTQ+ youth, and our early childhood programming.
2- Ensure powerful learning experiences every day which include opportunities for students to explore and develop their identity, engage their natural creativity and show mastery of challenging curriculum.
3- Collaboratively attend to inequity by addressing resource gaps between schools and amongst different groups of learners while resolving the structural deficits within the Board’s budget. This must include developing a more urgent plan to repair and replace our deteriorating school infrastructure and buildings.

3. I am a current CPS parent of two boys who attend their neighborhood elementary and high schools. I regularly volunteer in my children’s schools at recess, with our sports teams, supporting a reading room, and providing training to principals across the city. I am a former CPS principal and school leader in Hyde Park and North Park.

Karin Norington-Reaves

1. I have 30 years of experience in education, law, advocacy, community, and
workforce development. I started my career as a first-grade bilingual teacher in Compton, California as part of Teach for America.
I launched my legal career advocating for mentally ill youth and adolescents at the Office of the Attorney General in Maryland. I litigated with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Citizens Utility Board where I was also a lobbyist and consumer protection advocate. I spent 8 years as a litigator and an adjunct law professor at Loyola University’s Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy.

I served at Teach For America as Executive Director, joined Innovations for
Learning, and as Chief of Staff in Chicago’s 20th Ward, Deputy Director of the
Office of Urban Assistance for the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity, and Director of Cook County Works.

I was the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Cook. Workforce
Partnership and I've overseen the administration of federal, state, and
philanthropic funds and the creation of impactful youth and adult programs.
managed over $500 million in federal funds and raised more than $150 million in philanthropic funds, including a $10.9 million grant awarded by the Walmart Foundation—the largest gift in the history of the foundation.

Most importantly, I am the mother of a blind, special education student at Otise Elementary, where I serve as LSC chair. My intimate knowledge of navigating the CPS special education system uniquely qualifies me to work with families to reform them.

3. Budget: Reduce the deficit through creative revenue generation and leverage strategic public and private partnerships. Equitably fund all schools, especially those serving our most vulnerable students. Target waste and redundancies and streamline resources. These strategies will reduce financial challenges and enhance educational opportunities for every student.

Reading Proficiency: The majority of CPS students do not read at or above their grade level and 1 year post graduation,40% of students are neither employed nor enrolled in Postsecondary education. We need solid career readiness and exploration for all 6-12th grade students to help discern their career path and prepare for it. I will shape policy that creates district-wide adoption of in-depth career readiness programming for all students.

Special Education: Give voice to the community of families whose children have IEPS and 504s and children enrolled in cluster programs.
Advocate for increased resources and funding to enhance sped services across all Chicago schools. Recruit and retain qualified special education teachers, provide professional development opportunities, and ensure access to assistive technologies for students and educators.

3. I attended Shoesmith Elementary (K-2), Brenneman Elementary (2nd/3rd), Walt Disney Magnet School (3rd-8th), and Lincoln Park High School (Performing Arts program). All of my children have attended CPS, and one is currently enrolled. My daughter attends James Otis World Language School where I serve as the chair of the LSC.

As the Executive Director of Teach for America, I placed and supported over 200 teachers in Chicago Public Schools. I later joined Innovations for Learning as Director of Corporate Relations connecting schools to corporate partners and implementing literacy programs for K-3rd grades in schools throughout the city, including the 10th District.

As a former Chief of Staff in the 20th Ward, I served on several education
committees and was the liaison for schools within the Ward. I helped ideate and stand up for the efforts in Woodlawn to replicate the Harlem Children’s Zone and improve the schools within that community.

As CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, I collaborated with CPS on numerous initiatives. I trained CPS career counselors on the public workforce system resources that benefit high school students. I developed, funded, and implemented programs for CPS students like integrating the SOAR centers with the workforce development system.

Before departing The Partnership, I led the efforts to create the now annual
skilled trades expo that debuted in March 2022. Before that, it languished for a year without direction. I secured a budget, provided the framework, and led my team and our partners to a successful event that gets replicated annually.

Robert Jones - WBBM has not received a response from this candidate at this time.

We will update this story as we receive further responses from candidates.

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