Chicago is making a historic shift in its public education governance, with voters set to elect school board members for the first time in November 2024. This change is part of a broader transition from a mayor-appointed school board to a fully elected one by 2027. Previously, Chicago’s Board of Education consisted of seven members, all appointed by the mayor. However, beginning on January 15, 2025, the board will expand to 21 members, with 10 elected by the people and 11 appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. This shift is intended to increase public representation in the management of Chicago Public Schools (CPS).
For the 2024 election, Chicago has been divided into 10 districts, each home to approximately 275,000 residents. On November 5, residents of each district will elect a school board member to represent them for a two-year term. At the same time, the mayor will appoint one representative from each district, along with a school board president, also for two-year terms. This hybrid model of both elected and appointed members is part of the city’s transition plan, which will culminate in a fully elected school board by 2027.
School board members hold immense responsibility for overseeing the operation of Chicago Public Schools, which serves over 300,000 students and manages a budget exceeding $9 billion. Their duties include reviewing and approving CPS’s annual and capital spending plans, hiring and evaluating the district’s CEO, establishing and amending policies, overseeing contracts, approving the school year calendar, and much more. These members will have direct influence on the policies that shape public education in the city, and their decisions will impact students, teachers, and the broader community for years to come.
To help residents make informed decisions about who will represent their district on the board, Chalkbeat and Block Club Chicago have partnered to introduce voters to the candidates running in each of the 10 districts. These platforms, along with the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, have provided comprehensive questionnaires for each candidate, covering a range of topics. These include the candidates' backgrounds in public education, their top priorities if elected, and their views on important issues such as selective enrollment schools, standardized testing, equity in education, and school funding. By reading these profiles, voters can learn more about each candidate’s vision for the future of CPS and how they intend to tackle the district’s challenges.
For those unsure of which district they belong to, an interactive map is available that allows users to enter their location and determine their district. This map is a useful tool for voters to identify who will be representing them and their community in the upcoming election.
In addition to the general election on November 5, there are multiple ways to participate. Early voting begins downtown on Thursday, October 3, and will be available in all 50 wards starting Monday, October 21. For voters who prefer to vote by mail, registration for mail-in ballots is already open, with ballots expected to be mailed out starting Thursday, September 26. Voters can also register to vote through Election Day itself, ensuring that as many residents as possible have the opportunity to participate in this historic election.
The candidate who receives the most votes in each district will secure a spot on the school board, marking a pivotal moment in the city’s education system. This election represents a chance for residents to have a greater say in the future of public education in Chicago, helping to shape the policies and priorities that will affect the next generation of students. By engaging with the election and learning more about the candidates, voters can contribute to the ongoing transformation of CPS and its leadership structure.
The candidates running for Chicago's historic school board election in November 2024 bring a wide range of experiences, from education and public service to community organizing and activism. Below is an overview of the candidates by district:
District 1 (Far Northwest Side, Irving Park)
- Jennifer Custer: A CPS parent and former teacher, union leader, and school administrator in the Chicago suburbs and Wisconsin.
- Michelle N. Pierre: A CPS parent, current board member at The Chicago High School for the Arts, former Local School Council (LSC) member, former chief of schools at LEARN Charter School Network, and former district administrator in Cleveland.
District 2 (Rogers Park, Edgewater, Lincoln Square, Albany Park)
- Ebony L. DeBerry: Director of educational initiatives at ONE Northside, former CPS teacher, parent, and LSC member.
- Kate Doyle: Co-founder of the nonprofit KindWork and former special education teacher in New York City.
- Margaret “Maggie” Cullerton Hooper: CPS parent, LSC member, and senior consultant for the Alliance for Black Equality PAC.
- Bruce Leon: Founder of a human resources firm, 50th Ward Democratic committee person, and board member of Arie Crown Hebrew Day School.
District 3 (Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Hermosa)
- Jason C. Dónes: Chief of people operations at nonprofit Beyond 100K, former teacher, and leader at Teach for America.
- Carlos A. Rivas Jr.: Spokesperson for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and former alumni counselor at UIC College Prep, a Noble charter school.
District 4 (Lakeview, Lincoln Park)
- Kimberly Brown: Marketing professional, adjunct professor, and CPS parent.
- Andrew A. Davis: Nonprofit leader, CPS parent, and former LSC member.
- Thomas Day: Co-founder of Illinois Veterans for Change, and CPS parent.
- Carmen Gioiosa: CPS parent, LSC member, adjunct professor, former CPS administrator, and former teacher.
- Ellen Rosenfeld: Family and community engagement manager at CPS, CPS parent, and former teacher.
- Karen Zaccor: Former teacher at Uplift High School and former LSC member.
District 5 (West Side, West Loop, Near West Side)
- Aaron “Jitu” Brown: Director of the Journey for Justice Alliance and a Dyett hunger striker.
- Write-In Candidates: Jousef Shkoukani and Kernetha Jones.
District 6 (Downtown, Bronzeville, Near South Side)
- Jessica Biggs: CPS parent, former teacher, and school principal.
- Andre Smith: Entrepreneur and recent candidate for Illinois House 5th District.
- Anusha Thotakura: Director at Citizen Action/Illinois and former teacher.
- Write-In Candidate: Danielle Wallace.
District 7 (Pilsen, Little Village, Bridgeport, Brighton Park)
- Raquel Don: CPS parent and LSC member.
- Yesenia López: Deputy in the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, former Latino outreach director with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s campaign.
- Eva A. Villalobos: Accountant and private school parent.
District 8 (Far Southwest Side, Back of the Yards)
- Angel Gutierrez: Chief advancement officer at Chicago Hope Academy, a private high school, and former leader at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
- Felix Ponce: CPS music teacher and professional trombonist.
District 9 (Englewood, Roseland, Beverly, Morgan Park)
- Therese Boyle: School psychologist and former candidate for Chicago Teachers Union president.
- Miquel Lewis: Acting director of Cook County Juvenile Probation & Court Services, former appointed member of the Chicago Board of Education.
- Lanetta M. Thomas: Community activist.
- La’Mont Raymond Williams: Chief of staff and general counsel to Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry.
District 10 (Hyde Park, South Shore, Woodlawn, Southeast Side)
- Robert Jones: Pastor at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and Dyett hunger striker.
- Karin Norington-Reaves: CPS parent, consultant, and former candidate for Illinois’s 1st congressional district.
- Adam Parrott-Sheffer: CPS parent, adjunct lecturer at Harvard, author, former principal in CPS, and district administrator in New York.
- Che “Rhymefest” Smith: Grammy-award winning songwriter, rapper, and community activist.
- Write-In Candidate: Rosita Chatonda.
These candidates reflect a diversity of professional backgrounds and experiences, including teaching, administrative leadership, community organizing, and political advocacy. They bring varied perspectives on critical issues like school funding, curriculum development, and equity in education. Voters will have an opportunity to shape the future of Chicago Public Schools by electing candidates who best align with their values and priorities for public education.