On Monday, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his selection of ten appointees for Chicago’s newly structured Board of Education, which blends elected and appointed members.
Among the nominees, several had previously campaigned during the city’s first-ever school board elections held earlier this month.
New Board Structure
The revamped board is set to officially begin its term on January 15, 2025.
It will include ten members elected in November, along with one additional appointment from the mayor that needed to be finalized by the deadline of Monday.
The shift towards an elected school board has been a long-awaited development in Chicago.
The election framework, regulated by state law, complicated the process: it consisted of ten distinct races segmented into two subdistricts each.
This setup restricted the mayor’s options, as he could only appoint candidates from areas different from those where the elected members reside.
Johnson’s late announcement came just before the close of business on the designated day.
Appointee Details
Sean Harden, a former staff member of Chicago Public Schools and resident of the South Side, has been named the president of the Board of Education, representing the city at large.
Ed Bannon, who previously ran for alderman in 2023 and was involved with the Local School Council at Dever Elementary School, will represent District 1a alongside Jennifer Custer in 1b.
Debby Pope, a current appointee and a former educator with the Chicago Teachers Union, will serve in District 2b alongside Ebony DeBerry in 2a.
She had contemplated running for an elected seat prior to this appointment.
Artist Norma Rios-Sierra, who now works as a cultural events manager for the nonprofit Palenque LSNA, is anticipated to represent District 3a, sharing responsibilities with Carlos Rivas Jr. in 3b.
Karen Zaccor, a retired teacher and an engaged member of the CTU who narrowly lost in the recent elections, will take on the role in District 4a, which pairs her with Ellen Rosenfeld, the winning candidate in 4b.
Michilla Blaise, another current board member who withdrew from the election race, will fill the seat in District 5b alongside Jitu Brown in 5a.
Anusha Thotakura, who previously ran for an elected seat but did not succeed, is set to represent District 6a, teaming up with Jessica Biggs in 6b.
Pastor Emma Lozano, a supporter of bilingual education and immigrant rights from Pilsen, is expected to serve in either district 7b or 8b, working with Yesenia Lopez in 7a or Angel Gutierrez in 8a respectively.
Frank Niles Thomas, who has recently joined the board, will represent District 9a alongside Therese Boyle in 9b.
Finally, Olga Bautista, appointed just last month, is expected to fill a role in District 10b, partnering with Che “Rhymefest” Smith in 10a.
It’s unclear why the mayor only revealed ten of the eleven appointments ahead of the deadline, as state law does not specify penalties for incomplete announcements.
Impact on Chicago Education
With these selections, Johnson positions himself to wield considerable influence over the board, marking a significant departure from years of complete mayoral authority in Chicago’s educational administration.
The appointees include current board members and candidates who aligned with the Chicago Teachers Union, which closely mirrors the mayor’s educational goals.
After navigating a tough negotiation with city aldermen for his budget proposal—culminating in a $17.1 billion budget approval—Johnson underscored his intention to choose members who understand the pressing financial challenges facing the district and are proponents of equitable state funding.
He expressed satisfaction in selecting individuals who genuinely care about the families involved in education and maintain a respectful perspective towards teachers.
The mayor’s influence may shape the board’s dynamics significantly, as four of the newly elected candidates garnered support from the union.
This alignment has the potential to create a cohesive approach on critical policies, including the protection of neighborhood schools and addressing financial commitments linked to pensions and labor costs.
Before taking their positions, the appointed school board members must undergo state-mandated training sessions.
Although a recently planned training was postponed for newly elected members, Carlos Rivas, who will represent District 3, mentioned that an alternative program is being provided by the Academy of Local Leadership at National Louis University due to the board’s cancellation.
He emphasized the importance of being well-prepared for effective governance from the outset.
Rivas also noted that the district’s board office still plans to conduct a series of training sessions for new members from January 6-10, helping ensure that the board will be ready to tackle its responsibilities promptly.
Source: The74million