Candidate survey: who is running for Chicago School Board?

More than a dozen candidates filled out an Illinois Policy questionnaire to give voters a better idea of who is running for office. Read their answers below.

Of the more than 30 candidates running for Chicago school board, 14 filled out an Illinois Policy questionnaire giving voters a better sense of the names that will appear on their ballots.

Look below to see which candidates CTU is endorsing or funding as well as the candidates who pledged to not accept donations.

District 1:

• Jennifer Custer – Former teacher, assistant principal, dean of students and Itasca Education Association union president (CTU endorsed).
• Michelle N. Pierre – Former principal, chief academic officer and chief of schools for LEARN Charter School Network.

District 2:

• Ebony DeBerry – Former lead teacher, youth department coordinator and current education organizer for Grow Your Own Teacher (CTU endorsed).
• Kate Doyle – Former special education teacher, current and CEO founder of KindWork as well as vice president of the Greater Rockwell Organization.
• Maggie Cullerton Hooper – Former principal consultant, deputy finance director and current chief philanthropy and partnerships officer for the city of Chicago.
• Bruce Leon – Current president of Benefits Solution Group, Alliance Workplace Solutions and founder and president of Tandem HR.

Bruce Leon:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

Because as committeeman for 50th ward I was part of a District 2 leadership team (business leaders, clergy, current aldermen etc.) that interviewed the 3 candidates who are still on ballot. We were collectively shocked how all three were carrying the flag of the mayor and CTU and how little experience they had to actually be board members of a 10.1 billion dollar enterprise. The leaders asked me if I would step up for the betterment of our community and city and I accepted.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

There are so many. I’ll list FIVE in no particular order:

1 a budget shortfall of almost 900 million and growing and no creative solutions being explored except getting a payday loan (sic). and the issue of 2.2 billion in one-time COVID money that no one can explain why it has all been spent already.

2. A mental health crises post COVID within the student population that needs addressing.

3. A significant rise in antisemitism against Jewish teachers, staff, and students since October 7, much of which has been inflamed by CTU leadership taking a pro-Hamas public stance.

4. A triangle of mistrust between CEO of CPS, CTU, and the mayor in which the result is that the students (and parents) bear the brunt of the suffering.

5. A lack of vision and leadership within all parties.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective-enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

Most definitely. The mayor and CTU seem to think the best way to achieve school equity is to cut down your better performing schools to lower them to meet those schools that are struggling. I feel just the opposite, let’s applaud our better performing school and have them be a star for the struggling schools to reach up to! That’s best for everyone!

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

Let’s just focus on past few years. I’m a big believer in teachers collective bargaining and using the collective to help those in one of the toughest jobs! But leadership at CTU has lost its focus and seems to be more interested in international conflicts, local politics, and power and ego. This has had a negative effect on public perception.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

That’s an easy one and one which separates me from my opponents. I will not take money or even have a sit down interview with the Mayor, the CTU, or any related PACs until after I am voted onto the board after November 5^th.

District 3:

• Jason Dónes – Former teacher, managing director for Teach for America and current chief of people and operations at Beyond100k (CTU endorsed).
• Carlos Rivas – Former teacher, director of youth programs, adjunct lecturer, current COPA director of public affairs and fellow of the Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation.

Carlos Rivas:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

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 when I was a student at Lowell Elementary. 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 ensuring greater community engagement and buy-in to board and CPS decisions. Third, I will champion access to high-quality public-school options for families.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

The district has many challenges including increasing student achievement, meeting the mandates required to provide adequate services to students with IEPs and English learners, and providing wraparound services to support the whole family.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

I will champion access to high-quality public-school options for families. Parents and families deserve the opportunity to choose the best option for their children.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

Over the past decade, the Chicago Teachers Union has made significant strides in supporting their members and students by investing in additional clinicians, social workers, nurses, and librarians. However, I believe that in recent times, the union's focus has shifted from prioritizing the needs of students and teachers to engaging in political matters. I am eager to collaborate with the union to realign our efforts, ensuring that education remains our top priority.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

I am building a large coalition of grassroots support. I welcome donations from people who align with my vision for our district and want to put students and families first.

District 4:

• Kimberly Brown – Former founder and CEO of Centrally Human Inc., change management consultant and current chief marketing officer at Darley.
• Andrew Davis – Former CEO of the Rock Island Co., former treasurer and board member of the GCE Lab School and current president of the Education Equity Fund.
• Thomas Day – Former senior consultant, partner at Invent2026, lecturer and current executive director and co-founder at Frontier Mission Network.
• Carmen Gioiosa – Former teacher, CPS administrator, adjunct faculty and current adjunct professor at National Louis University.
• Ellen Rosenfeld – Former school teacher, local school council member and current family and community engagement manager for CPS.
• Karen Zaccor – Former teacher, local school board member and co-founder of Uplift Community High School (CTU endorsed).

Kimberly Brown:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

I have the experience and empathy to be the most effective leader from District 4 on the Board of Education. 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.

I am a CPS parent, educator, and 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.

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.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

The biggest issues are in line with my first term priorities. Everything is rooted in CPS’ current culture of lack of transparency and shirking accountability as it relates to fiscal management and governance.

Bring back the buses: If you can’t get to school, then nothing else matters. It is against the strategic plan to have stopped the bus program. Also, every student should have access to avoid “othering” and stigmatizing low-income children. Everyone should ride the bus as the great equalizer and democratization of public schools in Chicago. Let’s build a CPS-wide community culture and have it start with a basic bus* to school. And it doesn’t need to look like a suburban big yellow school bus.

Make the ‘pie’ bigger: We need to increase funding for CPS as a whole. That is the job of any Board is to increase the resources for the organization. Parents should not be fundraising for books and teachers’ salaries for public school. We need Board leaders who can constructively work with all stakeholders to sustainability increase revenues (not from taxes first), govern spend, and balance budgets transparently.

Real Governance: CPS pays 1.2-1.5 cost over retail. Cost-cutting contracts that hurt the students and cost more in the long run. These are the results of inexperienced Board members. We need procurement best practices, best pricing and contracts and policies that put the student and local school back in the center of the organization.

Modernize Access: The websites for CPS are difficult for parents to navigate from.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

I believe in school choice, and I want our local schools to have enough curriculum options to be viable choices for more families. We need to increase resources (time, money, people, ideas) in all schools to create varied options for all learning journeys.

School types in Chicago have been added and adjusted in pieces without an overarching vision for the last 60+ years. That’s left us with a system that is more complicated than it needs to be. We need some independent minds (mine is one) to look at the structure of our selective enrollment and find opportunities to optimize (for CPS and for families) without affecting the parts everyone loves. I love Chicago’s history because we grew through collective innovation and imagination come to life (look at our post-Chicago fire architecture!).

We need to reimagine what public school choice looks like in the future and bring our amazing Chicago community to the table to create it together. The Board’s job should balance current governance and forward-looking transformation (I call this management technique “fortify and explore”, where you spend some time fortifying your current organization and dedicate time exploring where it will need to evolve to be viable in a changing future).

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

The CTU’s history is incredible in what it has done to improve public education since the early 1900s. Since 2014, the CTU has had a neutral (if not negative) impact on public education in Chicago for the following reasons.

The CTU gained significant gains and political clout after the 2012 strikes and 2013 school closings, yet they still operate from a stance of powerlessness. The constant negative rhetoric along with stagnant student performance in schools even after the significant gains from the 2012 negotiations showed a disconnect in the CTU message as well as a lack of accountability.

The CTU strikes through the past decade have not added significant gains to the CPS structure to validate the harm caused to families and students missing school. The CTU actions and rhetoric during Covid remain deeply unpopular with working parents and are part of the trauma experience.

Parents are actively scared of another teacher strike and ready to jump to private school if it happens out of desperation, even though they feel the public education is better quality (directly from countless interviews with parents). The current CTU represents political power players, not students and families, who are the key stakeholders in public education.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

I have not and will not accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees. Additionally, I think state legislatures should prohibit the CTU from getting financially involved in future Board of Education elections.

Andrew Davis:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

As a parent of a CPS student, I am of course interested in CPS. As a lifelong resident of Chicago I am deeply concerned for the future of the city if we do not improve the education system. I believe that the current lack of performance from our public school system is the biggest risk to Chicago's future as a vibrant and healthy city. I would like to be involved in the significant improvement of our school system.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

Lack of student achievement is the biggest challenge. Illinois State Board of Education assessment of third grade reading show that two out of three third-graders and three out of four lower-income third graders are not reading at grade level. Third grade is the time that children transition from learning to read to reading to learn. If they are not able to read well their educational future and ultimately career prospects are bleak. There are undoubtedly other challenges but I think that this widespread inability of the system to teach basic literacy is the most critical issue.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

I believe that parents should have a choice on where to send their students. Each child is different and no one knows a child better than the parents. To that end I think CPS should continue to operate/fund Neighborhood, Magnet, Selective enrollment and other publicly funded alternatives including Charters.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

The CTU is a large and very important factor in the operation and governance of CPS. Anyone who seeks to serve on the board of CPS must be prepared to work with CTU in implementing policy that will benefit our students and city. I am certain that CTU has positive aspects. I do not think they are infallible.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

I am not interested in gratuitously seeking discord with the Mayor or the CTU. Given that CTU has a candidate they are backing and running against me, I do not see the possibility of their funding me as a realistic one.

Thomas Day:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

Spending on Chicago Public Schools has nearly doubled in the last ten years, while enrollment has decreased by 80,000 students. Property tax levies to fund CPS schools are maxed out. The results? Students are a year behind pre-COVID test scores, chronic absenteeism is at 40 percent, and the average school is 84 years old.

We face $3 billion in urgent capital repairs and a $505 million structural deficit. This is what happens when special interests and power-seekers control our government and schools. And fixing CPS will not be a job best left for political cronies.

I am running for good governance to address tough choices, including school consolidation and pension reform, and build new, fully enrolled, and integrated schools. I’m also running to take responsibility for the COVID-19 school closures that went on way too long and incurred tremendous damage on our kids. I will put a laser focus on balancing our budget and investing in programs to get our kids back on track.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

The answer should be clear: CPS is in an out-of-control debt spiral, and the mayor and his allies want to make our fiscal challenges immeasurably worse. As Brandon Johnson asks Springfield for more than $1 billion in subsidies for CPS, we will make more than $800 million in long-term debt service payments this year.

CPS’ bond ratings are already junk status, and with COVID-19 relief dollars now expiring, are likely to be downgraded in the coming years unless CPS provides a long-term plan to stabilize our finances. Our budget problems aren’t going to fix themselves. They aren’t going to go away by luring more seniors and vulnerable people into casinos.

What is required is a plan. I’m out providing it by embracing the tough choices. I’m advocating for consolidating disenrolled schools into new, fully enrolled, and integrated schools. I believe and will advocate for a “grand bargain” at the state level, where voters can approve constitutional amendments to allow for progressive income taxes and Tier 1 pension reform.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

I believe we need to protect and expand selective enrollment schools. I'll fight to ensure selective enrollment schools continue to support high-achieving CPS students and accelerate excellence. I do understand the need to increase diversity at these schools and to strengthen our neighborhood schools.

We can do better for our neighborhood schools without ending selective enrollment schools that have served CPS students so well. Selective enrollment schools do not pit students against one another. They accelerate excellence. I am not and will not be the charter candidate for the 4th District.

I do believe charter schools have a place in the Chicago Public School system, but that they should be required to play by the rules. There are some good charter schools and some bad ones.

They need to be transparent about student performance, discipline, and outcomes so we can assess which ones are best supporting students and so that we can weed out the ones that aren’t. As representative of the 4th District, I will be rigorous in enforcing transparency.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

Public school teachers are among the very best people this city has to offer, and I will always listen to them. I believe that that the CTU “CORE” leadership has provided a voice for teachers who feel as if their concerns are not being heard by their city government and by CPS. I also share many of their views on social issues, though I strongly disagree with their methods and especially the shrill rhetoric we have heard over the last few years.

I urge CTU’s CORE leadership to respect those they disagree with and join the rest of us in a civil conversation. I do not need to recount the acts of jaw-dropping political tone deafness we have witnessed from CTU’s leadership, though believe me, I have taken note and so have the vast majority of the 4th District residents.

Some may be impressed by accusations delivered to the Chicago Sun-Times that CPS COVID-19 policies were “Jim Crowish,” or by tweets that call school-opening efforts “rooted in sexism, racism and misogyny,” I’m most assuredly not. We need to take note of the abysmal results we have seen from the Chicago Public School system – results produced as the CTU CORE leadership has amassed extraordinary power – and take action.

To the current and future members of the CPS Board, I caution against cloaking oneself in the language of progressivism and yielding to hysterical demands untethered to reality. Of course we cannot provide a 9 percent pay increase for CPS teachers. Of course we cannot maintain schools that serve only three dozen students.

The CPS Board has a sacred responsibility to make decisions that may not win much glory on social media, but that will serve to provide the kind of facilities, faculty, and services that our CPS families should expect.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

I do. And given that I am walking neighborhoods now with walk cards that read “Tom will fight against Brandon Johnson and his allies,” I’m skeptical any money will be offered anyway.

Carmen Gioiosa:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

I am the candidate that was a CPS high school teacher, a manager at Central Office, a current CPS mom of two, married to a CPS alum, a multi-term elected LSC member and Chair, and with a doctorate in education organization and leadership. I am running for Chicago’s Board of Education because I have a voice and want to give others a voice.

I am an immigrant, I am an educator, and I am a mom…there may be no stronger force! We need ideas that incorporate all the lived experiences of our families, students, and community members.

Public education is one of the purest democratic principles and functions of our local and state government. It’s not just about providing education, but one grounded in the rich culture, lives, and histories of the world that will help us support our future generations.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

I believe we can improve our Chicago Public Schools if we can focus on these 3 challenges:

1: First and foremost to improve the learning environment and educational achievement of all of our students; this includes improving mental health

2: Strengthen and broaden CPS' Career and Technical Education program (CTE) not as a substitute to college, but a route that can lead all students to advanced degrees in education at any point in their career.

3: Strengthen and increase education resources to PK-2nd grade classrooms throughout the city as the shift from learning to read to reading to learn is pedagogically and fundamentally critical to reducing gaps in literacy and math in middle and high school years.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

Neighborhood, selective enrollment, magnet, and charter schools serve all the children in Chicago. I agree a balanced approach is necessary to support the individual unique talents, abilities, and needs of all CPS students. I do believe there are invaluable benefits to supporting all types of schools and they outweigh any unintended consequence.

Our students deserve to have a school or schools that will build their capacities, their curiosities, their knowledge at any given point in their PK-12 career…not to restrict them! To reiterate, I do not support prioritizing one type of school over another.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

I believe any entity that can center and focus on student needs will positively impact public education. If the Chicago Teachers Union can focus on advocating for student needs they can be most effective, at times this past decade it has focused on adults more than students…that is where I question their actions, agenda, and rhetoric.

I support teachers as a whole, I am a teacher educator at National Louis University and am incredibly humbled and honored to support the future of CPS education…there is no better job in this world in my opinion. I will forever champion teachers and educators.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

Yes, I would not accept as I am not endorsed by Mayor Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union, or their political action committees. I am running as a staunch independent as I firmly believe no good idea can come from a single source and requires a triangulated view.

District 5:

• Jitu Brown – Former president of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization and national current director for the Journey for Justice Alliance (CTU endorsed).

District 6:

• Jessica Biggs – Former special education teacher, CPS principal and regional director at the Southwest Organizing Project.
• Andre Smith – Minister and founder and CEO of Chicago Against Violence.
• Anusha Thotakura – Former teacher, special projects manager, campaign manager and current deputy director at Citizen Action Illinois (CTU endorsed).

Andre Smith:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

I am running for a seat on the Chicago Board of Education to honor my great-grandmother, Carrie Williams, who was the first African American school teacher to fight for equal rights and pay in 1864.

Her legacy inspires me to advocate for equitable education. Having seen first hand how a good education and the right opportunities positively impact a child's life, I am dedicated to ensuring every student has the chance to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

Improving achievement is essential for student success and future opportunities. Balancing the CPS budget is the second priority because financial stability ensures the sustainability of educational programs. Equitable school funding is the third priority to address disparities and provide all students with fair access to quality education. Balancing these priorities ensures a comprehensive approach to enhancing the educational system.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

I strongly support prioritizing the expansion of access to various school types. Charter schools offer families additional options for quality education, and expanding access ensures that more students can benefit from specialized programs that best meet their needs.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

I strongly support prioritizing the expansion of access to various school types. Charter schools offer families additional options for quality education, and expanding access ensures that more students can benefit from specialized programs that best meet their needs.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

Yes

Anusha Thotakura:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

I believe every child in our city deserves access to a high-quality public education, and I’m running to make that a reality. As a former middle school teacher, I understand firsthand the challenges that students and teachers face daily. As a candidate for the Board, my priorities include investing in early childhood education, student safety, and after school and extracurricular programs.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

1: 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.

2: Balancing CPS budget: 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.

3: School safety: Our students need learning environments that help them be ready to learn. That means having access to mental health services and updating buildings with removal of lead and asbestos.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

I believe all children deserve a high-quality public school in their neighborhood, and I support prioritizing funding for traditional public schools, including selective enrollment schools.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

Chicago’s teachers are incredibly dedicated and work tirelessly for our students. The Chicago Teachers Union has advocated for better resources, smaller class sizes, and improved working conditions, which has benefitted teachers and students. I look forward to representing my community's interests on the Board, which includes teachers, students, and taxpayers.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

I pledge not to accept any money from interests to privatize our education system.

District 7:

• Raquel Don – Former accountant, substitute teacher and current Friends of Jones Board Member at Jones College Prep.
• Yesenia Lopez – Former legislative coordinator, public policy fellow, Latino outreach director for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and current executive assistant to chief of staff and deputy secretary at the Illinois Secretary of State (CTU endorsed).
• Eva Villalobos – Former accounting coordinator, staff accountant and current managing partner at AVE Properties of Illinois LLC.

Eva Villalobos:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

As a mother of students, CPS Alumnae, property taxpayer, and a proud Chicagoan, I refuse to let our school district be run into turmoil. Our Chicago Public Schools face many challenges, internally and externally, but I am the solutions-oriented candidate more interested in giving all our kids a chance. I want to give the invested parents who may be timid, excluded, or too busy making ends meet to advocate a voice; I want to be their microphone.

I especially want to elevate our noncitizen residents that make up a significant part of our school district but currently have no voice in this process. I want to get to the best solution that best serves all our students. We need to be open hearted and open minded for everyone. Beyond bringing stakeholders to the table, I aim to expand the table, make it inclusive, and push us all to drive change for our kids.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

One issue that is sometimes expressed, and other times overlooked, is employee morale and school pride. Many of the teachers I talk to feel undervalued, and many district employees are at capacity. All of this has a trickledown effect on our students, and we don’t always make that connection. If we want students to take ownership, have pride in their work, and to lead with a collaborative spirit, then we need to model that behavior.

Our schools are just buildings, but the people inside are a reflection of the school’s character. I want to celebrate all our employees who are dedicating their lives to true public service, and I want my community to join me. A more positive culture district wide is the way to build bridges, face challenges, and ensure we always meet the needs of our students.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

I believe they should support having various types of schools as a way of empowering families and students with options to make decisions that best serve them. Trying to have only one approach to education is not going to fully serve ALL our kids, and no one should have a monopoly on opportunity in public education.

At the board level, we need to ensure there's a balance of opportunity, options, and accountability among all schools that are responsive to the city’s needs. Every family deserves access to an education that will best serve them, and no school or special interest should profit from that.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

I feel that the Chicago Teachers Union currently is negatively impacting our public education system. Unfortunately, there seems to be a power struggle. If their requests aren’t being met, they don’t hesitate to put the kid’s education on hold. There must be a better approach for settling disagreements without hindering our students.

CTU must prioritize our students before entertaining the idea of a strike. The union also has the responsibility of looking out for the livelihood of their members, students and promoting social justice in our communities. At the present time, I can’t say that is being accomplished besides trying to meet their own private agenda.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

Running for office requires fundraising, and I would be upset if donations were made to sway me. I’ve been honest about my views from the start, and I am blessed to have a support system that will also hold me accountable.

My family, friends and neighbors are; students, parents, teachers, district leaders, and community members, and I trust them to give me candid feedback. I invite feedback from all stakeholders because I do not have an agenda outside of serving all our kids, and there are too many challenges to face to make this about politics. Lastly, I’m a believer in God and I value a goodnight’s rest without a guilty conscience, so I will not be acting on behalf of any interest other than of our students.

So, to answer this question, NO, I do not have any interest in accepting any support or donations from Mayor Brandon Johnson or the Chicago Teachers Union. The support for our kids should not come with strings attached besides wanting the best for them.

District 8:

• Angel Gutierrez – Former executive director, vice president at the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and chief advancement officer at the Chicago Hope Academy.
• Felix Ponce – Former All-City Concert Band director, current director of bands at Harold L. Richards High School and band coordinator and instructor at Roosevelt University (CTU endorsed).
• Keith Kyssel (write-in).

Angel Gutierrez:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

I’ve always been engaged in my community in various capacities, but hadn’t considered running for elected office until I received my property tax bill showing a 40% increase which made me question exactly what was being done with these funds to help cultivate and develop the future of our city?

As a father of school-age children, this tax bill just reminded me that I am paying these additional taxes just to further fund an underperforming district that does not serve my kids or any CPS students effectively. Under Enrolled schools, overpaying for leadership staff at the top and lack of effective budgetary oversight is hurting our district. We have to start living within our means.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

1. Lack of Board Transparency which leads to disenfranchisement of all Chicago taxpayers but unfortunately, our youth feel this more than anyone else. Lack of an open, accountable and transparent board will continue to harm our students and put us into an even deeper financial hole that us taxpayers are already trying to dig out of.

2. A budget formula that takes money from schools that are performing and thriving and moving the money to schools that are under-enrolled and not performing academically. This type of thinking will put schools at risk of dropping their performance. Shifting resources without considering the impact, it has to current academic performance is detrimental to the vitality of strong performing schools in our district.

3. Underutilized and under-enrolled schools that are taking and wasting resources that should be going to recreating and reimagining different types of schools, where our students will thrive and that meet the workforce demands of not only today, but those of tomorrow. Let’s create a world class school district, so that when the next big Amazon-like company is looking for a city to expand, they will pick Chicago, because our school system is producing a talented workforce that is ready to take on the changing needs of the future economy.

4. All the Capital Investment that needed to bring schools into the modern era and ensuring the work is being done effectively and contracts aren’t being awarded due to someone’s “connections” with the district or a board member.

5. Need for more educational options for parents and students to choose from. As the current system is leaning to a one-size fits all model, which will work for some and not others. There is a difference between equity and equality, we need decisions that make sense to make the individual needs of our schools and our students.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

Yes – instead of taking away educational options the district should be looking to expand access to various types of schools – trades or other workforce pathway options, charters, selective enrollment, classical, arts and create more pre-k slots. Parents have the right to have quality school options available to their children.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

I’ve always been supportive of the Chicago Teachers Union to ensure our hardworking public-school teachers are properly represented on labor issues and disputes. Unfortunately, the current CTU leadership has gone beyond labor rights into an extreme agenda to amass political power that has not served our students, families or our teachers well. The divisiveness exhibited by CTU has hurt our teacher’s reputation and has negatively impacted the.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

Yes

Felix Ponce:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

I want to create a CPS that has fully funded schools that support community growth. As a former music educator in the district, I have experience with struggling to provide basic supplies and instruments so students could participate in the arts. I have experience seeing students struggle with mental health because the social worker they see is only available once a week and is overworked.

I have experience being at a school where the nurse is only available once a week. I also have experience seeing students flourish in sports, clubs and extracurriculars. School is more than just academics, and I want to provide a music educator perspective to the board's decisions to ensure we are supporting the whole child.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

The funding gap CPS is subjected to is the biggest challenge. According to the state's evidence- based funding formula, the current allocation only meets 75% of the district's needs. We need to push the state to provide the more than 1.4 billion dollars in funding that they say we are owed.

I experienced this as a music educator who was asked to start a band program without any funding. Our students deserve the very best and 75% funded is not good enough.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

I’m a parent. When I think about what I want for my own son, I know that I want him to be safe, to have teachers who can give him the attention and engaging instruction he needs, and to have the opportunity to explore all kinds of art forms, sports and clubs. If every school had all of that for every student, then we as parents would have true choice.

Instead, some schools are under-resourced and others are well-funded, creating a system of false choices. When all schools - neighborhood, charter, magnet, and select enrollment - are given the resources to provide a full educational program - including the arts, sports, technical education, bilingual and special education supports, and mental health resources - to support every single student, then parents can feel secure sending their kids to any Chicago school.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

Yes. In the past 10 years, the Chicago Teachers Union has secured historic wage increases for the lowest paid workers, and parents, in their union. They have made schools safer by forcing CPS to provide air conditioning in schools, supported multilingual learners in receiving the accessible instruction they are entitled to, and supported students and families by organizing for a school closings moratorium which has recently benefited several charter schools in Chicago. \

Teachers have organized together with young people and parents to support students’ learning and physical environments.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

I will not accept money from corporations but am committed to listening to and working with all stakeholders in Chicago Public Schools, including teachers and those with prior experience in CPS.

District 9:

• Therese Boyle – Former teacher and psychologist at Chicago Public Schools.
• Miquel Lewis – Former counselor, chairman of the board of directors at the NOBLE Network of Charter Schools and current director of the Cook County Juvenile Probation Court Services Department.
• Lanetta Thomas – Former director of public relations, digital media producer, community organizer and current assistant to promotions, marketing and external relations director at Governor’s State University (CTU endorsed).
• La'Mont R. Williams – Former mentorship program coordinator, associate attorney and current chief of staff and general counsel to Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry.

Miquel Lewis:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

Education is a personal and professional value that I hold. I know the impact a quality education can have on life outcomes. My wife, children, and I are alumni of the Chicago Public School District. To represent the students and families of the CPS Board of Education's 9th District will be a great honor.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

The biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools are declining enrollment, inadequate funding across the district, and student safety.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

The District must evaluate the education and vocation needs and access to such programs. Students and families deserve the right to select the educational program that best aligns with the students' needs and interests. The right to choose is always the better approach to providing equitable access to high quality education.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

Teachers are the heart of education. The CTU's representation of our teachers is to be commended. If the teachers feel supported, our students will be supported. If the teacher feels supported by CTU, then the CTU has served our teacher's interest

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

Yes, I pledge to only accept money from supporters of student and family voices, school choice, equitable access to quality education, and safe and supportive schools

District 10:

• Rev. Robert Jones – Former member of Dunbar High School’s Local School Council and current pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church (CTU endorsed).
• Adam Parrott-Sheffer – Former teacher, researcher, CPS principal and current managing partner at Post Script Coaching and Consulting and adjunct faculty in professional education at Harvard.
• Che “Rhymefest” Smith – Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist, actor, Dartmouth Montgomery fellow, fellow at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics and co-founder of Art of Culture.
• Karin Norington-Reaves – Former trial attorney, adjunct professor, 20th Ward chief of staff, chief executive officer at the Chicago Cook Workforce partnership and current independent consult and chief executive officer at I.C. Stars.

Karin Norington-Reaves:

Why are you running for the Chicago School Board?

I am running for the Chicago School Board because every child deserves to attend a well-resourced, high caliber school. I run because getting into kindergarten shouldn’t be as hard as getting into Harvard. I run because special needs students like my daughter, should be able to attend Level 1 schools in inclusive classrooms that meet them where they are.

I run because kids should come first. I also run because we need representative government made up of qualified people who reflect our communities and their families. As a K-12 CPS alum, mother of a current CPS student, former teacher, trained attorney, non-profit CEO, and LSC Chair, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this race.

I want to continue my long history of servant leadership and work to bring about change for our students while also providing sound fiscal stewardship over a tax-payer funded $10 Billion budget. As a CPS student from K-12, I received a top notch education that has taken me from the classroom to the courtroom to the C-suite. I want my daughter and all children to have the same.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Chicago Public Schools?

The greatest challenges facing CPS are the budget deficit, looming pension payments, and as yet unrealized costs in the pending teacher and principal contracts. There is no cogent plan to address the mounting budgetary shortfall. More importantly, while the investment per pupil has risen, the educational outcomes have not. Our task is to effectively manage the funds while also ensuring quality education for our students.

Should the district prioritize expanding access to various school types, including charter schools and selective enrollment schools, to better meet students' needs?

As the mother of a blind child with special needs who is also academically gifted, my options for her are few under the current system. She is not alone as roughly 20-25% of CPS students have an IEP or 504 or identify as having special needs.

We need schools that meet local demand for high caliber instruction, clean safe environments, strong social emotional learning and solid outcomes for future success. We either make existing schools meet this need or create ones that do. Our students deserve nothing less.

Do you think the Chicago Teachers Union has had a positive impact on public education during the past decade?

I’m not of the belief that positively impacting education is exactly CTU’s aim or job. In the past decade CTU has grown from a union to a political behemoth. They are the next Democratic machine. I’m not convinced that this has resulted in impactful outcomes for students. Indeed, test scores remain stubbornly low, as do post-secondary employment and college completion rates. Rightfully, however, teachers have gained greater wages, and secured additional rights via contract negotiations.

CTU has fought for its members and in many instances also advocated for services for students such as social workers and school nurses. Nonetheless, it’s difficult to see demonstrably improved public education as a result thereof. I don’t quibble with CTU’s right to exist, I just wish their gains corresponded to actual increased outcomes for our kids. Our children’s futures should not be casualties of political advancement.

Do you pledge not to accept money from Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union or their related political action committees?

I’m unaware of the mayor having a political action committee. I have no relationship with CTU and therefore do not anticipate an offer of support from its PAC, nor would I accept funding were it offered. My politics are generally more center of the line with a dose of compromise than their leadership’s hard charging tactics.

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