Paul Vallas is a nationally recognized education and public-sector finance expert.

Paul began his career as a policy adviser in the Illinois General Assembly before moving on to serve as revenue director and budget director for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. In 1995, he became the first CEO of Chicago Public Schools and he has 18 years of experience leading large city school districts in Philadelphia, New Orleans and Bridgeport, Conn.

Most recently, Paul served as a project director for the U.S. Department of Justice, revamping educational and occupational training for over 100 federal prisons.

Paul was the Democratic Party of Illinois’ nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2014. He also ran for governor of Illinois in 2002, mayor of the city of Chicago in 2019 and he received 47.8% of the vote in the runoff for Chicago mayor in 2023.

Among his accolades include being named “One of America’s Best Leaders” by U.S. News & World Report and Harvard University’s Center for Public Leadership in 2006.

Paul grew up in Chicago and still calls the city home. He is a 13-year veteran of the Illinois National Guard.