School Board Elections

Chicago’s first ever school board election is happening on Election Day, November 5th!

Chicago’s new elected school board, set to replace the previously appointed board, will give city residents direct input on education policy for the first time. Starting this year, members of the board will be chosen by voters, with elections held in two phases until the board is fully elected by 2026. This year voters will elect 10 members from each of the subdistricts, the Mayor will appoint 10 additional members and the school board president, establishing a school board of 21 members . This shift aims to increase community involvement and accountability in managing Chicago Public Schools, a major change from the mayor-appointed system that has been in place for decades.

Responsibilities

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has a budget of over $9 billion to support over 325,000 students in over 600 schools. The Board Members have a big responsibility in leading the organization. Their main tasks include:

• Hiring and evaluating the CEO
• Setting the district’s goals and priorities
• Approving district policies
• Making purchasing decisions and contracts
• Approving the budget and capital improvement plan
• Setting the school year calendar

Index

• About this Guide
• Voting 101
• 2024 Presidential Election
• Statewide Referendums
• House & Senate Elections
• State’s Attorney Elections
• School Board Elections
• Courts Elections
• Chicago is a Palestinian City

Sometimes you gotta pop out & vote!

Voter information lookup

View your voter information, sample ballot, AND locate your precinct polling place for Election Day.

Chicago board of elections contact information

69 West Washington Street
Suites 600/800
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 269-7900

Election day is Tuesday, November 5th!

Why should you care?

CPS has continuously faced historical challenges when meeting the overall needs of students and families, especially those of underprivileged backgrounds. Additionally, the social and economic livelihoods of underprivileged Black and Brown students within CPS constantly face systemic discrimination. The newly elected school board members will be pivotal in representing, governing, and making decisions that support the livelihoods of students and their families.

1st District

Portage Park, O’Hare, Dunning, Jefferson Park, Norwood Park and Edison Park (43 schools)

Jennifer Custer: a CPS parent and former teacher, union leader, and school administrator in the Chicago suburbs

Michelle N. Pierre: a CPS parent and Local School Council member, executive director at New Leaders, a training program for school leaders, former charter school leader, and former district administrator in Cleveland.

2nd District:

Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Peterson Park, Budlong Woods and Andersonville, along with the Far North Side communities of Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge (37 schools)

Ebony L. DeBerry: Director of educational initiatives at ONE Northside, former CPS teacher, parent, and Local School Council member

Kate Doyle: a former special education teacher, co-founder and CEO of youth career development nonprofit KindWork, and Vice President of the Greater Rockwell Organization

Margaret “Maggie” Cullerton Hooper: a CPS parent, Local School Council member, and senior consultant for the Alliance for Black Equality PAC

Bruce Leon: Founder of human resources firm and 50th Ward Democratic committeeperson, and a board member of Arie Crown Hebrew Day School

3rd District:

Avondale, Logan Square, Belmont Gardens, Belmont Cragin, Hanson Park and Hermosa on the Northwest Side, along with Humboldt Park on the West Side (55 schools)

Jason C. Dónes: chief of people operations at non-profit Beyond 100K, former teacher and leader at Teach for America.

Carlos A. Rivas Jr.: a spokesperson for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and former alumni counselor at UIC College Prep, a Noble charter school

4th District:

Lincoln Park, Lake View, North Center and most of Uptown (33 schools)

Kimberly Brown: a marketing professional, adjunct professor, and CPS parent

Andrew A. Davis: a nonprofit leader, CPS parent, and former LSC member

Thomas Day: a CPS parent, co-founder of Illinois Veterans for Change

Carmen Gioiosa: a CPS parent, Local School Council member, adjunct professor, former CPS administrator, and former CPS teacher

Ellen Rosenfeld: a family and community engagement manager at Chicago Public Schools, a CPS parent, and former CPS teacher

Karen Zaccor: a teacher at Uplift High School and former LSC member

5th District:

West Town, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, Lawndale and Austin (100 schools)

Aaron “Jitu” Brown, a community organizer with Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, director of the Journey for Justice Alliance, and a Dyett hunger striker

6th District:

the Loop, Streeterville, the Near North Side and parts of West Town; and the Near South Side, Englewood, Grand Boulevard, Washington Park and some of Woodlawn (51 schools)

Jessica Biggs: a CPS parent and former teacher and school principal

Andre Smith: an entrepreneur and recent candidate for Illinois House 5th District

Anusha Thotakura: a deputy director at Citizen Action/Illinois and former teacher

7th District:

Pilsen, Little Village, Brighton Park, Archer Heights and parts of Bridgeport, Armour Square, McKinley Park and Gage Park (79 schools)

Raquel Don: a CPS parent and Local School Council member

Yesenia López: a Latino outreach director with Gov J.B. Pritzker’s campaign

Eva A. Villalobos: an accountant and private school parent

8th District:

West Lawn and Clearing, parts of McKinley Park, Bridgeport and Gage Park, plus most of Back of the Yards, Chicago Lawn, Ashburn and Garfield Ridge and half of the South Loop 65 schools)

Angel Gutierrez: chief advancement officer at Chicago Hope Academy, a private high school, and a former leader at Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Chicago

Felix Ponce: a CPS music teacher and professional trombonist

9th District:

Chicago Lawn, New City, West Englewood, Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing, Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Beverly, Mount Greenwood, Washington Heights, Roseland and West Pullman (93 schools)

Therese Boyle: a school psychologist and former candidate for CTU president

Miquel Lewis: Acting director of Cook County Juvenile Probation & Court Services and former appointed member of Chicago Board of Education, current member of Special Education Advisory Committee

La’Mont Raymond Williams: Chief of staff and general counsel to Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry

Lanetta M. Thomas: A community activist

10th District:

Oakland, Kenwood, Douglas, Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore, Burnside, South Chicago, Riverdale, Calumet Heights, the East Side, Pullman, Hegewisch and South Deering (89 schools)

Robert Jones: a pastor at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and a Dyett hunger striker

Karin Norington-Reaves: a CPS parent and consultant, former candidate in Illinois’s 1st congressional district

Adam Parrott-Sheffer: a CPS parent, adjunct lecturer at Harvard, author, former principal in CPS and the Chicago suburbs, former district administrator in New York City

Che “Rhymefest” Smith: a Grammy-award winning songwriter, rapper and community activist.