Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I’m running because I know the important role our schools play in a student’s journey, especially for families in 7A. My parents immigrated from Mexico in search of a better life, and they sacrificed a great deal to give their children opportunity. What they could not provide, CPS did.
I’ve spent my career working with students and families across Chicago. I’ve seen what’s possible when adults are aligned and working hard on behalf of students. I’ve also seen a disconnect between what the current Board is focused on and what our communities need.
I want to bring that experience to the Board and keep the focus where it belongs: on the student experience, student growth, and student outcomes. That means addressing inequities across our schools while making the Board more transparent, accountable, and responsive to the communities it serves.
Are you in support of the most recent CPS budget that relies on uncommitted state funding?
No. I believe the state needs to do more to fund Chicago Public Schools, but I don’t believe we should balance our budget on money that has not been committed.
The additional $150 million has not been appropriated by the state, and there is no legal mandate for it to materialize. The Board needs to understand the promises it is making to our families and work tirelessly to ensure the district can make good on those promises. A budget with this level of uncertainty is irresponsible and a disservice to our workers and families.
If that funding doesn’t materialize, we risk disruptive cuts in the middle of the school year. We should continue fighting for greater state funding, but we also have a responsibility to budget responsibly with the resources we can reasonably count on to serve our students.
How will you work with CPS officials and staff to balance the district’s budget?
I want to work closely with CPS leadership and staff to understand the district’s true financial picture and begin planning beyond the next year. The board needs to understand what revenue is structural, one-time, guaranteed, and assumed. The board also needs to understand expenses and which ones impact students the most.
My priority would be to keep investment as close to students as possible. This means we understand where the dollars are going and what impact they are having. I aim to keep cuts as far away from students and classrooms as possible. That means first looking for efficiencies, revisiting contracts, tightening procurement, and asking more of everyone to ensure we are maximizing student impact.
But the Board also has to be realistic. We cannot solve a long-term structural deficit through one-time fixes or revenue that may not materialize. I would push for a multi-year financial plan, greater transparency around our assumptions, and continued advocacy for sustainable revenue from the city and state.
Other than the budget, what is the single biggest issue facing Chicago Public Schools?
Other than the budget, I think the biggest issue is ensuring that every student has a high-quality experience that leads to real growth and strong outcomes regardless of what school they attend.
CPS has made great progress. But a student’s experience can still look very different depending on the school they attend, and not every student is receiving what they need, or are legally entitled to, to be successful. Every student should have access to strong academic programming, special education services, enrichment opportunities, and the staff and supports they need every day.
For me, the question is: are we delivering for students consistently? The Board needs to stay focused on student growth and outcomes, understand where inequities exist, acknowledge the gaps, and make sure resources and accountability are aligned to address them.
What is a top issue for students, schools and families in your specific school board voting district?
My district is pretty diverse, so it varies a bit depending on whether you’re in the West Loop, Pilsen, Little Village, or LeClaire Courts. But one of the more common things I hear is whether families can count on their neighborhood school having the staff, programs, and supports their children need.
We serve a large number of multilingual learners, mixed-status families, students with disabilities, and working families. Those students should not have to leave their communities to find a strong academic program or receive the services they are entitled to.
For me, it comes down to making sure we have a shared understanding of what we want, a clear assessment of how we’re doing regarding our goals, and investing in resources that address student need so that every school in 7A can provide a strong, consistent student experience.
If you accept campaign contributions from special interest groups, how will you maintain independence from those donors?
I’ve dedicated my career to working with students. This is my work, and that doesn’t change based on the support I am receiving. I am proud to have earned the support of diverse groups including the SEIU Illinois State Council and the Chicago Federation of Labor.
Campaign contributions do not buy access or influence. I will evaluate every decision based on what best serves students and families, disclose contributions transparently, and recuse myself from any matter where a genuine conflict of interest exists.
How can current board policies and procedures be improved?
Board policies should prioritize transparency, meaningful public input, and accountability. I would support earlier community engagement before major decisions, clearer public reporting on Board actions and district performance, stronger conflict-of-interest safeguards, and procedures that give families and Local School Councils a meaningful voice before, not after, decisions are made.
There is no reason a board member isn’t communicating at least once a month about matters being discussed at the board, explaining the importance of that work and the impact it has on students, and engaging their community to gain feedback and insights that will help them better shape district policies.
How should CPS and the board work to address declining enrollment?
CPS should address declining enrollment through long-term, community-driven planning. We need to understand why families are leaving, strengthen neighborhood schools, and explore creative uses of underutilized space. We should work with our partners to strengthen programs and make CPS a trusted option for our families. Our solutions need to be transparent and developed with affected families and communities.
Do you foresee a need to close some district schools?
I do not believe school closures are the answer. I’m skeptical of any assumed benefits of school closures but familiar with the harms they cause.
CPS should pursue long-term, community-driven strategies such as strengthening programming, sharing or repurposing underutilized space, and expanding community partnerships.
Should CPS implement AI in its classrooms? What, if any, guardrails should be put in place?
AI is already part of the world our students are entering, and the students I’ve worked with are already using AI. CPS should teach students how to use it responsibly rather than ignore it.
Regulation and guardrails should include strong student-data privacy protections, age-appropriate and district-approved tools, clear academic-integrity standards, educator training, family engagement, and meaningful human oversight.
There are schools in my district with goals and missions to properly prepare our students for our future. I don’t see how that’s possible by banning technology that is already disrupting the world we live in.
The board currently includes one Honorary Student Member. As the board has recently tripled in size, should that number be expanded?
I would support exploring an expansion of student representation. Our district is large and diverse, and student voice is essential to the Board’s success. We should explore ways to bring more student perspectives directly into Board discussions.
I would also like to explore whether the Student Member could eventually have voting authority, as well as other ways to elevate student voice throughout Board decision-making.
How will you be responsive to student-led issues?
As someone who has dedicated their career to serving students, I know it’s important to build trust and work consistently to reach students. I will make student engagement a regular part of how I govern, not something that happens only before elections. That means meeting directly with students, creating clear ways for student-led concerns to reach the Board, and ensuring students have meaningful opportunities to shape decisions that affect their schools and daily experiences.
Did you attend Chicago Public Schools? When/Where?
Yes, I attended Pulaski Fine Arts Academy and Noble Street College Prep.
Have you sent your children to Chicago Public Schools?
I don’t have children yet, but I would expect to send them to Chicago Public Schools. I’m a CPS graduate myself, and I’ve spent my career working with CPS students and families.
Have you ever served on a Local School Council? When/Where?
I’ve served on the Jones College Prep Local School Council from approximately 2016 - 2020.
Have you ever worked for Chicago Public Schools?
I have not been employed by CPS, but I have worked in schools and around schools through City Year Chicago, One Million Degrees, and MetroSquash.
What neighborhood do you live in?
Pilsen