Politics
Chicago Public Schools Inspector General Will Fletcher Resigns
(WTTW News)
Chicago Public Schools Inspector General Will Fletcher resigned Aug. 23, officials confirmed to WTTW News.
Fletcher, who took over as the school district’s watchdog in February 2020, left CPS with nearly two years remaining in his term.
Fletcher, who is the president of the Association of Inspectors General, told WTTW News he resigned to join the Gateway Development Commission, which is designed to improve rail travel between Newark, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Station in New York City.
Fletcher said he was not pushed out of CPS, but left voluntarily.
“I don’t know what my legacy will be but I’m most proud of the work we did in investigating fraud, waste and abuse in the district, notably including pandemic relief fraud,” Fletcher said, adding that he leaves the CPS inspector general’s office after setting up the only independent agency that investigates allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment by adults against students.
A spokesperson for CPS would only confirm his last day was Friday, Aug. 23, the last weekday before the start of the academic year and one day after the end of the Democratic National Convention.
Mayor Brandon Johnson named Amber Nesbitt to serve as acting inspector general. Nesbitt, a CPS alumna, had been the head of the office’s sexual allegations unit, which was created in 2018 after widespread allegations that teachers and staff members had sexually abused students.
Nesbitt could not be reached for comment.
A spokesperson for Johnson declined to comment about personnel matters, but a source familiar with the issue confirmed Fletcher left on good terms with the mayor and school board.
CPS Board President Jianan Shi said the Chicago Board of Education wished Fletcher "all the best on his new role."
Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed Fletcher to replace his former boss, CPS Inspector General Nicholas Schuler after Schuler was accused of creating a hostile work environment.
The CPS inspector general is due to release its quarterly report by the end of the week. The last report issued by Fletcher prompted 14 CPS employees to leave their jobs after he documented they improperly received of federal Paycheck Protection Program loans.
Fletcher left office before announcing any findings in the probe he launched of Lightfoot during the 2023 mayoral campaign.
Lightfoot’s campaign sent hundreds of emails to teachers asking them to encourage their students to volunteer to help Lightfoot win a second term as mayor – and earn class credit, in violation of the city’s Government Ethics Ordinance and CPS policy.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
