Chicago Board of Education
Chicago Board of Education members approve the district’s multibillion-dollar annual operating budget, set the academic calendar and they control major policy decisions like the removal of police officers from school buildings.
WTTW News partnered with 17 other local newsrooms through Press Forward to cover the Chicago Board of Education election. Explore more coverage of the historic race.
Candidates
1A, 2-Year Term
Ed Bannon
Incumbent"I’m running for reelection to the CPS Board in District 1A because I’ve spent my life showing up for this community—as a parent, organizer, and public servant."
Margie B. Luczak
"I spent 27 years as a Chicago Police Officer helping and serving people with different backgrounds, races, religions and neighborhoods. That taught me the importance of de-escalation, listening accountability, transparency and treating people fairly."
1B, 4-Year Term
Claudia Peralta
"I’m running for the Chicago Board of Education because I believe every child, in every neighborhood, deserves access to a high-quality public education."
Michelle N. Pierre
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
2A, 4-Year Term
Ebony DeBerry
Incumbent“I’m running for true equality amongst our schools, and to bring teacher and parent voice to decision-making tables. I’m running to expand our sustainable community school model across the city so all of our communities can have equitable access to resources.”
Hector Morales
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
2B, 2-Year Term
Deborah “Debby” Pope
Incumbent“I have spent decades both as an educator and as a parent (now a grandparent) of CPS students. My career was in three under-resourced neighborhood high schools. I saw the contrast in what was available for my daughters at Whitney Young and my students at Gage Park H.S.”
Kyna Lenhof
“I am running because I believe we need an independent board that is focused on putting students' needs first.”
Daniel Basco
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
3A, 2-Year Term
Norma Rios-Sierra
Incumbent“I am running for the school board so that every student across our district can go to a fully resourced school where they feel welcome and safe. I’m running to be a voice for working and immigrant families to ensure opportunity and access for all our students, no matter where they live or where they come from.”
Peter Gonzales
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
3B, 4-Year Term
Carlos A. Rivas Jr.
IncumbentDid not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
Jason Dónes
“As a Humboldt Park native, CPS graduate, current CPS parent, and community organizer, I am deeply invested in our district’s success and the future of our schools and city.”
4A, 2-Year Term
Karen Zaccor
Incumbent“I am running to be part of a team that pushes for the full state funding that is owed rather than austerity practices that harm low-income and Black and brown communities, that advocates for robust and authentic parent and student voice in all aspects of school life, and that seeks to enact a transformative vision of a system that is equitable not just in words but in reality, built on the model of Sustainable Community Schools as we dreamed it.”
Ellen Sherratt
"Chicago’s first fully elected school board needs members who answer to families rather than to City Hall or any single interest group, and too few do. A majority of this board has shown little independence from the mayor, and special interests have set too much of its agenda. I’m running to be an independent voice for District 4A."
Angel Alvarez
“I’m running a grassroots, volunteer-driven campaign as a political outsider, so that CPS decisions are based on evidence and what helps students, not on who has the most leverage.”
4B, 4-Year Term
Ellen Rosenfeld
IncumbentDid not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
5A, 4-Year Term
Aaron “Jitu” Brown
IncumbentDid not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
LaPamela Williams
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
Kernetha Jones (Write-In Candidate)
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
5B, 2-Year Term
Michilla “Kyla” Blaise
IncumbentDid not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
Anthony Hargrove
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
6A, 2-Year Term
Anusha Thotakura
Incumbent“I bring the perspective of a former bilingual middle-school math teacher, a public-policy professional, and a current Board member who has had to make difficult decisions about academics, facilities and CPS finances.”
Isaiah White
“I’m running because I want to make CPS as strong as it possibly can be, for this generation of students and the next. Chicago’s kids deserve the best public schools in the world; they deserve a district that delivers an excellent education in every school. I’ll work tirelessly to make that a reality.”
Brenda Lee Anderson
“I am running to make public education as public as possible. On the board, I will work to reimagine the CPS budget, center teaching and learning, champion holistic student success, and foster meaningful community partnerships throughout Chicago.”
6B, 4-Year Term
Michael L. Neal
“I am running for a seat to serve! I have served consistently for years connecting with school leaders and teachers to bring resources, inspiration and hope to our local schools. I would love to use my experience and voice to continue and broaden this work.”
Brittany B. Kimble
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
7A, 2-Year Term
Emma Lozano
Incumbent“I helped establish bilingual education and led the fight that won undocumented parents the right to vote and serve on Local School Councils. I’m running to bring that experience to District 7A and to fight for fully funded neighborhood schools, protection for immigrant families, and racial equity for Black and Latino students.”
Jesus Ayala Jr.
“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.”
7B, 4-Year Term
Yesenia Lopez
IncumbentDid not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
Erika Diaz-Chavez
“I’m running because I love Chicago and care deeply about its future. I believe strong public schools are the foundation of a strong city — helping children succeed, supporting families, strengthening our workforce, and keeping Chicago a place where people want to live and build their future.”
8A, 4-Year Term
Angel Gutierrez
Incumbent“I am running because CPS needs strong, independent leadership focused on its long-term future. My first priority is bringing financial stability to the district through responsible budgeting, right-sizing, prudent fiscal decisions, and advocating for more equitable funding.”
8B, 2-Year Term
Juan Ignacio Gonzalez
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
Alexander Angeles (Write-In Candidate)
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
9A, 2-Year Term
Brittany R. Bailey Preston
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
9B, 4-Year Term
Therese Boyle
IncumbentDid not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
Katherine S. Dunneback
“I am running to protect our public schools from those looking to privatize and profit from them and to keep them open and serving the communities in which they are located.”
10A, 4-Year Term
Che “Rhymefest” Smith
IncumbentDid not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
Tameka Walton (Write-In Candidate)
“I am running because I am a parent first, a CPS graduate, and someone who has worked inside our schools and alongside families for years. I understand both the promise of public education and the inequities that prevent too many students from receiving the opportunities they deserve.”
10B, 2-Year Term
Connie Anderson
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
Patrick C. Watson
“(I am running) to be a positive influence on educational polices, advocate for the needs of the students and contribute to the development of the community.”
Rosita Chatonda (Write-In Candidate)
Did not participate in the 2026 voter guide.
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