Chicago City Wire

Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced new candidates for the Chicago Board of Education. The candidates are Olga Bautista, Michilla Blaise, Mary Gardner, Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson, Deborah Pope, and Frank Niles Thomas.

This announcement is part of a transition plan where current board members will step down later this month. The move comes ahead of a shift to a hybrid elected and appointed board starting in 2025. Mayor Johnson emphasized the importance of establishing a strong foundation for this transition to serve the best interests of students and families in Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

The names released today represent some of the final mayoral appointments before the transition to an elected representative school board begins next year. Additional candidates will be submitted based on the results of the November 5, 2024 election.

"I am confident that these individuals and their experience in education, community, faith, business and elsewhere will continue our work to transform Chicago Public Schools into a world-class school district for students and families," said Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Deputy Mayor for Education Jen Johnson stated: "The candidates for appointment that we are introducing today are deeply rooted in their communities, have experiences that will serve our students, and are highly motivated to invest in our schools."

28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin expressed support for Mayor Johnson's decision-making regarding these appointments: "I have supported the right of every Chicago mayor to make his or her decision on how to best address those challenges."

Under today's appointees, there is an emphasis on improving special education services and increasing charter school accountability during renewals. A new five-year strategic plan aims at investing in neighborhood schools while expanding the Sustainable Community Schools model.

Olga Bautista is co-executive director of the Southeast Environmental Task Force with extensive experience as a community organizer. Michilla Blaise has worked extensively in public service since 2007 and currently serves as chief of staff for Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar.

Mary Gardner is recognized as one of West Side's prominent community organizers with involvement in various civic initiatives over decades. Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson brings expertise from economic development projects across Chicagoland communities through roles like executive director at Developing Communities Project (DCP).

Deborah Pope began her career within CPS before transitioning into roles such as advising state agencies under USDA Food & Nutrition Service policies/regulations guidance; she returned later teaching history/ESL courses until retirement from CPS altogether back again eventually earning advanced degrees along way too much accomplished indeed!

Frank Niles Thomas holds considerable experience navigating both business/government sectors having served multiple positions throughout city government/labor organizations alike—all while founding mentoring programs benefiting African-American youth leadership skill-building efforts among other achievements over past four decades plus time spent serving chairperson capacity local school councils etcetera...