Chicago City Wire

Danielle Carter-Walters, spokesperson for Chicago Flips Red, has criticized Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) for prioritizing politics over education. She claims this approach has worsened the situation in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), reducing students to mere statistics.

"This is what happens when someone is installed by political machines instead of being elected by the people — despite what he says," said Carter-Walters. "Seeing what CVS and so many of our schools have become today is disheartening. Fast forward to the Brandon Johnson–CTU machine, and our kids are no longer students — they're statistics. Teachers who once poured into our children are now caught in a system more focused on politics than progress."

Governance issues within CPS have intensified since 2023 as the district transitions to a hybrid elected-appointed board. This change comes amid increasing scrutiny over the CTU's influence under Mayor Johnson. According to Chalkbeat Chicago, the newly seated board in 2025 inherited a $734 million budget deficit and promptly approved a new CTU contract, which has fueled public debate over union dominance in education policy and fiscal management.

Student outcomes in CPS have shown modest improvement despite setbacks caused by the pandemic. A CPS press release from October 2024 reported that the Class of 2024 achieved an 84.1% four-year graduation rate and a 4.9% dropout rate, with reading and math performance gradually returning to pre-COVID levels. District leaders attribute this progress to targeted academic recovery programs.

CPS funding and staffing have expanded since Mayor Johnson's election. The Civic Federation’s 2024 budget analysis indicates that the district’s FY 2025 budget increased to $9.9 billion from $9.4 billion in FY 2024, with rises in salaries, benefits, and instructional staff to meet contractual obligations and enrollment needs. However, operational costs remain a significant fiscal challenge.

Carter-Walters is known as a conservative activist in Chicago and serves as a spokesperson for Chicago Flips Red. In her April 2025 testimony before the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee, she advocated for stricter public safety and education policies while engaging in local outreach efforts promoting conservative community engagement.

Chicago Flips Red is a grassroots political organization aimed at empowering communities through conservative activism in a city traditionally dominated by Democratic politics. According to its official website, it focuses on voter outreach, candidate support, and civic education under the leadership of local activists including founder Zoe Leigh.