When Chicago’s entire Board of Education resigned in October, Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed replacements, hoping they could join the new 21-member board taking office in January. While it wasn’t initially certain due to legal requirements, all six appointees are eligible to stay. The mayor’s office expressed hope that most would agree to continue.
The law mandates that the 10 mayoral appointees must reside on the opposite side of their districts from the 10 elected members. Current board vice president Mary Gardner is the only appointee who doesn’t meet this requirement, as she resides on the same side of District 5 as Aaron “Jitu” Brown, the newly elected representative. However, the mayor could appoint Gardner as president, a role with no residential restrictions within the city.
The remaining appointees — Michilla Blaise, Debby Pope, Rafael Yáñez, Frank Niles Thomas, and Olga Bautista — meet the residential criteria and may stay if they accept.
This restructuring marks a new chapter for Chicago’s first elected school board, following years of advocacy and planning. The recent school board elections ended with a split between union-endorsed candidates and pro-charter representatives, with independents also winning seats. Ultimately, 15 of the 21 board members will likely align ideologically with the mayor and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).
Most elected board members are CPS parents, though a few do not have children. Some board members, such as Carlos Rivas and Yesenia Lopez, are CPS alumni, while others, like Therese Boyle and Angel Gutierrez, send their children to Catholic schools. Other members, including Jennifer Custer, Jessica Biggs, and Aaron Brown, send their children to CPS neighborhood or magnet schools.
Interestingly, some candidates who lost the election could still join the board if appointed by the mayor. Three defeated CTU-endorsed candidates — Karen Zaccor, Anusha Thotakura, and Felix Ponce — live on the opposite side of their districts from the winners, making them eligible for appointment. Both Zaccor and Thotakura expressed willingness to serve if appointed, with Zaccor emphasizing her commitment to independence.
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