Mayor Johnson Names 10 Appointees to New Chicago School Board

The partially elected, partially appointed 21-member board will begin its term in January, marking a significant shift in governance for Chicago Public Schools.

• Mayor Brandon Johnson announced 10 of his 11 appointees for Chicago's new hybrid school board, which includes elected and mayoral-appointed members.
• Sean Harden, a former CPS official and community consultant, was named board president and will represent the city at large.
• The appointees include former candidates who lost in the November elections, current board members, and community organizers, many aligned with the mayor and the Chicago Teachers Union.
• The new board structure gives Johnson significant influence, with 15 of the 21 members ideologically aligned with his policy priorities, including funding neighborhood schools and avoiding closures.
• The board members, set to begin their two-year term on January 15, 2025, must complete state-mandated training before taking office.

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