For the first time, Chicago voters will see all 21 school board seats on the ballot in November. Formerly composed of seven mayoral appointees, the board is transitioning over two years, currently divided between 10 elected and 11 appointed members.
Jessica Biggs
Jessica Biggs, a member of the Chicago Public Schools board, represents areas of downtown and the South Side. She declared her candidacy for president. A director of the Southwest Organizing Project and a former Chicago Public Schools principal, she aims to stabilize the district financially and foster collaboration within the new board. Biggs stresses the need to refocus on teaching, learning, and school improvement, moving past political disagreements.
Jennifer Custer
Jennifer Custer, representing parts of the Northwest Side, was elected with Chicago Teachers Union support in 2024. Despite this, Custer often votes against the union. As she runs for president, she reflects on improving past processes to ensure the board’s future success.
Hilario Domínguez
Hilario Domínguez, political director of the Chicago Teachers Union, entered the race as another strong candidate. Formerly a special education teacher, he joins a competitive field to lead the nation’s fourth-largest school district. Domínguez aims to protect the school budget from cuts and seek additional state funding.
Victor Henderson
Trial attorney Victor Henderson seeks the unpaid role of school board president. Having served on the board of Urban Prep Academies, he witnessed the potential impact of education on young, Black students. He advocates reducing political involvement in the school system, focusing more on student learning.
Sendhil Revuluri
Sendhil Revuluri, a former vice president of the Chicago Board of Education, announced his candidacy to return as president. A past teacher and CPS parent, he aims to unite the board around a shared goal of maximizing student learning. Revuluri highlights the broad consensus on improving students’ educational opportunities across Chicago.