Introduction to Carolina Carchi’s Journey
When Carolina Carchi became the Chicago Board of Education’s honorary student board member last year, representing the more than 300,000 students in the district, the role didn’t intimidate her. It brought her joy.
“I realized that it wasn’t just a title,” Carchi said. “It was a commitment to listen, to advocate and to bring student voices directly into the decision making spaces.”
Now, the Clemente Community Academy senior is preparing to graduate next month and step into another role: first-generation college student. As she closes the books on her time as honorary board member, she has some advice for the student who fills her seat next year.
Representing the Student Body
“Understand that you’re not just representing yourself — you’re carrying the multiple stories and experiences of students who may never get the chance to speak in a room full of adults with such influence, or in any setting that holds that power to shape the futures of the upcoming generations,” Carchi said.
Carchi’s time on the board wasn’t without moments of uncertainty. The last year has been tumultuous, with the entire board resigning in October, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez getting fired and the transition to a partially elected board.
Though as a student representative, Carchi didn’t get an official vote, she found ways to insert her voice.
Debby Pope, a board member who represents a North Side district, said voting is only the culmination of a lengthy process that requires debate. Student representatives can influence policies that affect schools or provide insight on the annual budget.
Tyler Pasciak Lariviere / Sun-Times
Making a Difference
CPS Board Member Debby Pope and retired CPS teacher said Carolina Carchi, who is graduating from a neighborhood high school, was able to share insight on the needs of students from a variety of backgrounds.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Carchi, 18, played an active role in that process by “talking to people, asking questions, having lunch with people and discussing things informally, having one-on-one conversations,” Pope said.
Pope, a retired CPS bilingual high school teacher, said that as a student enrolled at a neighborhood school, Carchi was also able to provide insight into the needs of typical students.
“She’s not just reflecting the sentiment of kids at selective enrollment schools or magnet schools. She’s really there at a regular school and talking to all varieties of different students around the city and bringing those concerns and issues to us,” Pope said.
Even before becoming a board member, Carchi brought attention to ongoing struggles with staffing that neighborhood schools grapple with in particular. A Block Club Chicago article covered Carchi stepping in and teaching chemistry after the permanent teacher left. She also taught algebra her freshman year following a similar situation.
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