Introduction to the CEO Search Process
Community members can play a role in picking the next Chicago Public Schools CEO/Superintendent as the district expects to interview finalists next month. The school district is asking CPS students, parents and others to apply to be part of a community interview panel that will meet with finalists and provide feedback to the school board.
Background of the Search
CPS hired the executive search firm Alma Advisory Group to recruit candidates last spring after the controversial exit of former CEO Pedro Martinez, who was fired without cause following disagreements with Mayor Brandon Johnson and his allies. The new leader will have to grapple with the district’s shaky finances and threats from the federal government over the district’s diversity programs, among other issues.
Community Involvement in the Search Process
A community interview panel is unusual in this type of search but district officials have said they are committed to hearing from residents, though applicants were given just over a week to express their interest in the panel. Over the summer, some said they wanted the district to hire a leader with ties to Chicago who understands the district’s most pressing issues. CPS employees, students, parents and alumni, as well as Chicago residents and representatives of community organizations, are eligible to join the panel.
Selection Process for the Panel
CPS will hold a lottery to choose up to 15 panel members, who will get training before interviewing the finalists in mid-November, CPS said. Panelists will submit a survey with their impressions of the candidates to the board. Applicants can nominate themselves or others for consideration online. The deadline to apply is noon on Tuesday. Selected panelists will be notified next week.
Expectations from the Panel
Debby Pope, an appointed school board member from District 2 on the North Side, said hundreds of people have already applied for the panel. Pope said she hopes the group can zero in on key attributes for the district’s next leader, including skills the board may have overlooked. “We hope that they will be able to help us see the candidate in a different way, perhaps, than some of us do,” Pope said.
Qualifications for the CEO Position
The board is looking for someone with public education experience, political know-how, a community-centered leadership style, experience working with labor unions, and a track record of addressing inequities, among other qualities, according to the job listing. The board wants to conclude the search process by December, Pope said. She wouldn’t say how many candidates are being considered. The board is holding another round of interviews in the next two weeks that will be important in selecting the finalists.
Confidentiality of the Search Process
The board won’t release the names of individual candidates before it narrows down its list of finalists. “Many of them are in positions where they would not want to reveal to their current jobs that they are interested,” Pope said. The board is requiring the next head of CPS to hold an Illinois teachers license and a superintendent certificate, saying that the person at the helm must have a background in education to prioritize students.
History of the CEO Position
CPS has been led by a CEO since 1995, when the district became the first in the country to be overseen by a chief executive.
Conclusion
The search for the next CEO of Chicago Public Schools is a critical process that will shape the future of the district. By involving the community in the search process, the district is taking a step towards ensuring that the next leader is someone who understands the needs and concerns of the community. The community interview panel will play a crucial role in providing feedback to the board, and their input will be invaluable in selecting the next CEO.
FAQs
Q: Who is eligible to join the community interview panel?
A: CPS employees, students, parents and alumni, as well as Chicago residents and representatives of community organizations, are eligible to join the panel.
Q: How will the panel members be selected?
A: CPS will hold a lottery to choose up to 15 panel members.
Q: What is the deadline to apply for the panel?
A: The deadline to apply is noon on Tuesday.
Q: When will the search process be concluded?
A: The board wants to conclude the search process by December.
Q: What are the qualifications for the CEO position?
A: The board is looking for someone with public education experience, political know-how, a community-centered leadership style, experience working with labor unions, and a track record of addressing inequities, among other qualities.
