Former NYC Schools Chief A Finalist For Chicago Schools CEO

Introduction to the Selection Process

CHICAGO — A former New York City schools chief is one of the two finalists for the job of Chicago Public Schools’ next CEO, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the situation. Meisha Ross Porter, who led New York City Public Schools in 2021, will interview with Chicago Board of Education members, a community panel, and the mayor next week.

Background on Meisha Ross Porter

Porter spent more than two decades working in New York City’s public schools, rising up the ranks as a teacher, principal, and high-level administrator. She ultimately became the first Black woman to lead the nation’s largest school system in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic after her predecessor abruptly stepped down. She only spent 10 months at the helm of New York City’s public schools, appointed in March 2021 and replaced when Mayor Bill de Blasio left office at the end of the year.

Policy Initiatives and Controversies

In her short tenure, Porter oversaw two sweeping but late-breaking policy pushes under de Blasio that were subsequently scrapped by Mayor Eric Adams: a plan to eliminate separate gifted and talented classes and a $200 million proposed universal curriculum. Porter is widely respected by many education leaders in New York and has also been floated as a possible schools chief for incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani has said he is also considering current Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos for the role.

Post-NYC Career and Controversy

After leaving her post as New York City’s schools chief, Porter became the president and CEO of the Bronx Community Foundation. The foundation was set up to help finance other local nonprofits, but was in turmoil during her time there. It failed to distribute most of the money it raised from 2019 to 2023 and spent more on consultants and overhead than charitable giving, according to an investigation by the news organization New York Focus. In 2024, the organization’s board of directors fired Porter. More recently, Porter has served as a visiting senior fellow at the Center for Educational Innovation, an organization that works with school leaders and families, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Chicago’s Selection Process

The Chicago Board of Education is scheduled to meet Monday for a special meeting during which they plan to interview the two finalists in person, WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times reported this week. The board plans to reconvene later in the week to make a final pick and the full 21-member board could then vote on a final contract with the new leader at a meeting scheduled for Dec. 3. Chicago began its process to find a new leader in March, hiring the search firm Alma Advisory Group, an executive search firm known for its work helping school boards hire superintendents.

Previous Leadership and Controversies

The previous CPS CEO Pedro Martinez was fired without cause in late December 2024, but remained at the helm of the district until late June. Martinez, who made about $360,000 annually as head of CPS, clashed with Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former teachers union organizer, over how to handle the district’s finances. The tensions at one point led to Johnson’s entire seven-member appointed board resigning en masse.

Mayoral Influence and Elected School Board

For the past 30 years under mayoral control, CPS’s leader has been chosen by the city’s mayor. Earlier this year, a key lawmaker who helped pave the way for an elected school board raised the possibility that the mayor should still get the final say on who runs CPS. Legal experts and local officials disagree on whether that is still the case and the language in state law is murky. Nevertheless, Johnson is expected to interview both finalists next week, according to a source close to the search process. He also maintains significant influence over the school board given that 11 of 21 members are his appointees.

Community and Union Reactions

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates criticized the secrecy surrounding the finalists and the “hand-picked panel” of community members being asked for input, calling it “a fundamental failure of the democratic values this new process was meant to uphold.” “Black and Brown students and their families will bear the brunt of this decision,” Davis Gates said. “Their voices must be at the center of this process, not excluded from it.” But in a letter sent to the school board president late Friday night, Davis Gates said “the authority to appoint the CPS CEO resides with the Mayor of the City of Chicago” and argued that the board’s “apparent belief that it is empowered” to pick the district’s next leader is against state law.

Conclusion

The selection of the next CEO for Chicago Public Schools is a critical decision that will impact the education of thousands of students. With Meisha Ross Porter as one of the finalists, her experience and background will be under scrutiny. The process, however, has been criticized for its secrecy and the influence of the mayor, raising questions about the democratic values of the new elected school board. As the decision approaches, the community, teachers, and students await the outcome, hoping for a leader who will prioritize their needs and improve the quality of education in Chicago.

FAQs

• Q: Who are the finalists for the Chicago Public Schools CEO position?
  A: Meisha Ross Porter, former New York City schools chief, is one of the two finalists. The identity of the other finalist was initially unclear but later reported to be Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero, though he stated his dedication remains with Denver Public Schools.
• Q: What is the background of Meisha Ross Porter?
  A: Porter spent over two decades in New York City’s public schools, rising from a teacher to the first Black woman to lead the nation’s largest school system.
• Q: How does the selection process work?
  A: The Chicago Board of Education, along with a community panel and the mayor, will interview the finalists. The board will then make a final pick, with the full board voting on a contract with the new leader.
• Q: What controversies has Porter been involved in?
  A: Porter oversaw policy initiatives in NYC that were later scrapped. She also faced controversy as the president and CEO of the Bronx Community Foundation, which failed to distribute most of its raised funds and spent excessively on consultants and overhead.
• Q: What is the role of the mayor in the selection process?
  A: Despite the new elected school board, the mayor maintains significant influence, with 11 of 21 board members being his appointees. There is also a legal debate about whether the mayor should have the final say in appointing the CPS CEO.