Chicago School Board District 5 Results
Aaron "Jitu" Brown has won the race to represent the 5th district on Chicago’s first elected school board, defeating two write-in candidates.
A Long-Fought Victory
Brown, a long-time activist, has fought for an elected school board for almost two decades to "stop people outside of our communities making decisions about the institutions that impact our lives." In 2015, he participated in the hunger strike that saved Dyett High School after Chicago Public Schools voted to close it.
A Dream Come True
At his watch party, Brown said being elected to the board he helped create was a dream come true. "It’s been a lot of work, it’s been a lot of frustration," he said. "So this moment, it feels good. I’m happy tonight, but also I know that the work is just beginning."
A Symbol of Community Coalition
Brown’s supporters declared his win a symbol of what’s possible between a South and West Side coalition. "We are going to reimagine education on the West Side of Chicago," Brown said to the crowd.
About Aaron “Jitu” Brown
Brown is the National Director of the Journey for Justice Alliance, a national network of community groups that advocate against the privatization of public schools. He was endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union. Brown will represent a district that stretches from the affluent West Loop into the more disinvested West Side neighborhoods of West Garfield Park and Austin, which Brown calls home.
Goals and Priorities
Brown’s campaign goals include prioritizing neighborhood schools, ending "punitive" standardized testing, and developing a pre-K through 12th-grade model to encourage parents to send their kids to neighborhood schools instead of charter schools. At a recent Chalkbeat forum, Brown said he did not know if he would support keeping the CPS CEO if elected. Asked if he supported a high-interest loan for operating costs, which the mayor has floated to manage CPS’ deficit, Brown said, "As opposed to cutting primarily Black or brown schools, [if that] means children without a teacher, students without resources: yes."
Write-In Candidates
Jousef M. Shkoukani decided to run as a write-in after he didn’t make the ballot to give 5th District residents a choice. "I’m not backed by a special interest group like the CTU," Shkoukani said. "I just genuinely care about the prospect of our future education here in Chicago." Shkoukani plans to run for a seat again in 2026. Write-in candidate Kernetha Jones didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Conclusion
Aaron "Jitu" Brown’s victory in the 5th district election marks a significant milestone in the effort to bring more community control to Chicago’s public schools. As he begins his term on the board, Brown will work to address the entrenched issues facing the district, from underfunding to systemic racism. With his win, Brown’s supporters are hoping to see real change in the way education is approached on the West Side of Chicago.
FAQs
- What is the 5th district on the Chicago school board?
- The 5th district represents a portion of the West Side of Chicago, including the West Loop, West Garfield Park, and Austin neighborhoods.
- Who is Aaron "Jitu" Brown?
- Aaron "Jitu" Brown is a long-time community activist who has fought for an elected school board for almost two decades. He is the National Director of the Journey for Justice Alliance and was endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union.
- What are Brown’s goals and priorities?
- Brown’s campaign goals include prioritizing neighborhood schools, ending "punitive" standardized testing, and developing a pre-K through 12th-grade model to encourage parents to send their kids to neighborhood schools instead of charter schools.
- Who are the write-in candidates?
- Jousef M. Shkoukani and Kernetha Jones were the two write-in candidates who challenged Brown in the election. Shkoukani plans to run for a seat again in 2026, while Jones did not respond to requests for comment.
