Update on Board Search for Chicago Public Schools’ Permanent Leader 

Naming a permanent leader for Chicago Public Schools is essential to delivering on the District’s mission: to provide a high-quality public education for every child, in every neighborhood, that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. 

On Monday, March 30, 2026, the Board will vote on approval of naming Interim Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer Dr. Macquline King as Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer. 

Since the search process launched in Spring 2025, the Board has gone to great lengths to ensure early and regular community engagement, while exercising a strong commitment to confidentiality where necessary in order to protect the integrity of the process. 

The Board's search for the next CEO/Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools concluded its recruitment and screening process in February 2026. We are on track to bring in the next leader for a full orientation and transition planning with CPS leadership before the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. 

The Board entered the final stage of our search in early 2026. After an extensive search process, in which more than 100 candidates applied nationwide, the candidates in the pool will interview with Mayor Brandon Johnson.

The candidates include:

• Dr. Macquline King
• Dr. Sito Narcisse
• Dr. Meisha Porter

In addition to interviews with the Mayor, a Candidate Community Engagement session will take place.

As we continue to advance in the process, you can check here for official updates.

City-Wide Public Engagement

The Board is committed to a transparent search process that is guided by CPS community input and is structured to mitigate bias throughout. The beginning of the search process was marked by eight weeks of community input totaling more than 1,400 interactions across:

• 11 community gatherings covering every school board district;
• More than 70 interviews and focus groups;
• More than 60 partner and community sessions; and
• A citywide community survey conducted by Zen City, the results of which were presented at the Board’s June 26, 2025 meeting. 

Information and progress updates about the Board’s search have been publicly maintained on its website, where all reports, updates, anticipated timeline, and explanatory descriptions about search stages are available, including information about how members of the public are invited to actively participate.  

In addition to inviting the public to propose interview questions for finalist candidates to be asked, the Board put out an open invitation for the public to participate in a Community

Interview Panel. More than 1,000 people nominated themselves or someone they know, and 16 people representing students, parents/families of CPS students, teachers, school leaders, and other CPS employees, CPS alumni, community partners and Chicago residents, were selected by a lottery selection process. The Community Panel, all of whom have also agreed to a non-disclosure agreement, will meet with finalist candidates and provide feedback to the Board.

Integrity of the Search Process

Confidentiality throughout the search for the District’s next leader is essential. Building and maintaining trust is vital for successfully recruiting high-potential candidates whose experience, knowledge, and skills reflect the priorities enshrined in the job description that was directly informed by community input.  Disclosing the identities of candidates would threaten the Board’s ability to effectively recruit and hire a CEO/Superintendent. This aligns with the district’s practice of not releasing information about unsuccessful employment applicants for any position because doing so would constitute a “clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy” pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(c). 

Mayoral Role

The Board recognizes the Mayor’s role in the decision-making process. His vision for Chicago Public Schools, as outlined in his Education plan, aligns with the District’s Five-Year Strategic Plan that puts student needs first and seeks to make CPS the premier school district in the country. We can deliver on our shared commitment to education by working closely together to find a leader that can champion our district into its next chapter.

Chicago Public Schools Superintendent/CEO Search

Help Shape the Future of CPS
The Chicago Board of Education (Board) launched a national search for the next superintendent/CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS)—a visionary and collaborative leader who will build on our district’s progress and champion the success of every student, in every neighborhood.

As one of the nation’s largest school district, we are committed to finding a leader who shares our values of equity, excellence, and community partnership. The new superintendent/CEO will work alongside families, educators, the Board, and community members to continue driving improvements in student achievement, classroom experiences, and school resources.

Our Commitment

• Inclusive Process: We are centering the voices of students, families, educators, and community stakeholders throughout the  search process.
• Transparency: We will provide regular updates and opportunities for public input throughout the process.
• Excellence: We are committed to finding a visionary leader who will help make CPS the best urban school district in the country.

Community Engagement Phase Complete
In June, the Board concluded an extensive and inclusive community engagement phase for the superintendent/CEO search.

?? [Read the full report here.]

Our outreach—led by the executive search firm Alma Advisory Group (Alma)—included 11 in-person community gatherings (one in each Elected School Board district), a virtual session, and more than 70 interviews and focus groups.

As part of the process, Zencity conducted a citywide community survey.

?? [Read the full report here.]

Alma and Zencity each presented their findings during the Board’s June 26 meeting.

• Watch their video presentations, starting with an introduction by Board Member and Transition Team Chair, Jessica Biggs, at 3:38:53. 

Community Participation
More than 1,400 CPS parents, students, teachers, school leaders, administrators, community members, partners, elected officials, and Board members participated—demonstrating a strong, shared commitment to shaping the future of CPS.

What We Learned
CPS stakeholders expressed a clear vision for the next leader: someone who can rebuild trust, refresh the narrative, and advance the District’s Five-Year Strategic Plan.

There is also a deep sense of pride in CPS and its many strengths.

Key themes that emerged include:

• Growing confidence in instruction and student achievement
• Deep dedication among teachers, principals, and staff
• Empowered student voice and leadership
• Ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion
• Increased school autonomy with accessible leadership

Along with celebrating CPS' progress, participants also emphasized the need for bold, forward-focused change.

Top priorities include:

• Expanding post-secondary offerings, arts, sports, and programming
• Stabilizing the District’s finances
• Addressing enrollment decline
• Introducing new ideas and innovation that attract families back to CPS
• Expanding support for students with disabilities and student mental health and wellbeing

Job Prospectus Released
The Board finalized its Superintendent/CEO Job Prospectus earlier in 2025, which reflects the values, priorities, and responsibilities Chicagoans envision in the District’s next leader. Thank you to our many stakeholders for being active participants in this important phase of our search process. 

We understand our search is about more than hiring a new superintendent/CEO—it’s about building a stronger, more inclusive future for CPS. And that only works if we’re listening.  

The Board has a continued commitment to center community voice in this process. This prospectus ensures our families, students, educators, and community members can see their priorities reflected in our search process.