Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth Signs Letter Asking School Board to Stand by Resolution Calling for CPS CEO to Hold Educator License
In March 2025, the Chicago Board of Education passed a resolution requiring that both the interim CEO and the next permanent CEO of Chicago Public Schools hold a valid Illinois Professional Educator License. This resolution was in line with the values of educators, students, and parents who want CPS’s leader to have experience as an educator.
Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth has joined many of her City Council colleagues in signing a letter calling for the Chicago Board of Education to stand by this resolution, because our students deserve leadership with the necessary qualifications and experience. Read the full letter below.
Dear members of the Chicago Board of Education,
We, along with other civic and elected leaders, urge you to uphold the resolution you unanimously passed in March requiring that both the next CEO and interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools hold a valid Illinois Professional Educator License with a Superintendent endorsement. This resolution addressed the demand of educators, who for decades, have wanted the person who leads our public schools to be someone with the experience of an educator.
It is troubling that efforts appear underway to reverse this decision. Our students deserve leaders with the qualifications, experience and evidence-based knowledge necessary to guide their education. The interests of students, parenst and teachers must take precedence over the political considerations of any mayor.
Issues surrounding leadership selection are not unique to CPS. The Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Transit Authority also have vacancies at their top posts. With these positions in mind, Clerk Anna Valencia and Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) intrdocued a resolution in the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight to create a subcommittee aimed at bringing greater transparency and accountability to the appointment process for board members as sister agencies. Though delayed by procedural hurdles, we remain committeed to these reforms and welcome others to join us.
We stand firmly behind the School Board’s decision to impose requirements on the CPS CEO and stronlgy encourage you to remain steadfast in defending it against any external pressure.
Signed,
City Clerk Anna M. Valencia
Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd ward
Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th ward
Ald. Peter Chico, 10th ward
Ald. Nicole Lee, 11th ward
Ald. Marty Quinn, 13th ward
Ald. Jeylu Gutierrez, 14th ward
Ald. Ray Lopez, 15th ward
Ald. Stephanie Coleman, 16th ward
Ald. David Moore, 17th ward
Ald. Derrick Curtis, 18th ward
Ald. Silvana Tabares, 23rd ward
Ald. Monique Scott, 24th ward
Ald. Chris Taliaferro, 29th ward
Ald. Ruth Cruz, 30th ward
Ald. Felix Cardona, 31st ward
Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd ward
Ald. Gil Villegas, 36th ward
Ald. Emma Mitts, 37th ward
Ald. Nick Sposato, 38th ward
Ald. Samantha Nugent, 39th ward
Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th ward
Ald. Anthony Napolitano, 41st ward
Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd ward
Ald. Timmy Knudsen, 43rd ward
Ald. Bennet Lawson, 44th ward
Ald. Jim Gardiner, 45th ward
Ald. Matt Martin, 47th ward
Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, 48th ward
Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th ward
Ald. Debra Silverstein, 50th ward
