Brandon Johnson Appoints New Chicago School Board Members

Mayor Brandon Johnson has appointed Sean Harden as the new president of the Chicago Board of Education, alongside five additional board members, to be seated in January. Harden, a South Side native and former deputy CEO of Chicago Public Schools, aims to implement Johnson's vision for a transformational school district. The new appointees include diverse individuals with backgrounds in teaching, journalism, activism, and community leadership, reflecting a commitment to educational equity. Johnson's recent appointments come after a challenging budget vote and signify an ongoing power struggle between him, the teachers' union, and school leadership. With these appointments, Johnson has filled 10 of the 11 appointed seats required before a fully elected board is established in 2027. The mayor emphasized the importance of fully funded neighborhood schools for every family in the city as a priority for his administration.