The People Issue

This week, we're introducing aspiring education leaders you might want to know and tracking recent principal contracts. First up, meet the second cohort of Academy for Local Leadership fellows. The ALL Fellowship launched last year to strengthen and diversify the pool of potential candidates running for seats on the Chicago Board of Education. The inaugural cohort included three school board candidates. One, Carlos Rivas, now represents District 3b. The first cohort also included Sendhil Revuluri, a former vice president of the school board. This year's group includes a recent Surge Fellow and one of last year's candidates from the 10th District.

Meet the 2025 ALL Fellows

Bios provided by Academy of Local Leadership.

Richard Glass Jr.
Richard Glass Jr. is Regional VP of Operations for Ombudsman Chicago High Schools, leading efforts to re-engage students in their academic journey. With over 30 years in education and nonprofit leadership, he is committed to equity, access, and student success.

Ariel Danzy
Ariel Danzy is a music teacher, activist, and proud South Side native who uses music as a tool for joy, resistance, and student liberation. She is deeply engaged in her community, standing against violence and fighting for justice in and out of the classroom.

Jose Ortiz-Reyna
Jose Ortiz-Reyna works in CPS’ Office of Local School Council Relations and leads mentorship programs for Latinx professionals. A CPS parent and longtime community advocate, his work centers on equity, access, and leadership development.

Makinde A. Adedapo
Makinde Adedapo, a 2025 Surge Fellow and Development Associate at It Takes A Village, brings 14+ years in education and 20+ years in event production. A dedicated Chicagoan, he works at the intersection of culture, education, and community impact.

Marisol Barrera
Marisol Barrera is a Bilingual Prevention Educator at Resilience, delivering sexual violence prevention programming across CPS. A Northwestern alumna and CPS graduate, she is passionate about empowering youth and giving back to her community.

Neal Spann
Neal Spann leads large-scale programming at One Million Degrees, supporting college scholars across Chicago. His work focuses on equity, education, and providing students the resources to thrive in school and life.

Anthony Garcia
Anthony Garcia, a Realtor with Streeterville Realty, is also a dedicated parent and community leader. He has served with Kids First Chicago, UnidosUS, and Friends of Galileo, where he advocates for families and bilingual education.

Cindy La
Cindy La is the Director of Children and Youth Services at the Chinese American Service League (CASL). She is also a CPS parent of two, raising her children in the city she serves.

Patricia Mota
Patricia Mota is Senior Manager of Policy Programs at The Fund, where she strengthens collaboration between Local School Councils and principals. A CPS alumna and parent, she brings her background as a Fulbright scholar, teacher, and education advocate to her work.

Natasha Croff
Natasha Croff is a Parent Support Specialist with CPS’ Office for Students with Disabilities and the mother of a high schooler. She serves on the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities and Chicagoland Autism Connection, advocating for equity and access.

Ivon Ruiz Soberanis
Ivon Ruiz Soberanis is a CPS parent and active volunteer with the Chicago Multilingual Parent Council. 

Damarr Smith
Damarr Smith is a former Chief of Staff at the Golden Apple Foundation and longtime education reform leader with CPS and Thrive Chicago. With graduate degrees in business and education leadership, he works to advance equity and excellence in schools.

Marlene Rios
Marlene Rios, Alumni Success Coach at ITW Speer, supports over 400 first-gen graduates navigating college and careers. A CPS and Posse alumna, she is passionate about equity and uplifting first-gen students of color.

Jacqueline Bland-Payne
Jacqueline Bland-Payne is VP of Customer Operations and a proud CPS parent of two. She actively serves on her children’s Local School Council, bringing family and community voice into school leadership.

Dr. Brenda Lee Anderson
Dr. Brenda Lee Anderson is a Northwestern University scholar-practitioner whose work explores how policy, culture, and power shape education. Beyond academia, they are deeply engaged in organizing to challenge inequity and amplify marginalized voices.

Nancy Jimenez
Nancy Jimenez is a unit manager supporting operational work and a dedicated parent of a rising CPS senior. She is also an engaged member of the charter school community.

Robert Jones
Rev. Robert Jones has served as Pastor of Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church since 2008, following decades of pastoral leadership in Illinois. An author and community activist, he is also a candidate for Chicago’s first elected School Board. (Note: Rev. Jones ran in District 10a last year and was defeated by Che "Rhymefest" Smith.)

Nicole Turner
Nicole Turner is a proud mother of five girls whose leadership is guided by love, purpose, and service. She is committed to creating a better world for her children and communities like theirs.

Principal Contracts

As the school year starts, it's a good time to track the principal contracts and renewals awarded between June and August, as recorded in board reports. Here are the new contracts:

Latasha Carter, former resident principal at W. Brown Elem, contract principal at Kipling

Judith Franco, former assistant principal at Eberhardt, contract principal at Armour Elementary

Evajamania Brown, former assistant principal at Corliss HS, contract principal at Corliss,

Alejandra Gutierrez,  contract principal at Addams Elementary

Linda Montes, assistant principal at Ruiz, contract principal at Ruiz Elementary

Adriana Ortiz, assistant principal at Kennedy HS, contract principal at Kinzie Elementary

Chelsea Williams, assistant principal at Morgan Park HS, contract principal Cook Elementary

Tinaya York, contract principal of Social Justice HS

Claudia Avila, former assistant principal Avondale-Logandale, contract principal Avondale-Logandale

Barbara Manjarrez, assistant principal at Back of the Yards HS, to contract principal at Back of the Yards. (Note: founding principal Patricia Brekke is now the director of multilingual education for Kankakee School District 111.)

Janelle Okerenimkpe, former assistant principal at Hearst Elementary, to contract principal at Hearst.

Principal Renewals

These principals' contracts have been renewed:

Safurat Giwa, renewed at Pershing

Katrina Manuel, renewed at Whistler

Marisol Negron, renewed at Decatur

Philip Yasenak, renewed at Pickard

Meredith Bawden, renewed at Galileo

Mandi Cohen, renewed at Belding

Tamara Davis, renewed at Herzl

Brennen Humphrey, renewed at Coonley

Lourdes Jimenez, renewed at Salazar

Natasha Jones, renewed at Lawndale

Dana Turner, renewed at Smyth

Grant Varveris, renewed at Burroughs

Ernest Williams, renewed at Ellington

Also of note: the Board Office is staffing up. According to the 2026 Budget Book, the office's budget received an $800,000 increase this year, from $1.9 million in FY 25 to $2.7 million. This makes sense given that the board itself tripled in size last January.

Next week, we'll bring you updates on Local School Council appointments to fill vacancies.

Agenda Review Committee Preview

Today, the board will hold its monthly Agenda Review Committee meeting at 10:30 a.m. in the CPS Loop Office. Here are some highlights from the agenda.

Options Schools: CPS is proposing to increase its spend on dropout recovery through the for-profit company Ombudsman Educational Services and the nonprofit Pathways in Education-Illinois. These providers offer flexible schedules and the opportunity to finish high school quickly, but have been accused of offering a bare-bones learning experience. The board is being asked to approve an amendment to increase the contract limit from $60,000,000 to $65,000,000. No changes are being made to increase the services provided or the number of students served. Watch for board members to question why the extra $5 million is needed.

Other contracts of interest: About $27 million to Apple for hardware, software, and services. Schoolinks, Inc. will receive $1.6 million over two years to continue to provide the online platform for college and career readiness research, including Learn. Plan. Succeed, the graduation requirement that all students complete a postsecondary plan.

There will be a closed session to discuss employees and litigation.