Mayor Brandon Johnson today announced new candidates for appointment to the Chicago Board of Education. The candidates are Olga Bautista, Michilla Blaise, Mary Gardner, the Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson, Deborah Pope and Frank Niles Thomas.
Today’s candidates are part of a plan that includes all members of the current Board of Education transitioning from service on the Board later this month. With the shift to a hybrid elected and appointed Board forthcoming, current Board members and Mayor Johnson understand that laying a strong foundation for the shift is necessary to serve the best interests of students and families in Chicago Public Schools (CPS).
The names announced today are among the last candidates for mayoral appointment before the transition to an elected representative school board that begins in 2025. Mayor Johnson will submit, as is his duty, additional candidates for appointment, including individuals who will be appointed based on the outcome of the November 5, 2024, election and winning candidates’ subdistricts.
“I am confident that these individuals and their experience in education, community, faith, business and elsewhere will continue our work to transform Chicago Public Schools into a world class school district for students and families,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “As a CPS parent, I want the same thing for other CPS parents that I want for my own children, which is every class, every activity and every resource that will help build bright futures and bold leaders. I know these individuals will fight for our children to receive the investments they deserve, and will work with my administration and the district to put the needs of our students and families first.”
“The candidates for appointment that we are introducing today are deeply rooted in their communities, have experiences that will serve our students, and are highly motivated to invest in our schools to ensure continued progress and improvement,” said Deputy Mayor for Education, Youth and Human Services Jen Johnson. “We thank and welcome these individuals for their willingness to take the baton and support a successful Board transition and continuing a strong school year.”
“The Chicago Board of Education has an obligation to take on the challenges of educating Chicago’s children, and that includes assuming the financial responsibilities that come with it,” said 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin, chairman of the Chicago City Council Committee on the Budget and Government Operations. “I have supported the right of every Chicago mayor to make his or her decision on how to best address those challenges, and Mayor Brandon Johnson deserves the same opportunity with the appointments he chooses to make.”
Under today’s Board appointees, the administration will build on the work of the transitioning Board of Education members, which includes improved special education services, increased charter school accountability in the renewal process and a new five-year strategic plan that emphasizes investing in neighborhood schools and expanding the Sustainable Community Schools model in lieu of school closures.
Olga Bautista
Olga Bautista is co-executive director of the Southeast Environmental Task Force and has dedicated her professional career to improving the quality of life in her community on Chicago’s Southeast Side. Bautista has leveraged her expertise as a facilitator, advocate and thought leader throughout her decades of community organizing, serving as a mentor to the youth girls organization Rebel Bells and also as Community Leadership Director for Our City Our Voice, a civic engagement organization aimed at increasing participation in local governance. Before that, she led community engagement efforts for the Participatory Budgeting Project and is trained in Restorative Justice Conflict Resolution. Bautista has also served as a Local School Council parent representative at John L. Marsh School and a YWCA Crisis Intervention Specialist. She is the mother of two Chicago Public Schools students.
Michilla Blaise
Michilla Blaise began her career in public service in 2007 as a staff member for then-46th Ward Ald. Helen Shiller, later starting her own consulting firm, Blaise and Associates, helping uplift progressive candidates and initiatives. She is currently the chief of staff for 16th District Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar, and volunteers as Board Secretary for Westside Justice Center and as a Board Commissioner for Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program. From 2018 until 2020, Blaise was also executive director of Judicial Accountability PAC and her years as board member for the Grassroots Curriculum Task Force solidified her understanding that the educational system is just as relevant to children’s learning as the materials taught in schools. A lifelong Chicagoan, she is the proud mother of two CPS students, ages 14 and 15.
Mary Gardner
Mary Gardner is one of the most prominent community organizers on the West Side of Chicago and the wife of the late Joe Gardner, a member of Mayor Harold Washington’s cabinet as Commissioner of Neighborhoods. The middle child of eight children, she experienced her parents’ financial struggles after they migrated from Alabama to the West Side of the City, and worked her way through college while providing for her children, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Concordia University. A longtime collaborator with Rainbow PUSH, she became involved with 100 Women for Harold Washington, whose historic campaign opened the door for several women to be elected to Chicago City Council, the Illinois State legislature and U.S. Congress. In 2020, she was appointed to the City of Chicago Women’s Advisory Council and after the botched raid on the home of Anjanette Young, helped organize a coalition of 1,000 women, marching in support of criminal justice reform.
Gardner has served as membership chair of Chicago Women Take Action, former secretary of Chicago Urban Professionals and is a former member of the National Forum of Black Public Administration and Women of the 7th State Representative District. She has been elected both Local School Council parent representative and Local School Council community representative for three different CPS schools and is the mother of two CPS alumni.
Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson
The Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson has been a Chicagoland community leader for more than two decades, and is a nationally recognized economic development expert who has helped hundreds of churches serve as catalysts for economic growth and empowerment in their communities. Rev. Johnson’s focus on community economic development and collaboration has led to roles serving as executive director of Developing Communities Project (DCP), a position previously held by former President Barack Obama. His work at DCP resulted in community bonding companies as well as local minority-owned electric companies receiving contracts for public sector projects including the Chicago Transit Authority Red Line upgrade. Rev. Johnson’s work has also helped foster the growth of community-based private enterprises in underserved communities.
Rev. Johnson has served as the Economic Development Officer for the Baptist State Convention of Illinois as well as a faculty member of Lifeway Black Church Leadership and Family Conference. He has been a consultant for Alpha Epsilon Pi, the world’s largest Jewish college fraternity, operating chapters on more than 190 college campuses in seven countries. A graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, TN, Johnson received his Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and is a resident of Hyde Park. He is the father of a current CPS student and two CPS graduates.
Deborah Pope
Deborah Pope began her career as a substitute teacher in Chicago Public Schools before spending a decade with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, where she advised midwestern state agencies on the correct application of Food Stamp Program (now Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) policies and regulations. She returned to teaching at Benito Juarez High School in 1990 as a bilingual and regular history teacher, later moving to Schurz High School where she taught while earning a Master’s in Bilingual/Bicultural Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University. In 2004, Pope began teaching at Gage Park High School where she continued to teach history and English as a Second Language and launched an AP Psychology program. She earned a second Master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy from Adler School of Professional Psychology and retired from Chicago Public Schools in 2011. She is a parent of two CPS alumni.
Frank Niles Thomas
Frank Niles Thomas is a longtime Chicagoan and veteran of the U.S. Air Force with a wealth of experience in City of Chicago government, organized labor and civic engagement over the past 40 years. A graduate of Chicago Vocational High School with continued education at City Colleges of Chicago and Roosevelt University, Thomas served as 21st Ward superintendent for the Department of Streets and Sanitation for more than a decade, and served as chairman of the Local School Council at Edward F. Dunne Elementary School. Prior to joining the LSC, he was the founder of a mentoring program at Dunne, helping students attending this predominantly African-American school develop leadership skills.
A well-respected labor and grassroots political organizer, Thomas has capably served various sectors of both business and government, navigating the relationship between labor and management in good faith bargaining and negotiations. He is the father of four CPS graduates.
- You win more bees with honey - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:19 pm:
That presser was a great example of what NOT to do. Don’t pick a place that’ll be empty. Don’t have most of your speakers be pastors who don’t live in Chicago. Don’t let protesters or people you don’t know in. Don’t answer every question by shouting and being hostile.
- Lakeview Looker - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:22 pm:
The presser was unhinged. Essentially 0% of the Mayor’s answers were substantive–he kept saying things like “we’re going to take a look at this and examine all avenues,” even for things he has seen coming for MONTHS, especially the budget shortfall. All I heard was deflection, hostility, and disparagement.
- Moe Berg - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:22 pm:
Appropriate that they mayor held a…checks notes…press conference about *public* education at a *church* with mostly male ministers behind him, because he was definitely preaching to the choir.
For appealing to any other audience this was an unmitigated disaster.
- LastModDemStanding - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:24 pm:
Where’s Board Member #7??
- 46th Ward for the Win - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:27 pm:
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20121126/uptown/ex-ald-helen-shillers-consulting-firm-was-on-topless-bars-payroll/#:~:text=EEOC%20attorneys%20said%20that%20the%20trucking%20firm%20had%20a%20%22hypersexualized%22
- 46th Ward for the Win - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:28 pm:
Michilla Blaise was involved in that consulting firm and the gentleman’s club
- Jose Abreu's Next Homer - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:30 pm:
So he didn’t appoint The Big Hurt? What a swing and a miss
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:30 pm:
It’s the 21st century. An official visit to London isn’t going to negatively impact whatever process is in play.
I think that part of the Mayor’s issue is that not a lot of time was spent on framing the economic message behind why the State of Illinois would owe the Chicago Public Schools a billion dollars. Some fun rhetoric like “Every state road south of I-80 is possible because of funding denied to Chicago Public Schools. Springfield is a machine that transfers wealth away from our communities.”
===Don’t let protesters or people you don’t know in. ===
There’s some philosophical opposition to your suggestion here.
- 46th Ward for the Win - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:31 pm:
Mary Gardner’s late husband a MWRD commissioner was linked to a federal corruption probe, but died of cancer during the investigation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/05/17/gardner-loses-fight-with-cancer/
- Socially DIstant watcher - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:31 pm:
So CPS is going deep into debt and after Johnson loses reelection the elected board will have to clean up the mess. Lawyers and bond houses must love this guy.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:33 pm:
The Mayor is going to cause a red wave in the collars in 2026 with a backlash if he is this bad (especially if Harris wins)…
- Jerry - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:33 pm:
Could we PLEASE get a businessman to “run” the government. Oh wait, we do have one. Gov Pritzker.
- Darren Bailey’s Blowtorch - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:36 pm:
Opponents of taking out long-term loans to cover short-term operating expenses are “making the same arguments as the Confederacy?!” I’m truly asking here - is the Mayor ok? Seems like a complete mental breakdown.
- Chicago Voter - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:38 pm:
The Mayor had been planning to appoint Carlos Ramirez Rosa’s mom but that plan was scuttled.
Anyway, this makes no sense as a transition plan because the 11 to be appointed by the Mayor in January have to be in opposite sub-districts than those who are running. Mary Gardner and Kyla Blaise are in the same district.
The Mayor cannot handle challenge and if it’s from a woman his recourse is to demean them and punish. He was dysregulated from start to finish, only seemed interested in daring the State to take his power away in the appointment process and interested in defending his authority - supreme leader indeed.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:39 pm:
I hope the seventh board member is Ozzie Guillén. This was the worst press conference I have ever watched.
- Former Downstater - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:40 pm:
== The Mayor is going to cause a red wave in the collars in 2026 with a backlash if he is this bad (especially if Harris wins)…==
Thank you for my first out loud laugh of the day.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:40 pm:
You’re a confederate if you don’t want to take out a short term, high interest loan for pension payments and salaries.
Those are the rules in CTU land.
I’m not looking for the mayor to fix everything but if he could fix one thing that would be a great start.
- Johnny Tractor - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:41 pm:
Hey, Mayor - before using the Bruce Rauner playbook on how to force the legislature to bend to your will, you might want to skip ahead a few chapters and see how that ended.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:42 pm:
I am amazed that Pat Quinn decided to sit out the school board race.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:48 pm:
===The Mayor is going to cause a red wave in the collars in 2026 ===
I don’t think that the Illinois GOP is really disciplined enough to take advantage of an issue like this in any meaningful fashion.
The shift in the Illinois GOP to what it is today where they do not have the ability to be palatable to Illinois voters is not something that occurred overnight that can be reversed overnight.
The problem isn’t the size of their tent, the problem is who is in the tent already and who they refuse to let in the door and what they require the people in the tent to talk about.
The last time the Illinois GOP was successful having control over Illinois Government they nominated a pro-choice candidate for Governor. Even Rauner had to pretend like he was confused about it until he was elected.
People have to understand that the game has changed.
- Formerly Unemployed - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:51 pm:
How much is Eric Adams paying Brandon Johnson to make him look good?
- Charles Edward Cheese - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:55 pm:
Mayor Johnson truly is just black Trump when it comes to governing style: demands for loyalty, fiscal illiteracy, hyperbole, competence (or lack thereof), and aggression.
The main difference is that his goals sit on the opposite end of the political spectrum.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 12:55 pm:
You know, I just feel something in my gut, but to Former Downstater and Candy Dogood, I will gladly eat my words if I am wrong. I won’t hide, I promise.
- So Let Me Get This Straight - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:02 pm:
I watched the entire press conference - WOW! Besides the obvious, a small detail stood out to me.
A little over a year ago (July 23) the Mayor appointed 6 of the 7 school board members who are now resigning. Did the vision change, or did the board members not know how potentially extreme the vision was?
- RIP Bernie Epton - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:04 pm:
Does Mitchell Johnson live in Chicago?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:06 pm:
Unclear. Bio says Cal City.
- Steve - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:09 pm:
I was going to comment about a certain aspect of this post but then … I saw the whole ” making the same arguments as the Confederacy.” I never saw it coming. I must confess. I’m not that creative. CTU has a seat at the table!
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:15 pm:
Did he just graduate from the Tiffany Henyard school of management? Before last week, I had a fair amount of sympathy for where his administration stood. They were dealt a rotten hand. Now, I will be relishing the downfall. And it looks like a harder landing by the day. Pride cometh before fall.
- Beep booop - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:16 pm:
He does not live in the city btw
- Da Bears! - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:19 pm:
Waiting to hear a response from Pritzker. Not sure if can do anything legally but may put a dent in his long term plans.
- Chicagonk - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:21 pm:
Elections have consequences and Brandon Johnson didn’t hide the fact that he would be an advocate for CTU.
- Demoralized - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:32 pm:
==So-called fiscally responsible stewards are making the same argument when our ppl wanted to be liberated in this country. The argument is that you can’t free Black ppl bc it would be too expensive… Now you have detractors making the same arguments as the Confederacy.==
What an absolutely ridiculous thing to say. This argument that they are trying to make that by not getting their 1 billion that they are “owed” is a racist conspiracy. If I were the Governor and the General Assembly I wouldn’t give the Mayor one dime more until he wants to act like an adult instead of trying to put out racist dog whistles and engage in bullying tactics. Not. One. Dime. More.
- Frida's Boss - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:33 pm:
It was a heck of a show. A defiant mayor explained to the press what they should be asking, sidestepped answers to the questions they did ask, and got visibly angry at having to answer questions.
He is correct; he does have the authority, or as he kept saying, “I have the power” (veiled language) to make the appointments without actual oversight from City Council, other Board members or the GA.
Elections have consequences. This is the type of administration he said he would have.
What should people be looking at now that he’s looking for revenue? What were his transition plans? A commuter tax, a financial service tax, a downtown motorist tax, be ready those will be on the table and more in what what he’ll push for.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 1:33 pm:
===Brandon Johnson didn’t hide the fact that he would be an advocate for CTU.===
If MBJ has anything during his time in office, it is hiding his advocacy for CTU.
- Lincoln Lad - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 2:02 pm:
Aligning yourself with the Mayor at this point strikes me as boarding the Titanic as it starts to take on water. Won’t end well.
- Pundent - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 2:19 pm:
=Waiting to hear a response from Pritzker.=
You might be waiting awhile. Johnson and the CTU have continually tried to draw the Governor into this mess for the sole purpose of having him wear the jacket for their ineptitude. It’s been comically bad. Pritzker has out maneuvered them at every turn largely by refusing to engage. I expect more of the same.
- Steve - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 2:20 pm:
-Elections have consequences and Brandon Johnson didn’t hide the fact that he would be an advocate for CTU.-
This is true. But, how many people would have expected Johnson’s own board would turn on him?
- low level - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 2:29 pm:
A week and a half ago or so I said the school board races would be a referendum on the mayor and his CPS policies. This will certainly be the case.
- Chicagonk - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 2:56 pm:
@Steve - That is a good point. He obviously didn’t make sure the first group of appointees would follow him 100%.
- City Zen - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 2:57 pm:
==Does Mitchell Johnson live in Chicago?==
He appears to have a Chicago address on the south side.
- SB231 - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 3:00 pm:
News Article 1 Month Ago:
“With a projected budget deficit of nearly $1 billion in the coming fiscal year, Chicago officials are taking dramatic steps to reduce costs, including imposing a hiring freeze and drastically limiting non-essential travel.
According to Budget Director Annette Guzman, the steps are going into effect immediately as the city seeks to address significant shortfalls.
In addition to the hiring freeze, the city will also impose “stringent” limitations on non-essential travel for employees, and will also slash overtime expenditures in areas outside of the public safety sphere.”
Interesting that traveling to London to attract business to Chicago qualifies as essential travel…I wonder what “stringent” limitations are in place and who is ultimately footing the bill to London (let alone the Bears tickets!).
- Amalia - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 3:06 pm:
The Mayor planning to appoint the mother of an Alderman. and now pulling that nom. this entire process is giving me Real Housewives of the Chicago Board of Education vibes.
- Shytown - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 3:18 pm:
Is it just me or does Sarah Karp seem to have a bias, I mean, point of view when it comes to Johnson and the CTU?
- Henry Francis - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 3:25 pm:
Does anyone think that while in London the Mayor will have any announcements about bringing business/jobs back home like the Gov has started to do?
- low level - Monday, Oct 7, 24 @ 3:29 pm:
So Anthony Beale and other African American alders and legislators are “making the same arguments as the Confederacy”?
That really ought to help win over the people needed to pass appropriations measures to raise revenue. Great way to build bridges, Mayor.