My Track Record
See how I've fought for students, teachers and families on the school board.
My Priorities
Building on progress, here's what's next.
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Universal Full Day Pre-K At Age 3
- Fighting to expand access to universal pre-K (starting at age 3) across Chicago neighborhoods, so that every child starts school ready to learn.
- Prioritizing strong early reading and math outcomes as the building blocks for lifelong confidence and creativity.
- Making sure early learning investments reach the neighborhoods that have been underserved the longest.
Progressive Revenue, Not Cuts
I've spent my entire career fighting for progressive revenue, because I believe corporations and billionaires should pay their fair share to fund our schools, not our classrooms. Right now, CPS is staring down a potential billion-dollar deficit, not because our students cost more to educate, but because Illinois still hasn't fully funded the evidence-based formula it promised nearly a decade ago. If the state met that commitment, CPS would have a billion-dollar surplus instead of bracing for cuts. I'm pushing Springfield to close that gap, and exploring new revenue streams—like taxing social media advertising—because there's wealth in this state to fund our schools, if our leaders choose to prioritize it. And when budgets do get tight, I'll keep fighting to keep cuts as far from classrooms as possible.
Fully-Funded Schools, Invested in Together
- Continuing to push for funding based on need and equity, not just enrollment or attendance.
- Fighting to close the gap between what it actually costs to educate our students; including diverse learners, immigrant students, and students impacted by poverty—and what the district currently spends.
- Investing in our schools system-wide, rather than pitting them against each other school by school, is the only sustainable path forward.
Whole-Child, Whole-Family Support
Our kids have been through a lot. COVID, the presence of ICE in our streets, the everyday stress of poverty, and I believe our schools have to meet them where they are. That means real mental health services and social-emotional learning, not just for students, but for the teachers and staff showing up for them every day too. I want every student to walk into a classroom and see themselves reflected in their teacher and their curriculum, taught in a way that's trauma-informed and culturally relevant. Healthy schools make healthy kids, healthy families, and healthy communities. That starts with treating our students as whole people, not just test scores.
Consistent Out-of-School Enrichment
- Fighting for reliable, consistent access to arts, sports, and music programming in every school, not just some.
- Expanding wraparound programs that support students and families beyond the school day.
- Enrichment opportunities shouldn't depend on which neighborhood a student lives in.
Green, Healthy, Sustainable Schools
There is no "Planet B", I believe our schools have a role to play in facing the climate crisis head-on. I co-sponsored a green schools resolution to bring more sustainability-focused jobs and infrastructure into our district, and I'll keep pushing to remove hazardous materials from our buildings and move toward green energy and modern, energy-efficient infrastructure. Our students deserve to learn in buildings that are healthy for them, and our schools should be leading by example on sustainability instead of falling behind.
Thoughtful, Evidence-Based Use of Technology
- Pushing the district to critically examine whether classroom technology is actually producing the outcomes it promises—the research says often not.
- Advocating for less screen time for our youngest learners, in line with what child development research recommends.
- Working to close the gap between ed-tech tools and actual reading and math standards.
Trusted Adults in Every School
Some of the most important people in a student's life are the adults who show up for them every single day: Their teachers, their case managers, their support staff. When we lose them to instability or budget cuts, it's jarring for kids who depend on that consistency. That's why I'm continuing to push for sustainable staffing levels across our district, along with a full-time case manager in every school and full, dedicated support for every student with an IEP or 504 plan. Smaller class sizes matter too. Our kids deserve personalized attention, not to be another number in an overcrowded room.
Strong, Experienced District Leadership
- In my first term, I successfully pushed for requirements that CPS superintendents must hold a superintendent's license. This means having real classroom and school leadership experience, a business background does not cut it for our kids.
- Our district's leader should understand firsthand what teachers, principals, and families are actually experiencing.
- Fully committed to leadership that reflects the needs of our system, not just its bottom line.