Key education endorsements for CPS School Board candidates

As part of our voter guide, we assembled a list of organizations involved in education-related work that have made endorsements in the 2026 Chicago School Board election. We are also listing education-focused political action committees that don’t endorse but are providing financial support to specific candidates.

We are not listing all endorsements, including from elected officials, non-education organizations or those that aren’t directly tied to Chicago Public Schools. Those are available on each candidate’s website.

Chicago Teachers Union: The largest union in CPS, including nearly 30,000 teachers, paraprofessionals, clinicians and school-related personnel, known for its strong focus on social justice issues.

Chicago Democrats for Education: This political action committee was launched during the first school board election in 2024 to support “independent” candidates for the school board. The group was set up to be a counterbalance to the CTU and the mayor. It was formed by Hugo Jacobo, a heavyweight political consultant.

Chicago Principals & Administrators Association: This union represents CPS principals, assistant principals and other districtwide and central office administrators.

Common Ground Collective: A new political action committee that is anti-CTU, heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.” The group says it wants to “defeat extremist efforts from both the far right and far left that seek to divide our city.”

INCS Action PAC for Public Charter Schools: This political action committee is affiliated with the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, which advocates on behalf of publicly funded, independently run charter schools. It is “focused on engaging the charter school community in the legislative and political process.” The group hasn’t made endorsements as of mid-September, but has donated to select candidates.

Leadership for Educational Equity, LEE PAC: This group also donates under the name Leaders in Education. This organization and affiliated political action committee provides support and campaign services for reduced costs for alumni of education nonprofit groups, including Teach for America, New Leaders and School Board Partners, and other civic-minded organizations. The other civic-minded organizations include the Academy for Local Leadership Chicago, which offers training for education advocates and aspiring school board members. Alumni of a year-long ALL fellowship include Brenda Lee Anderson, Carlos Rivas Jr. and Jesus Ayala Jr. Therese Boyle also participates in ongoing training offered by ALL.

ONE People’s Campaign: This grassroots campaign says it puts “the interests of regular people before the profits of corporations and the super rich” and focuses on supporting and endorsing progressive causes.

Our Schools Chicago: A CTU-affiliated group with a platform that mirrors the one advanced by Hilario Dominguez, the CTU-endorsed candidate for school board president. This group endorsed the same candidates as the ones CTU supported, plus one additional candidate, Yesenia Lopez in District 7b.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Illinois State Council: This union represents thousands of Chicago Public Schools support staff, including special education classroom assistants, security officers, bus aides, crossing guards and custodians. It has split politically with the Chicago Teachers Union in recent years. The CPS affiliate is SEIU Local 73.

District 1a

• Ed Bannon - CTU, Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., Our Schools Chicago, SEIU
• Margie Luczak - INCS Action PAC, The Urban Center

District 1b

• Claudia Peralta – CTU, Our Schools Chicago, SEIU
• Michelle Pierre – Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, Leadership for Educational Equity, The Urban Center
  

District 2a

• Ebony L. DeBerry - CTU,
  Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., ONE People’s Campaign, Our Schools Chicago, SEIU
• Hector Morales - Common Ground Collective, The Urban Center
  

District 2b

• Deborah “Debby” Pope - CTU, ONE People’s Campaign, Our Schools Chicago
• Kyna Lenhof - Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, The Urban Center
• Daniel Basco -  None as of Oct. 2

District 3a

• Norma Rios Sierra - CTU, Our Schools Chicago, SEIU
• Peter Gonzales - Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, The Urban Center

District 3b

• Jason C. Dónes - CTU, Our Schools Chicago
• Carlos A. Rivas, Jr. - Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, Leadership for Educational Equity, SEIU, The Urban Center

District 4a

• Ellen Sherratt - Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, SEIU, The Urban Center
• Karen Zaccor - CTU, ONE People’s Campaign, Our Schools Chicago
• Angel Alvarez - None as of Oct. 2

District 4b

• Ellen Rosenfeld - Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, LEE PAC, SEIU, The Urban Center

District 5a

• LaPamela Williams - Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, The Urban Center
• Aaron “Jitu” Brown - CTU, Our Schools Chicago
• Kernetha Jones (write-in) - None as of Oct. 2

District 5b

• Michilla “Kyla” Blaise - CTU, Our Schools Chicago
• Anthony Hargrove - Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, The Urban Center

District 6a

• Anusha Thotakura - CTU, SEIU, Our Schools Chicago
• Isaiah White - Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, The Urban Center
• Brenda Lee Anderson - Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., LEE PAC

District 6b

• Michael Neal - Common Ground Collective
• Brittany Kimble - The Urban Center

District 7a

• Emma Lozano - CTU, Our Schools Chicago
• Jesus Ayala, Jr. - Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, LEE PAC, SEIU, The Urban Center

District 7b

• Yesenia Lopez - Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., Our Schools Chicago, SEIU
• Erika Diaz-Chavez - INCS Action PAC, The Urban Center

District 8a

• Angel Gutierrez - Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, SEIU, The Urban Center

District 8b

• Juan Ignacio Gonzalez - Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, The Urban Center
• Alexander Angeles (write-in) - None as Oct. 2

District 9a

• Brittany Bailey Preston - Common Ground Collective, SEIU, The Urban Center

District 9b

• Therese Boyle - Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., Common Ground Collective, LEE PAC, SEIU, The Urban Center
• Katherine Dunneback - CTU, Our Schools Chicago

District 10a

• Che “Rhymefest” Smith - Common Ground Collective, INCS Action PAC, SEIU, The Urban Center
• Tameka Walton (write-in) - CTU, Our Schools Chicago

District 10b

• Connie Anderson - CTU, Chicago Principals & Administrators Assn., Our Schools Chicago
• Patrick Watson - Common Ground Collective, The Urban Center
• Rosita Chotonda (write-in) - None as of Oct. 2