Jessica’s Priorities for CPS

As a member of the Chicago Board of Education, Jessica will work to ensure all students have equitable access to excellent, well-resourced schools. Explore her priorities below and learn how her experience—as a Principal, teacher, and the only candidate in District 6 that is a CPS parent—as well as the concrete action steps she supports, uniquely equip her to be an effective advocate for change.

Ensuring Access to High Quality Schools

Jessica believes that all students across every Chicago neighborhood should have access to high quality schools in their neighborhoods.  She believes that an exemplary school system includes a diverse portfolio of educational options and supports, from accessible PreK programs to adequately resourced neighborhood schools. She believes magnet and selective enrollment programs are an important option for families, and is committed to making sure they remain accessible for all CPS families. Jessica supports the full implementation of CPS’s Equity Framework, which reconsiders the design of board policies and systems and the allocation of resources and partnerships to prioritize student needs, especially those historically impacted by systemic inequities.

As a board member, Jessica would advocate for intentional crafting of new policies—along with regular, transparent monitoring of progress across all areas within the CPS central office and in schools’ improvement plans—to ensure school and district leaders are accountable for their commitment to equity and to the voices of school stakeholders.

Understanding that many families struggle to navigate the complicated and time-consuming application processes for PreK and magnet programs, and that racial and socioeconomic makeup of top selective enrollment schools does not match the demographics of the city at large, Jessica will also support policies that build on current efforts to ensure these programs are accessible for all residents.

Advocating for Adequate Funding

At a time of significant shifts and anticipated shortfalls in school funding, Jessica believes in disciplined fiscal management and advocacy to ensure schools have the resources needed for staffing, programming, and school improvements. As a board member, Jessica would advocate to the Illinois legislature and Governor Pritzker for the State to get back on track in implementing the 2017 Evidence Based Funding bill, and to make up for inflation and deferred increases in contributions in FY2021. 1

Jessica supports the effective implementation of the district’s new school funding formula to ensure schools are equitably and adequately resourced. As a board member, she will advocate for the evaluation of this new approach to ensure there are no unintended consequences. Jessica would also push for greater transparency about the district's Opportunity Index which determines schools' level of need.2 She would advocate for intentional engagement with school stakeholders to address questions and concerns about its implementation, and consider adjustments to the formula, to ensure that there are no unitended consequences that leave any school unable to provide for the needs of their student body.

 To continue investing in high quality learning environments, Jessica supports Capital Plan efficiencies that move away from one-and-done contracting.

As Federal COVID relief funds dry up, and the district grapples with difficult decisions to limit cuts to programming and staffing in the face of significant shortfalls, Jessica does not support short-sighted budget-balancing strategies such as loans of up to $300M to fund operating expenses.

1 A May 2004 Report by the nonpartisan Center for Tax and Budget Accountability indicated that the state was not on track to meet the 2027 deadline to appropriately and equitably fund schools.  According to CPS budget figures, the district’s funding adequacy is 74.6%, meaning that available resources cover that percentage of what is needed to equitably provide for the needs of students and schools.
2 The Opportunity Index factors in data on each school’s population, the surrounding community, and historic funding. The revised funding formula utilizes schools’ Opportunity Index score to determine the allocation of resources for teachers and school staff. In rolling out the new approach to school funding, school leaders and community members have questioned whether the formula appropriately accounts for schools’ true needs.

Investing in Staffing and Leadership Development

As a former Principal, Jessica understands the importance of staff development and retention in creating thriving learning environments and vibrant school communities. She supports career ladder models and formalized teacher-leadership roles–with pay–to retain talent. She supports growing residency models, which provide entry points for career-changers and support staff to earn their certification and move into teaching roles, as well as alternative certification pathways for Special Education, Bilingual and ESL Certifications. At Burke Elementary, Jessica was successful developing paths to employment for community members and parents, filling positions such as recess coaches, lunch monitors, and office supporters, and she sees significant opportunities to utilize similar strategies across the district to fill high need positions such as paraprofessionals, bus aids, and bus drivers. As a board member, Jessica will advocate for policies that support adequate staffing, leadership development, and retention.

Community Engagement and Accountability

As a former Principal and current CPS parent, Jessica understands that school leaders must be accountable to the needs of their students and families. She also believes that intentionally engaging with the broader school community, including students, parents and caregivers, community organizations, and the network of caring adults, can drive improvements in school culture, climate, and learning outcomes. As a board member, she will work to bring stakeholders and decision makers together from across District 6 to share ideas and learn from each other. This will include convening LSCs from across the district and community learning walks in schools.

Jessica also believes in the effectiveness of schools operating as neighborhood hubs, providing welcoming and inclusive environments, offering a wide range of safe and engaging programming, and maintaining robust partnerships with community organizations. These programs provide enriching opportunities for students to explore new interests, support positive relationships with peers and adults, and connect them and their families with needed resources. With reduced funding for after-school programming in the 2024/25 school year, Jessica knows that different strategies and partnerships will be needed for schools to maintain the previous scale of programs. As a board member, she will leverage her experience as an organizer to develop mutually-beneficial partnerships with parent mentor groups, community organizations, and City agencies, among others, to bring these to scale across the district.