A statement from Michelle Morales...

Jul 13

Last Wednesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his appointees to the Chicago Board of Education (CBOE), and I was among them. First, I would like to thank Mayor Johnson for the opportunity to serve Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students and families in this volunteer capacity. The CBOE, an all-volunteer board founded in 1840, is responsible for the governance and organizational and financial oversight of CPS, the nation’s fourth-largest school district. It establishes policies, standards, goals, and initiatives to ensure accountability and provide a quality education for students.

Although my experience as an educator, education advocate, and administrator in alternative education seems like a natural fit for the CBOE, I had never envisioned serving in this role, so it was a surprise when I was asked. Sitting on the other side of the fence, I often thought of CBOE's administrative and political bureaucracy as an impediment to the progress some CPS students, families, and teachers were striving for. I am also keenly aware that as the President of Woods Fund Chicago, my presence, participation, and decisions carry weight and have positive or negative implications for the Foundation and our grantee partners.

My decision to serve on the CBOE is not one I made lightly. I deliberated over several weeks with close colleagues and family about the pros and cons of serving and not serving. I engaged my Woods Fund Chicago teammates and Board on their thoughts on the potential opportunities and pitfalls of serving on a highly visible and heavily scrutinized board, joining at a time when there is so much mistrust within the institution. The insights and wisdom my friends, colleagues, and Woods Fund Chicago team provided were invaluable and helped me make an informed decision. And that decision was yes. I said yes to serving on the CBOE during a mayoral administration that centers working people and their families, the lived experiences and leadership of impacted communities, and CPS families having a say in decisions that impact their children’s education, quality of life, and neighborhood communities. I said yes to the opportunity to amplify the voices of those that advocate for educational justice. I said yes to serving with a tremendously talented and principled cohort of board members whose leadership and commitment to education access, racial and economic justice, and centering the voices and experiences of both parents and students are unparalleled.

When deciding to accept a role or position, it’s not just the “what” that’s key, but the “who.” Congratulations to my fellow CBOE members Jianan Shi, Mary Fahey Hughes, Mariela Estrada, Rudy Lozano, and Tanya Woods! I am honored to serve with you.

This iteration of the CBOE is charged with creating an organizational infrastructure, policies and procedures, best practices, and identifying core values to guide the hybrid 21-person board in January 2025. Because of this, our work now is focused on laying a strong foundation for our successors. Rest assured that we will center racial and economic justice and impacted communities in this work.

Serving on the CBOE is an opportunity to bring my passion for education and racial justice, community organizing, and trust-based philanthropy to create more equitable and just systems that help our children and communities thrive. Although I’ll admit that I’m a bit nervous, I know I’m not alone. Thanks again to those of you who provided wise counsel, words of encouragement, and congratulations. There’s a lot of work ahead of us, and I look forward to diving in. Let’s do this.