Chicago Public Schools Narrows CEO Search to 3 Finalists

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The Chicago Board of Education has announced three finalists in the search for the next CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS): interim CEO Macquline King, Sito Narcisse who previously led the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, and Meisha Porter who formerly headed New York City's education department. The next step is interviews with Mayor Brandon Johnson, with the goal of installing the new CEO before the 2026-2027 school year.

Why it matters

The selection of the next CPS CEO is a critical decision for the nation's third-largest school district, which serves over 316,000 students. The new leader will be tasked with addressing longstanding challenges such as budget deficits, declining enrollment, and equity issues across the diverse district.

The details

The three finalists were selected from over 100 applicants. Interim CEO Macquline King has served in the role since last June, after previously working as the senior director of education policy for CPS. Sito Narcisse led the East Baton Rouge Parish School System from 2021 to 2024, and has prior experience as a principal in Pittsburgh and Boston. Meisha Porter was the chancellor of the New York City Department of Education for a year after serving as executive superintendent for the Bronx, and taught in the district for seven years before becoming a principal.

• The Chicago Board of Education announced the three finalists this week.
• The next step is interviews with Mayor Brandon Johnson, although the timing of those interviews is unclear.
• The board aims to install the new CPS CEO before the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

What’s next

The three finalists will next interview with Mayor Brandon Johnson, although the timing of those interviews is unclear. The Chicago Board of Education aims to install the new CPS CEO before the start of the 2026-2027 school year.