Macquline King was named the permanent CEO of Chicago Public Schools following an 18-1 vote by the Board of Education on Mar. 30. King, who has served as interim chief since June after former CEO Pedro Martinez was dismissed, will now lead the district through a projected $520 million budget deficit and upcoming school board elections.
The decision ends a yearlong search for a new leader and comes at a critical time for the district. King faces significant financial challenges, ongoing debates over education policy, and expectations to maintain stability during major transitions.
During her nine months as interim chief, King dealt with closing a $734 million budget gap, immigration enforcement issues under the Trump administration, and changes in charter schools. After her appointment was confirmed, she said she would focus on building relationships across government and communities while prioritizing students in decision-making. “We cannot and we will not allow financial headwinds to jeopardize those hard won victories and our students’ confidence,” King said.
Board members praised King’s leadership during turbulent times. Elected member Che “Rhymefest” Smith told her: “What mattered most to me — the fact that there are so many pressures on you, but you’ve always centered students.” Appointed member Ed Bannon commented on the lengthy search process by saying: “The path might have seemed a little rough at times, but as the saying goes, this is what democracy looks like.” The only dissenting vote came from Jennifer Custer, who cited concerns from school leaders in her community about communication.
King began her career with CPS as a teacher in 1994 before becoming principal in 2007. She later worked as an education policy advisor for Mayor Lori Lightfoot and continued under Mayor Brandon Johnson until becoming interim chief last summer. While some past incidents raised scrutiny—such as delays reporting abuse allegations—King attributed these issues to staffing shortages rather than negligence.
Union leaders welcomed King’s appointment due to her experience within CPS ranks and willingness to engage with staff organizations. Jackson Potter of the Chicago Teachers Union highlighted King’s management of student transfers out of closing charter schools while noting looming fiscal challenges ahead for CPS. Kia Banks of the principals union noted that although disagreements may arise with King’s administration, she has shown readiness to work directly with school leaders.
Community groups also expressed support for King’s appointment amid calls for transparency during the selection process. Remel Terry from NAACP’s West Side branch said their organization felt excluded earlier but is now pleased that King will remain: “Having access and being able to speak directly to concerns and issues is a very important piece,” Terry said.
Looking forward, observers expect stability under King’s leadership through next year’s transition toward a fully elected school board.
