Interim CEO of Chicago district appointed to fill the job permanently

The Chicago school board has voted to appoint Macquline King as CEO of the district.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the board voted 18 to 1 Monday to give King the job on a permanent basis. She has been the district's interim CEO Pedro Martinez was fired 10 months ago.

The contract for King is effective July 1 through June 30, 2029. Her salary starts at $380,000, $40,000 more than Martinez.

King said she has confidence that Chicago schools are moving in the right direction despite “the serious challenges” the district faces.

“We will protect the progress that we’ve made with everything we have,” King said. “Our path forward is clear, it’s etched on our strategic plan centered on one thing: student experience. As your permanent superintendent/CEO, my mandate is to actualize this plan with absolute fidelity for every student, every school, every community.”

The board's intention to hire King as CEO was disclosed last week in documents posted on the district website.

Those who have worked with King say she is an expert on teaching and learning, as well as building relationships and cultivating leadership.

Unlike some past district leaders, she does not have a background in accounting and will likely have to find a strong chief financial officer to help her navigate the district’s budget and debt. The school system is projected to face a $500 million deficit next school year.

King started as a teacher in the district and became a principal of Dumas Elementary School on the South Side in 2007. In 2013, she became principal of Courtenay, a North Side elementary.

In the fall, King wasn’t among the finalists for the CEO job, which became a point of contention among some groups who supported her. But her standing among board members has risen over the last few months as she’s handled budget discussions, the closings of some charter schools and widespread immigration enforcement that affected schools.

The board went back to the drawig board anbd named King as one of three finalists earlier this month. One of the candidates, Meisha Porter, the former leader of New York City’s school system, dropped out without offering a reason.

The other finalist was Sito Narcisse, the former head of the East Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Parish district, whose past job experience was polarizing. Some praised him as a “transformational leader” but others criticized his leadership style.