WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28, 2026

Prominent defense attorney Victor Henderson, former head of the Chicago Bar Association and former CPA, listens to CPS students expressing their concerns.  Henderson calls himself an independent outsider, free from school board or union ties and therefore free to consider new ideas. Photo by John L. Alexander, ONAIR Daily News

This is the first time Chicago voters will elect the President of the Board of Education.  Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. This year voters will have an opportunity to have a direct impact on the decisions surrounding the education of their children, in an election that is only the beginning of empowering parents. Next year, all 21 school board members will also be publicly elected instead of appointed by the Mayor.

Candidates for president of Chicago's School Board met voters at a forum hosted by the City Club of Chicago Tuesday October 6, 2026, 

"The ultimate constituency for the Board of Education must be Chicago's children," stated program moderator Rufus Williams. "This evening is not about campaign slogans. It's about competence, independence, accountability, leadership and results."

Victor Henderson Promises Better Money Management

Attorney Victor Henderson served on the Board of Urban Prep Academy and is a parent. to four CPS students. He pointed out, "I'm a former Certified Public Accountant.  I know numbers.  I'm the only person in the race who has been trained to understand balance sheets income statements, cash flow analysis.  Money is the biggest problem in the District."

He noted that his position as an attorney is another asset for his candidacy, allowing him to make independent decisions without having to consider political obligations to any particular group..

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"I can sit across from CTU and negotiated their contract and I can sit across from SEIU and negotiate their contract and not have a conflict of interest, " he said.

Describing himself as a "person of faith" Henderson said he has received a lot and felt obligated to give back and help others.

"Education is one of the cornerstones here in the city of Chicago, that if we're going to raise this city together, it has to be by educating the young people who come behind us, no matterwhat  zip code they're from, no matter where their families are from, no matter what language they speak, no matter whether they need a special education teacher or not, we owe that to the children," he said. "So that's why I'm running."

"At no point have I done anything inappropriate," Dominguez said in response to past accusations of inappropriate behavior while a Special Education Teacher.   Photo by John L. Alexander, ONAIR Daily News

Hilario Dominguez Says He Fought For Student Resources

Hilario Dominguez, a lifelong Chicago with deep roots in Pilson, has worked in community organizing and education advocacy. 

"I'm here as the only candidate that actually went to Chicago Public Schools," he stated. "I'm also here as someone who has fought for the resources our students deserve."

Dominguez, most recently the deputy political director for the Chicago Teachers Union, has CTU's support despite the fact that he was accused in 2017 of inappropriately touching and speaking to a 17-year-old girl at a Pilsen-based nonprofit called The Resurrection Project . At the time, Dominguez was a special education teacher.

CPS Inspector General Philip Wagenknecht looked into the allegations. According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, he has re-opened an investigation months after closing an earlier probe into his conduct.

Dominguez's opponents are calling for him to step out of the race.  He insists he is staying until the very end.

 "I'm here to let you know that today I sat down with the office of the inspector general, and as I've already said, I'm ready to be accountable and I'm ready to actively participate in every investigation."

Jessica Biggs Said She Improved Student Reading Skills

Introduced as a current Board of Education member and an "experienced educator," Jessica Biggs is supported by SEIU, the union representing CPS support staff.  Currently a parett to a CPS student, she said that she spent the last 20 years in classrooms with students.

"We have significant numbers of students in our high schools that don't yet know how to read," she observed.  She said she managed to facilitate significant reading growth."

A fourth candidate, Sendhil Revuluri,  former Vice President of the Chicago Board of Education (serving from 2019 to 2023) suspended his campaign last week but his name will still appear on the ballot.  

All candidates have faced heavy scrutiny in this race which will change the balance of power when it comes to control of the Chicago Public Schools.