The school board is expected to convene a special meeting soon to make its final pick, though the board has yet to specify an exact timeline. A simple majority \u2014 11 out of 21 members \u2014 is needed to vote in a candidate. The board office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.<\/p>\n
Porter was the first Black woman to serve as chancellor of the New York City Public Schools in 2021, overseeing more than 1 million students and 1,800 schools. The Bronx native, a former teacher and principal, is currently a fellow at a New York education nonprofit. Porter could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n
Porter was first named a finalist to lead CPS in November, along with Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero. But after their names were leaked to Chalkbeat and WBEZ\/Sun-Times, Marrero pulled out, and the school board began conducting new interviews<\/a>.<\/p>\n The protracted search has encountered other hiccups.<\/p>\n Last month, the district abruptly parted ways with its executive search firm, and six elected school members<\/a> accused Johnson and his allies of \u201crunning political interference,\u201d a claim the mayor\u2019s office has denied.<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear how much sway Johnson will have in selecting the next CEO. The school board\u2019s website, which outlines the search process, says that it \u201crecognizes the Mayor\u2019s role in the decision-making process.\u201d<\/p>\n The school board is half mayoral-appointed and half elected. Several of the elected members are backed by the Chicago Teachers Union, a close ally of Johnson, but they don\u2019t always vote in alignment with City Hall.<\/p>\n The remaining two finalists bring contrasting backgrounds to the role: Narcisse, a son of Haitian immigrants, held top jobs in school districts in Maryland, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., before moving to Baton Rouge. Interim CEO King, a Chicago native, who has spent decades as a CPS teacher and principal.<\/p>\n When King first applied for the permanent position, she was not named a finalist. But she was brought back into consideration amid growing community support for her leadership, according to board members.<\/p>\n King came to CPS from the mayor\u2019s office, where she was the senior director of education policy. Many expected her to remain aligned with City Hall, but she bucked pressure from Johnson to take out a controversial short-term, high-interest loan when CPS passed its budget in August<\/a>.<\/p>\n Narcisse served as superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools from 2021 to 2024, overseeing roughly 40,000 students. His tenure was at times contentious: He oversaw the district during a severe bus driver shortage<\/a>, according to local media, and the school board was split over a proposal to raise his salary<\/a>. The board ultimately chose not to renew his contract in a narrow vote. He is currently a partner at an education consultant firm.<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ctc-l-cps-board-meeting-04_260185357_936ef6-e1773940050710.jpg\")
Chicago Public Schools Interim CEO Macquline King attends a CPS Board of Education meeting at the Loop office on March 4, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n
![\"Broward](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ctc-L-superntendent-forums.jpg\")
Broward County Superintendent candidate Sito Narcisse answers questions during a forum with Broward County school principals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, June 14, 2023. (Amy Beth Bennett\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)