Educator Advisory Committee
Deivi Aguilar| Chicago Public Education Fund
Heather leads The Fund’s work to make Chicago the best city in America to lead a public school. A firm believer that strong leadership drives student success, Heather has raised over $100 million to support and retain exceptional school leaders. She oversees a talented team, cultivates strategic partnerships, and upholds The Fund’s reputation for strong execution, deep respect for educators, and commitment to collaborative problem-solving.| Chicago Public Education Fund
On Thursday, July 31, The Fund’s chief public affairs officer, Nelson Gerew, was invited to testify at the Illinois House Executive Committee subject-matter hearing on HB4017. This bill would potentially reestablish the Chicago School Finance Authority (SFA) to oversee and support the financial integrity of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Identifying that HB4017 is one approach and that there are many other perspectives on possible solutions to find financial stability in CPS in both the shor...| Chicago Public Education Fund
The Fund’s chief public affairs officer, Nelson Gerew, testified before the Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. He pointed out that if Chicago Public Schools (CPS) does not close its projected $734 million budget gap for fiscal-year 2026, it may have to cut thousands of educator positions, leading to larger class sizes and stalled academic progress. He urged the Board of Education, district leaders, and the city of Chicago to find sustainable revenue and prevent further c...| Chicago Public Education Fund
New poll finds broad support for new revenue| Chicago Public Education Fund
Every school deserves strong leadership, but ensuring staff and students have what they need to succeed is difficult to do alone. That is why assistant principals are essential in schools across Chicago. They are the behind-the-scenes strategists, the culture keepers, the connectors, and the champions of students and staff. Danielle Pearse is an assistant principal who exemplifies the value, heart, and hard work of the role.| Chicago Public Education Fund
Our team at The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) wants to make Chicago the best place to be a public school principal. The role of school leaders in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is unique in many ways, from the students they serve to the autonomy they enjoy in their positions. These conditions are directly or indirectly determined by policy — including codified practices of the district, city ordinances, and state law. Amid unprecedented shifts in the policy landscape surrounding CP...| Chicago Public Education Fund
