Macquline King is the new CEO of Chicago Public Schools following an 18–1 vote.
On Monday, March 30, 2026, the city’s Board of Education voted to make her the district’s next permanent leader, ending her interim role, according to WTTW News.
“It is a responsibility I carry with the weight of every student’s future in mind,” she said, per the outlet.
Who Is Macquline King?
King taught within CPS for 12 years before serving as principal at Dumas Elementary School and Courtenay Language Arts Center. In 2022, she transitioned into a policy role, advising the mayor on “education initiatives, aligning resources and policies across CPS, City Colleges, and early childhood programs,” the city shared, according to WTTW News.
That same year, she became the city’s senior director of education policy under then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot. She continued the position after Mayor Brandon Johnson took office in 2023.
This concludes the board’s nationwide search for a permanent CEO after almost a year. A previous Board fired King’s predecessor, Pedro Martinez, without cause amid a feud with Johnson. Johnson congratulated King on Monday, expressing his support for her continued tenure with CPS.
“Public education is the foundation of opportunity in our city, and strong, dedicated leadership is essential to Chicago’s future,” Johnson said in a statement. “In her time as interim CEO, Dr. King has demonstrated commitment to the success of CPS students, teachers, and families. I look forward to continued partnership with Dr. King, educators, and community stakeholders as we work to deliver the high-quality education every student in Chicago deserves.”
King’s Commitment To Chicago Public Schools
King has already navigated a difficult time for the CPS budget, securing a balanced budget after it ran into a $730 million shortfall, according to WTTW News. Challenges remain, with the district projected to face a budget gap of nearly $1 billion in the coming years.
However, King expressed commitment to improving the district’s financial outlook and educational development — efforts she said will involve ongoing conversations with educators, families, and students, she told the outlet.
“We cannot, and we will not let financial headwinds jeopardize those hard-won victories and our students’ confidence,” King said, per WTTW News. “I will pass budgets that are moral documents, budgets that ensure the business of the district never gets in the way of the success of our students.”
In addition to support from board members, education labor leaders — including Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jackson Potter and SEIU Local 73 President Dian Palmer — also expressed optimism about working with King.
“[King] knows that sustainable progress in our schools cannot be won through top-down mandates; it is built brick by brick through honest negotiation, mutual respect, and shared sacrifice,” Palmer said, WTTW News reports. “She has done the work. She is the work.”
