The Latest Breaking News from Jesse Sharkey

Annette Guzman, budget director for Cook County, will be city budget director under Johnson. Jennifer Johnson, chief of staff at the CTU, where Brandon Johnson has been a paid organizer, will serve as deputy mayor for education.

The union has spent years fighting the policies of the political establishment. Now, one of its own must deal with the realities of governing.

The 25,000-member union remains in the hands of leaders who have fought for social justice inside and outside classrooms while creating a constant power struggle against the mayor’s office and Chicago Public Schools leadership.

“This is a good opportunity to remind our CPS staff and families to please get vaccinated and boosted,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said. “Because of the vaccine, I expect that I will be fine.”

CPS educators next week will choose between competing visions for the union: Should the group continue fighting for social issues inside and outside the classroom, or should it instead focus on classic teacher concerns like pay preparation time and pensions?

About 150 parents with several community groups rallied outside CPS’ Loop headquarters Wednesday ahead of the monthly Board of Education meeting to decry budget cuts at their schools.

CHICAGO — Officials with the Chicago Teachers Union argued Monday that the halting of the universal masking requirement at Chicago Public Schools last month violated their COVID-19 safety agreement by rescinding a key tenet of the plan without reopening collective bargaining.

The Chicago Teachers Union is suing a former top adviser to Mayor Lori Lightfoot and a “Jane Doe” over their alleged interference in the May election of union officers.

Lisa Schneider Fabes said she has not had an opportunity to review the lawsuit from CTU but believes she “acted at all times consistent with applicable law.”