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Chicago’s deputy mayor for education, youth and human services is leaving his position amid an ongoing dispute between Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public Schools.
Vice Mayor Jennifer “Jen” Johnson told Chalkbeat late last week that she would be taking a vacation for the next few weeks. It is unclear how long. A spokeswoman for the mayor’s office said Monday that she could not comment on personnel matters.
“I’m going to take some time to really focus on my health and my family,” Johnson said, adding that he didn’t want his time off to be misunderstood or used for political fodder.
Mayor Johnson appointed Jen Johnson as Deputy Mayor for Education, Youth and Human Services in May 2023. Jen Johnson previously served as chief of staff for the Chicago Teachers Union and as a high school history teacher. In addition to CPS, her focus over the past year has been on growing youth employment and supporting immigrant students.
Jen Johnson, who is not related to the mayor, said in a June 2023 interview with Chalkbeat that contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union would be “less painful, more inclusive, and based on common goals.” He said he was hopeful that he would be able to do so.
But negotiations are tense, with CTU specifically targeting CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, who was hired under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Jen Johnson said in an interview late last week that the mayor’s administration has “demonstrated all kinds of a desire for a partnership” with the Martinez administration.
“We’ve made a real effort to operate that way to avoid acrimony and fighting,” Johnson said. “I don’t believe there was a partnership.”
Relations between the mayor’s office and Mr. Martinez have become increasingly strained in recent months, with the government trying to figure out looming costs, including non-teaching pension contributions and additional costs related to new contracts between the Chicago Teachers Union and principals. Both parties are exchanging opinions on whether to cover the costs. The dispute also comes as billions of dollars in coronavirus relief money from the federal government expires.
Mayor Johnson asked Martinez to resign last month, but Martinez refused. The school board has the sole authority to remove the district CEO. Tensions boiled over earlier this month when all seven members of the school board appointed by the mayor resigned amid the turmoil. The mayor announced six of the seven new members the following week.
Chicago’s first school board election will be held next month, with city voters electing 10 school board members and the mayor appointing 11.
Becky Vevea is Chalkbeat Chicago’s bureau chief. Contact Becky at bvevea@chalkbeat.org.
