Meet the Candidates Running for Districts 5A and 5B

Two West Side school board races offer voters five candidates. In District 5A, incumbent Aaron “Jitu” Brown faces Realtor LaPamela Williams and write-in candidate Kernetha Jones, a retired teacher. In District 5B, incumbent Michilla “Kyla” Blaise faces Anthony Hargrove, a community program leader and former Chicago Public Schools district employee.

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LaPamela Williams

LaPamela Williams, an Austin Realtor and CPS graduate, is campaigning on financial responsibility, reducing chronic absenteeism and improving transparency. She argues that the school board should evaluate spending and programs by whether they produce measurable improvements for students.

Williams proposes protecting classroom instruction while eliminating waste, improving operations and pursuing additional funding. She opposes automatically raising property taxes to the maximum each year and says increases should be a last resort.

She supports families having access to neighborhood, magnet, selective-enrollment and charter schools. Existing charters should receive support when they demonstrate strong academic outcomes and responsible management, she says. She would consider new charters only where a community need and sustainable funding are demonstrated.

Williams answered no when asked whether she supports school closings. Her campaign also emphasizes early academic interventions, identifying barriers to attendance and incorporating feedback from students, parents and educators into district decisions.

Learn more about her here.

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Aaron “Jitu” Brown

Aaron “Jitu” Brown, an incumbent school board member and longtime education organizer, is seeking reelection with a focus on educational equity, reversing enrollment losses and strengthening neighborhood schools.

Brown opposes school closings and argues that CPS should revitalize campuses through the sustainable community schools model, connecting education with services and partnerships that respond to neighborhood needs. He identifies inadequate resources as a major obstacle to effective teaching and learning.

To address the district’s financial problems, Brown favors a coalition of families, unions, community organizations, and government leaders pressing Illinois for additional funding. He opposes automatically increasing property taxes to the maximum, saying working families should not continually shoulder the burden.

Brown opposes opening more charter schools and favors integrating existing charters into the district’s network. He also calls for stronger community connections, partnerships with Head Start programs, and opportunities for students to communicate their needs directly to board members.

Learn more about him here.

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Kernetha Jones

Kernetha Jones, a retired CPS special education teacher and Austin resident, is running as a write-in candidate. Her campaign emphasizes parental control over schooling, changes to curriculum, and hiring educators whose backgrounds reflect the communities they serve.

Jones advocates vouchers allowing parents to choose schools and opposes comprehensive sex education. She calls for greater emphasis on phonics, cursive writing, and recess, alongside improved academic performance.

She argues that teachers’ familiarity with students’ experiences is essential to effective instruction and advocates hiring more Black and Latino educators. She also proposes weekly peace circles where students can discuss their concerns with supportive adults.

Jones favors stricter limits on artificial intelligence, citing concerns about bias. She opposes automatically raising property taxes to the maximum and questions additional spending without changes to curriculum and results. Her approach to governance includes greater involvement from community pastors in decisions about schools and instruction.

Learn more about her here.

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Michilla “Kyla” Blaise

Michilla “Kyla” Blaise, an incumbent school board member and chief of staff to Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar, is campaigning on increased school funding, addressing declining enrollment and improving student mental health.

Blaise argues that Illinois should bring CPS to adequate funding under its school funding formula. In the meantime, she supports using available revenue sources, including raising the district’s property tax levy to the maximum.

She opposes school closings, citing their effects on students and surrounding communities. She points to her vote to keep Acero campuses open and identifies strengthening Marshall High School as a district priority.

Blaise supports maintaining different school options but says charter concentration has contributed to underenrollment and challenges for neighborhood schools. She generally opposes additional charters unless they address a specific unmet need.

Her proposals also include functional board committees, more student input, and age-appropriate rules governing classroom phones and artificial intelligence.

Learn more about her here.

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Anthony Hargrove

Anthony Hargrove, a program leader at Breakthrough Urban Ministries and former CPS employee, is campaigning on stronger reading and math instruction, improved special education and expanded career and vocational opportunities.

A CPS graduate and parent, Hargrove says the board should establish clear goals, measure student progress, and hold district leaders accountable. He favors transparent information about academics, attendance, safety and school climate rather than a single school rating.

Hargrove opposes school closings and automatically increasing property taxes to the maximum. He proposes strengthening existing schools, reducing waste, and seeking additional state funding before asking homeowners to pay more.

He supports neighborhood, magnet, selective-enrollment, and charter options, with consistent expectations for academic performance and financial transparency. He generally opposes charter expansion, but allows consideration where demonstrated need exists without harming existing schools.

His campaign also emphasizes listening to families and students, visiting schools, and establishing safeguards for classroom technology.

Learn more about him here.