To help inform voters on who’s running for Chicago’s elected school board, the baiduhai education team posed a series of questions to the candidates in each district. These questions ranged from basic information on their background and campaign platform to their stance on several issues facing Chicago Public Schools.
See the answers from Ellen Rosenfeld, candidate for elected school board in the 4th District, below.
About the Candidate
Name: Ellen Rosenfeld
Age: 57
Neighborhood: North Center
School District: 4
Education: Bachelor of Arts in communications, Arizona State University; Master of Education, University of Illinois Chicago
Current Job: Family and community engagement specialist at Chicago Public Schools
Previous Political Experience: I am a dedicated education professional and active parent with a deep connection to Chicago Public Schools as both a parent and educator. I taught 3rd grade at Hartigan and Dulles Elementary Schools and served as a parent representative and chairwoman on the Local School Council, as well as on the Local School Council Advisory Board. Currently, I work as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist at CPS and help run a Parent University.
Questions and Answers
In the interest of transparency, the candidate’s responses shown here are published as written and have not been edited by the Tribune.
Did you attend Chicago Public Schools or is anyone in your immediate family a CPS student? Yes, an immediate family member.
Have you worked at Chicago Public Schools or another school? What is your background in education?
I taught 3rd grade at Hartigan and Dulles Elementary Schools and served as a parent representative and chairwoman on the Local School Council, as well as on the Local School Council Advisory Board. Currently, I work as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist at CPS and help run a Parent University. With almost 30 years in the field, I have witnessed both successes and challenges within CPS, advocating for high-quality education for all children, regardless of their backgrounds.
Why are you running for a seat on the Chicago Board of Education?
I have been an involved parent for all four of my children, all of whom attended CPS K-12 schools. As an education professional, I taught 3rd grade at Hartigan and Dulles Elementary Schools, served as a Local School Council parent representative and chairwoman, and served on the Local School Council Advisory Board. My dedication to education goes even further—I currently work as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist at CPS and help run a Parent University. My personal connection to CPS, as a parent, a teacher and a community member, gives me a unique understanding of the system. I have seen where CPS has been successful and where they face challenges. I stand firm in my belief that every child regardless of income, race, religion, or circumstances, deserves a safe, rigorous, high-quality education. I have witnessed children and families thrive at CPS, while others struggle. My diverse experiences have provided me with a deep understanding of the complexities and opportunities within the education system, particularly in Chicago Public Schools. Serving on the Board of Education would be the perfect way to marry the knowledge I have earned with my sincere desire to improve student outcomes across Chicago schools. It would provide me with the opportunity to use my experiences and insights to make a broader impact on education policy and practices for all of our students.
How would you describe your district?
District 4 encompasses Chicago’s northern neighborhoods, including Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, North Center and Uptown. It is a diverse and vibrant area, blending affluence with unique challenges. While it’s a great place to live, with a strong sense of community, the district faces academic achievement gaps that disproportionately impact students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Although District 4 is relatively small with 34 schools, we have academic achievement gaps that affect students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
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How would you describe your campaign platform?
As a long-time CPS parent, former teacher, and Family and Community Engagement Specialist, my campaign is all about putting students first and making sure our schools are places where every child can thrive. I believe in educational equity, meaning every student, regardless of where they live or their background, deserves access to high-quality education, well-funded schools, and the resources they need to succeed. I am committed to long-term solutions that focus on supporting students, improving the district’s finances responsibly, and empowering families and communities to have a real voice in the future of CPS. I’m also a strong advocate for ensuring that our teachers and staff have the tools, training, and support to do their jobs effectively and that schools offer more comprehensive services to meet the diverse needs of our students. Transparency, accountability, and collaboration are key pillars of my platform—I will work to make sure the community has a real say in decisions that affect our children’s education. At the end of the day, my goal is to bring a fresh, independent perspective to the school board and make CPS a place where all students have the opportunity to succeed.
What is the single most important issue facing CPS students?
The most important issue facing CPS students is educational equity. While there has been some progress, significant disparities remain in the quality of education students receive depending on where they live, their family’s income, and factors like language barriers or special needs. We need to ensure that all CPS students, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality teachers, well-funded schools, comprehensive support services, and enrichment opportunities.
Provide three to four key points you want voters to know about your campaign.
- FIRST KEY MESSAGE Keeping Students Safe – I fully support implementing and funding CPS’s new school safety plan because safety is about more than physical security. To improve safety and create a positive learning environment, we need to prioritize mental health resources, expand restorative justice programs, and ensure staff are trained in conflict resolution. Strong, trusting relationships between students, teachers, and families are essential. I envision schools where students feel a deep sense of belonging, diversity is celebrated, and everyone can express themselves in a safe space. By fostering respect, we create safer schools and thriving communities.
- SECOND KEY MESSAGE Improving Student Experiences – I support innovative solutions, like forming strategic partnerships with major corporations based in Chicago. Imagine the impact of companies like Google, Microsoft, and over 30 other Fortune 500 companies joining forces with CPS. They could provide not only financial support but also valuable resources and real-world opportunities for students. I’ve seen this work when Lettuce Entertain You partnered with my 3rd-grade class at Hartigan Elementary, sponsoring holiday gifts, a downtown trip, and a special lunch. Partnerships like these could bridge funding gaps and enrich education, building a brighter future for Chicago students.
- THIRD KEY MESSAGE Authentic Community Engagement — When considering new policies or major decisions, I will actively seek input from a diverse group of stakeholders. This includes deliberately reaching out to Local School Council members, who, in my experience, are often strong advocates for their communities. Authentic community engagement means building meaningful, ongoing partnerships between schools and the communities they serve, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. I am committed to maintaining transparency and providing opportunities for community members to shape decisions that directly affect them. True engagement is not a one-time consultation but rather an ongoing process built on trust.
Given this year’s budgetary problems and disagreements on how to solve them, what do you propose for the district’s funding in future years? Would you support the district in taking on any loans in future years to fund the annual budget?
The current high-interest loan taken on by the district is a reckless decision that will burden CPS with unnecessary debt and divert critical funds away from our classrooms and students. High-interest loans can lead to long-term financial problems. However, I recognize that in future years, depending on the severity of budget challenges, a low-interest loan may be necessary to address urgent needs or correct past mistakes. Any borrowing must have strict oversight, be at the lowest possible interest rate, and be directed toward investments that directly improve student outcomes and the overall quality of education.
The Chicago Board of Education recently adopted a new 5-year Strategic Plan. Which aspects do you support and which would you change, if any?
One aspect of the new 5-year Strategic Plan that I fully support is the focus on equity. It’s crucial that every student, no matter their background or neighborhood, has access to a quality education. This aligns with my core beliefs and is a big reason why I’m running for the school board. I also appreciate the emphasis on improving mental health services and social-emotional learning, especially after the challenges our students faced during the pandemic. However, I believe the plan could do more to address school funding by advocating for equitable resource distribution across all CPS schools—without taking away from schools that are already performing well. There also needs to be greater transparency in how these funds are allocated and spent. Lastly, while the plan acknowledges the importance of partnerships and family engagement, I think there should be an even stronger focus on involving parents and local communities in the decision-making process. Families should have a real voice in shaping the future of our schools.
As thousands of migrant families settle in Chicago, how should the District handle the influx of English learners? What more should be done to ensure consistent bilingual education is provided and funded?
The district must be proactive in supporting the influx of English learners to ensure they receive a high-quality education. Expanding dual language academies across the city is key—these programs not only improve academic outcomes but also promote bilingualism and biliteracy, which benefit all students. Additionally, we need to increase investments in recruiting, training, and retaining bilingual teachers by offering competitive salaries, professional development opportunities, and pathways for current educators to become certified in bilingual education.
Providing robust support for migrant families is also essential. The District should work closely with families to offer resources like workshops on navigating CPS, ESL classes, and more. My experience with Parent University has shown me the value of empowering parents with the tools and knowledge to support their children’s education. These efforts will create a better school system for all students and families.
Do you believe the district has historically underinvested in South and West side schools? Yes.
If yes, what solutions would you propose to address inequities and opportunity gaps in the school system?
I believe the district has historically underinvested in South and West side schools. To address these inequities and opportunity gaps, we need to focus on equitable resource allocation by providing additional funding for special education, mental health services, and extracurricular activities. Implementing specialized intervention programs like tutoring, mentoring, and summer learning opportunities can offer crucial support to students who need extra help. Additionally, expanding Parent University classes in these areas would empower families with resources and knowledge to better support their children’s academic and personal development, creating a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.
Since his election, Mayor Johnson has indicated a desire to move away from school choice and bolster neighborhood schools. This was recently reinforced by in the District’s 5-year Strategic Plan. Do you share this position? Why or why not?
I don’t believe this should be an “either-or” discussion. We should never consider closing some of the best schools in the state. Instead, we need to raise the bar and work toward making all of our neighborhood schools the best they can be. Families know their children best, and they should be able to choose the school that is the best fit for their child. Strengthening neighborhood schools is important, but it must be done alongside giving families options to find the right environment for their children to thrive.
What solutions do you propose to provide busing for students at selective enrollment and magnet schools?
Addressing the ongoing school bussing challenges in CPS, particularly for special education students and those attending magnet and selective enrollment schools, is crucial to ensuring equitable access to education. I will prioritize a plan to tackle this issue. I want to start by acknowledging driver shortages. CPS must offer competitive wages, benefits, and incentives, such as signing bonuses, to attract and retain qualified bus drivers. Additionally, we have to work with city colleges or workforce development programs to create a pipeline for training and licensing new bus drivers and collaborate with our CTE program already in high schools to offer training and licensing new bus drivers. I will push for the use of data analytics and routing technology to improve bus route efficiency. This will help CPS save money and find more streamlined routes that make better use of existing resources. Another goal of mine is to collaborate with groups like CPS Parents for Busses, which have done a lot of research on this topic. I will make it a priority to ensure that all students in CPS have access to safe, reliable, and equitable transportation.
Please share your thoughts on how the District and the Chicago Teachers Union can settle on a new 4-year contract.
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To settle on a new four-year contract, the district and the CTU should prioritize collaboration and develop a shared vision for student experiences and outcomes. Focusing on data-driven solutions rather than emotional responses will facilitate constructive negotiations and lead to a more effective agreement.
In 2024, Chicago Public Schools’ average literacy proficiency rate is 31%, an increase from pre-pandemic years. These rates, however, were lower for students from low-income families, English learners and students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs). How should the district seek to improve literacy rates going forward?
To improve literacy rates, the District must take a comprehensive approach. First, we need to expand early literacy programs, investing in young learners to build a strong foundation from the start. For struggling readers, we should implement data-driven, individualized reading programs that provide intensive support tailored to each student’s needs. Engaging families in literacy development is also key. By utilizing resources like Parent University, we can offer family literacy workshops to help parents support their children’s reading at home. Lastly, we should enhance teacher professional development by providing ongoing training in literacy instruction, focusing on culturally responsive curriculums that connect with students’ diverse backgrounds.
What is your position on expanded funding and renewal terms for charter schools?
I believe selective enrollment schools, magnet schools and other options play a vital role in our education system, especially in District 4, where their students constantly produce strong educational outcomes. Eliminating these options would only serve to create a worse educational experience for the students, and I believe parents should have the option to choose what is best for their children. The challenge of funding inequalities should not be addressed by redistributing resources away from high-performing schools. Instead, we must find alternative sources of funding and streamline the CPS budget to eliminate inefficiencies. Ultimately, our goal is to grow educational equity while preserving the exceptional educational landscape already embedded in many schools across CPS.
Please provide your thoughts on how to keep Chicago Public Schools as safe havens for students to learn and flourish fear of violence. How do you propose the district approach this?
I fully support implementing and funding CPS’s new school safety plan. However, I believe school safety goes beyond just physical security. To truly improve safety and create a positive learning environment, we must prioritize mental health resources, expand restorative justice programs, and ensure we have staff trained in conflict resolution. Strong, trusting relationships between students, teachers, and families are essential for creating schools where everyone feels valued and heard.