Chicago Board of Education Selects Dr. Macquline King as Superintendent/CEO of Chicago Public Schools
30 March 2026
Interim leader chosen following national search; prioritizes District experience, elevates academic and operational excellence, and long-term District progress
CHICAGO – The Chicago Board of Education selected Macquline King, Ed.D., a District educator and leader for more than 30 years, to serve as CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Dr. King has served as interim superintendent/CEO since June 11, 2025 and will remain interim until her three-year contract takes effect July 1, 2026.
Since assuming the interim role, Dr. King has led the District through a period of transition and unprecedented challenges. She advanced a $10 billion Board-approved Fiscal Year 2025 District budget, maintained stability amid increased external immigration enforcement activity, and prioritized students’ academic opportunities, safety and well being.
“Public education is the foundation of opportunity in our city, and strong, dedicated leadership is essential to Chicago’s future,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “I am grateful to the members of the Board who carried out this process and congratulate Dr. Macquline King on her appointment as permanent CEO. 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.”
“Today’s Board action naming Dr. King as the District’s permanent leader is the result of an extensive and thoughtful search process that delivers on our commitment to put in place a leader who understands the complexity of CPS, is ready to embrace the challenges , and will create opportunities that move the District forward,” said Board President Sean B. Harden. “Dr. King has demonstrated strong leadership, vision, and a deep commitment to our students, families, and school communities.”
Dr. King expressed heartfelt gratitude as she accepted her appointment Monday, saying she was humbled and honored to serve the more than 315,000 students across the District.
"As a proud CPS graduate, teacher, mother, and principal, I am honored to lead the District that shaped me,” said Dr. King. “My priority as permanent CEO is clear: to keep students at the center of decisions and build on the academic gains of the past few years, advocate fiercely for the funding our students deserve, and move the District forward so that more students graduate ready to succeed in college, careers, and civic life.”
Dr. King began her career in CPS as a teacher, later earned her National Board Certification, the highest professional certification in the United States for educators, before becoming a principal at Alexandre Dumas Elementary School on the South side before it closed in 2013. She subsequently took on the role of principal of Courtenay Language Arts Center in Uptown which had merged with another neighborhood school. Dr. King strengthened community trust, and expanded student supports, including mental health services and restorative practices that contributed to an improved school climate.
From 2022 to 2025, Dr. King served as Senior Director of Education Policy (P-16) in the City of Chicago’s Office of the Mayor, where she aligned resources and policies across CPS, City Colleges, and early childhood programs. She also provided strategic guidance on City agency budget proposals and helped advance initiatives supporting early childhood access, career pathways, and Sustainable Community Schools.