BIZARRE: 2 - What They Never Told You

CTU president defends sending her son to private school, calling it a result of ‘unfair choices’ for South Side families

The Chicago Teachers Union leader is facing backlash for the move. She says it represents a stark statement about disinvestment in public schools.

Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 7, 2023

Teachers reach contract agreement at Chicago art-focused school to avert strike

The teachers union and the school’s board of directors finalized a deal after more than a year of negotiations.

Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 6, 2023

Former mayor teaching Harvard students about how to deal with a pandemic — and with reporters

Lori Lightfoot’s class will include a mock press conference and a simulated community meeting. She’ll discuss the dangers of politicizing a pandemic and how to interact with the media, drawing on lessons learned amid COVID-19.

Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 4, 2023

Johnson quotes Tupac, dances around questions about health chief’s firing

The mayor was asked about Dr. Allison Arwady’s claim of being dismissed without meeting Johnson face to face. Johnson quoted slain rapper Tupac.

Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 14, 2023

New summer program for students tours Chicago pollution hotspots

A summer environmental justice class for high schoolers delves into the complicated dynamic between environment, race and power.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 23, 2023

Mayor Johnson should give cops, firefighters paid parental leave, too

The mayor has a unique opportunity to position Chicago as a leader and make life better for a whole lot of families with parents who are police officers and firefighters.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 21, 2023

Democrats choose community activist and CTU worker Tara Stamps to fill Mayor Brandon Johnson’s old County Board seat

Stamps was one of six candidates interviewed Tuesday evening by Democratic leaders representing the Chicago wards and suburban townships that make up the district that Johnson was previously elected to serve as a Cook County commissioner.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 21, 2023

Mayor Johnson paints himself into a corner by handing teachers paid parental leave

Now the Fraternal Order of Police — no surprise — wants the same benefit without bargaining. And Johnson gave Chicagoans another reason to think he’ll put his former CTU colleagues first by rubber-stamping whatever the teachers union wants.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 14, 2023

CPS’ special-education leader steps down

The change comes a week after the Chicago Teachers Union took a vote of no confidence in department chief Stephanie Jones and demanded she resign for “dismal failures to protect the district’s most vulnerable students.”

Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 9, 2023

Johnson extends 12 weeks of parental leave to Chicago Public Schools

CPS employees will get same benefit already available to other city workers beginning with 2023-24 school year.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 8, 2023