<p>CHICAGO — The leader of Chicago Public Schools announced Monday that she’s leaving the post later this year because it’s time to “pass the torch” to new leadership of the nation’s third-largest school district.</p>
<p>The move follows a tumultuous tenure for longtime educator Janice Jackson, who became CEO in 2018 after twice serving in the post temporarily following scandals involving both of her predecessors.</p>
<p>Among other things, Jackson oversaw schools during an 11-day teachers strike <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-schools-us-news-ap-top-news-strikes-international-news-424b63b8d83f4511bdd114bb8cb87710">in 2019, </a> community uproar over <a href="https://apnews.com/article/037ba09d4cd24bed8f37cc28647ef20e">proposed high school closures </a> and numerous fights with the Chicago Teachers Union this year over reopening plans following coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The battles nearly <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-lori-lightfoot-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-0e92e0c1b4b329d2ddc8121c5313b835">resulted in a strike</a> this year as students prepared to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-5ce52f7482e48f33f14804fc9c3c1ec7">return to classrooms</a> since going remote in March 2020. </p>
<p>In a letter to CPS families, Jackson acknowledged the difficult parts of her term but said it was an honor to serve Chicago’s children. Roughly 355,000 students attend the city’s public schools. </p>
<p>“While I feel there is still more work to be done in CPS, I also believe it is time to pass the torch to new leadership for the next chapter,” Jackson wrote in a letter. She was expected to address reporters later Monday.</p>
<p>Jackson said she won’t renew her contract, which expires June 30. </p>
<p>Jackson, who grew up in Chicago and attended city schools, has worked as a teacher and principal, and has held several leadership roles in the district.</p>
<p>She was chosen as interim CEO in 2015 when Barbara Byrd-Bennett <a href="https://apnews.com/article/82b43453ad4a49ba90d63a8989485caf">left in a kickbacks scandal</a> that led to prison time. Two years later, she was again named interim schools chief when then-CEO Forrest Claypool suddenly <a href="https://apnews.com/article/05eb9c3b059b4b1aa1e1d31c42cfa12d">resigned amid an ethics probe</a>. She assumed the job full time in 2018. </p>
<p>Her tenure also saw the results of historic school funding reform, which was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/b6044f2c0494437a81c7739c3717a7d3">signed into law</a> in 2017. Jackson said she remains committed to making sure schools reopen full time in the fall. </p>
<p>“Despite a disruptive year, CPS is emerging stronger than ever,” she said. “Fiscally we have made great improvements including increasing school funding equity and making significant investments in schools and students with a focus on underserved communities." </p>
<p>Her announcement comes as the district’s second-highest ranking administrator, LaTanya McDade, has said she is leaving at the end of the school year for <a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-boards-education-virginia-55911b036f6888503596ef78a575675a">a job as superintendent</a> of a Virginia School District.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Follow Sophia Tareen on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/sophiatareen">https://twitter.com/sophiatareen</a></p>
