Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced the appointment of four new members of the Chicago Board of Education who will work to build on the significant gains made in Chicago's classrooms over the past several years. Gail Ward, Rev. Michael Garanzini, Dominique Jordan Turner and Mark Furlong will replace the four Board members whose terms expire on June 30 - Carlos Azcoitia, Henry Bienen, Deborah Quazzo and Andrea Zopp.

“Thanks to the hard work of our students, principals, teachers, parents, and community leaders, we have seen significant educational strides at CPS but there is still more work to do,” said Mayor Emanuel. “These new board members will bring valuable experience to their new roles that will help us build on our progress and address our challenges to ensure that every child in every community has the education they need for the bright future they deserve. I also want to thank Carlos, Henry, Deb and Andy, each of whom has volunteered their time to benefit Chicago’s students. Through their service, children throughout Chicago have greater educational opportunities and the chance for a brighter future."

Mark Furlong is the retired CEO of BMO Harris Bank, N.A. and the former CEO of Marshall & Ilsley Bank. He has long been committed to community service and is a member of the Trustees Committee of the Chicago Community Trust and Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago. He currently serves as a chair of Chicago United, which promotes diversity in business leadership.

Reverend Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., is a seasoned university administrator, tenured professor, author, and scholar who has spent the majority of his career working in higher education. Since 2001, he has served as the president of Loyola University Chicago, and though he is stepping down from that position at the end of June he will continue to serve in an advisory capacity to advance strategic projects for Loyola. He also brings a wealth of experience in teaching, research, service, and administrative leadership at some of the nation's leading Jesuit institutions of higher learning, including Georgetown, Fordham, Saint Louis, and Rockhurst universities, as well as Gregorian University in Rome.

Dominique Jordan Turner brings a background in urban education and high school strategy. Turner is currently the President and CEO of Chicago Scholars Foundation, which provides underserved high school students access to quality educational opportunities. She has previously served as the Chicago Director of the Posse Foundation, a college access and youth development organization, and as Regional Director of Network Growth for the KIPP Foundation. Fluent in Spanish and dedicated to public service, she was also a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Panama.

Gail Ward worked in the CPS system for more than 35 years as a teacher, counselor, elementary school principal and as the first principal of Walter Payton College Prep High School. She also served as CPS’s Chief Officer in the Office of Principal Preparation and Development. The recipient of numerous awards, Ward has worked with cultural institutions to create national and international parent and student partnership projects.

The new Board members are expected to be installed prior to the July Board of Education meeting, and will be appointed to four year terms.

Under Mayor Emanuel, Chicago has continued to see progress in the classroom with record high school graduation rates, ACT scores and attendance rates. Today CPS offers every family in Chicago a full day of kindergarten, and system-wide students now receive a full school day and a full school year. At the same time, CPS faces several challenges that threatens the gains being made in the classroom, including a $1.1 billion budget deficit, largely driven by ballooning pension payments, a broken pension system that double-taxes Chicago taxpayers and Springfield’s continued refusal to adequately fund the education that our students need.

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