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Chicago's deputy mayor for education, youth and human services is taking a leave of absence from her position amid an ongoing conflict between Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public Schools.
Deputy Mayor Jennifer “Jane” Johnson told Chalkbeat late last week that she would be on leave for the coming weeks. It is not clear for how long. A spokesman for the mayor's office said Monday that he could not comment on personnel matters.
“I'm going to take some time to really focus on my health and my family,” Johnson said, adding that she did not want her leave to be misunderstood or used for political fuel.
Mayor Johnson appointed Jane Johnson as Deputy Mayor for Education, Youth and Human Services in May 2023. Jane Johnson previously served as Chief of Staff for the Chicago Federation of Teachers and was a high school history teacher. In addition to CPS, its focus over the past year has been expanding youth jobs and helping immigrant students.
Jane Johnson, who is not related to the mayor, said in a June 2023 interview with Chalkbeat that she expected contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union to be “less painful, more inclusive, and driven by a common set of goals.”
But the talks became tense, in particular, as CTU took aim at CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, who was appointed under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
In an interview late last week, Jane Johnson said the mayor's administration had “indicated all kinds of desire to partner” with the Martinez administration.
“We really tried to work that way, so we could avoid acrimony and fighting,” Johnson said. “I don't feel like the partnership was there.”
In recent months, the relationship between the mayor's office and Martinez has become increasingly tense — with the two squabbling over how to cover looming costs, including contributing to pensions for non-teaching employees and additional expenses related to Chicago's new teachers union and school principal contracts. The conflict also comes as billions in coronavirus relief funds from the federal government expire.
Last month, Mayor Johnson asked Martinez to resign, but he refused. The school board has the sole authority to fire the district's CEO. Earlier this month, tensions escalated when all seven members of the city's mayor-appointed school board resigned amid the unrest. The mayor announced six of the seven new members the following week.
Next month, in Chicago's first school board election, city voters will elect 10 school board members and the city's mayor will appoint 11.
Becky Vivia is Chalkbeat Chicago Bureau Chief. Contact Becky at bvevea@chalkbeat.org.
