Deborah "Debby" Pope

Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Pope to the Chicago Board of Education in 2024 after previous members resigned.¹ She is a retired Chicago Public Schools bilingual history and English as a Second Language teacher.² She later worked for the Chicago Teachers Union as a class size coordinator and grievance correspondent.² Pope co-chairs the board’s Special Education Advisory Committee.³

Pope supports increased state funding and greater tax contributions from wealthy residents.⁴ She advocates expanding early childhood programs to help low-income families and students with disabilities.⁵ She signed a pledge supporting a three-year ban on artificial intelligence in schools.⁶ Pope has supported preserving schools and increasing community input on closures.⁴ She supports sustainability efforts like solar power and electric school buses.⁴