Our team had the pleasure of meeting Hilario Dominguez who is running for president of the Chicago Board of Education at an open mic night in Chicago. Impressed by his goals and passion, we secured an exclusive interview with him/his team.
Hilario Dominguez is the only candidate in the race who graduated from CPS. He grew up in Pilsen, the son of a house cleaner and a truck driver, and went to Greene, Galileo, and Whitney Young. After Johns Hopkins, he came home to teach special education in Humboldt Park and spent six years in the classroom. He served on his old high school's Local School Council, then led education funding fights as an education organizer and advocate. He is running on universal pre-K at age three, better food in cafeterias, community schools in every neighborhood, and a paid job for every student before graduation. He lives on the Lower West Side with his wife and son.
What are some of his major achievements?
Six years teaching special education in CPS. Helping win the campaign for Chicago's first elected school board. Defeating school voucher expansion in Illinois. Bringing five Acero campuses under district management when a charter network tried to close them. Getting School Resource Officers out of Whitney Young while serving on its Local School Council.
How does he use his platform for good?
Students and communities first! For six years, his job was ensuring young people received the services they were legally owed. Since then, helping parents organize to keep their schools open, building sanctuary teams so immigrant families knew their rights, and pushing Springfield for the money this district is owed.
What are his current projects?
The campaign and the four things he is running on: universal full-day pre-K starting at age three, real food in cafeterias instead of a $100 million contract students throw away, Sustainable Community Schools in every neighborhood , and a paid job for every high school student before graduation.
Who does he credit for his success?
His parents, family, and faith. His mother cleaned houses, his father drove a truck, and they sent him to CPS schools that opened doors. His teachers, and Dr. Kenner, his principal at Whitney Young, who has endorsed this campaign. His wife, a CPS assistant principal. And his son, a future CPS kid.
What is his ultimate goal?
A Chicago where a family's ZIP code stops predicting the quality of the school down the block, and no family has to win a lottery or cross the city to get their child a good education. His son will grow up in this district - he is fighting so that his kid, and all CPS kids, can enter pre-K and graduate high school from fully funded.
Support Hilario
Election Day is November 3. Early voting is open now downtown and opens in all 50 wards on October 19. Any Chicago voter can vote at any early voting site.
hilarioforcps.com
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