Chicago Public Schools Staff Directory: Hidden Access Tips
- 01. Chicago Public Schools Staff Directory: Where to Find It and Why It Feels Broken
- 02. Quick Access: Official CPS Staff Directory Links
- 03. Why the CPS Staff Directory Feels Broken: 5 Key Problems
- 04. Executive Leadership Team (Updated March 2026)
- 05. Alternative Contact Methods for CPS Staff
- 06. Lessons for Marist Education Leaders: Building Transparent Staff Directories
Chicago Public Schools Staff Directory: Where to Find It and Why It Feels Broken
The official Chicago Public Schools (CPS) staff directory is accessible through the Employee Search feature on the CPS Staff portal at cps.edu/staff, where you can find contact information for district employees. The district also maintains a publicly available Employee Position File listing names, job titles, departments, and salaries of all full-time CPS employees, updated as of June 30, 2023.
Quick Access: Official CPS Staff Directory Links
- Employee Search - Internal staff directory at cps.edu/staff (requires staff login for full contact details)
- Employee Position File - Public roster of all full-time employees with titles and salaries
- Executive Leadership Team - Directory of 22 C-suite executives including CEO Dr. Macquline King
- School Directory - List of 600+ CPS schools with principal contact information
- Department Directory - Network-level organizational structure for all CPS departments
Why the CPS Staff Directory Feels Broken: 5 Key Problems
Parents, educators, and researchers consistently report frustration when trying to locate CPS staff contacts because the centralized directory is fragmented across multiple systems with no unified search interface. The district serves over 340,000 students across 600+ schools with 32,665 employees, making staff navigation inherently complex.
| Problem | Impact | Root Cause |
|---|---|---|
| No public employee search tool | Parents cannot find teacher emails | Privacy restrictions limit public access |
| Executive leadership page outdated | Wrong CEO listed (Brian Smith vs. Dr. King) | Third-party sites lag behind official announcements |
| Staff portal requires login | Families locked out of contact info | HR4U system restricted to employees only |
| Employee Position File lacks phone numbers | Cannot call staff directly | Only names, titles, departments, salaries published |
| 1,450 layoffs in July 2025 | Directory entries obsolete | Budget deficit forced mass staff reductions |
Executive Leadership Team (Updated March 2026)
The current CPS leadership team includes 22 executives led by Superintendent/CEO Dr. Macquline King, who was appointed permanent CEO on March 30, 2026, effective July 1, 2026.
- Dr. Macquline King - Interim Superintendent/CEO (32 years district experience)
- Dr. Karime Asaf - Chief Education Officer (30+ years experience, former bilingual teacher)
- Charles Mayfield - Chief Operating Officer
- Julie Burnett - Chief of Staff to the CEO (25+ years experience)
- Ben Felton - Chief Talent Officer (teacher pipeline specialist)
- Wally Stock - Acting Chief Financial Officer (30 years finance experience)
- Elizabeth Barton - General Counsel (with CPS since 2019)
- Melissa Stratton - Chief Communications Officer (20+ years media relations)
Alternative Contact Methods for CPS Staff
When the directory fails, use these verified channels to reach CPS personnel:
- General Inquiries: Email info@cps.edu or call 773-553-0200 (district main line)
- Athletics Staff Directory: sportsad@cps.edu, 773-534-0700
- Ethics Violations: ethicsinquiries@cps.edu
- FOIA Requests: www.cps.edu/FOIARequests for official records
- Board Member Contacts: www.cpsboe.org under "Meet the Board"
Lessons for Marist Education Leaders: Building Transparent Staff Directories
From a Marist education perspective, CPS's directory challenges highlight the importance of transparent governance aligned with spiritual and social mission. Catholic schools in Brazil and Latin America can learn from CPS's transparency efforts (Employee Position File) while avoiding its fragmentation pitfalls by maintaining unified, accessible staff contact systems that serve families as a core value.
Marist schools should prioritize student-centered accessibility by ensuring parents can easily reach educators, reflecting Lasalle's principle that education serves the whole child through community engagement. A well-structured directory demonstrates institutional accountability and respect for families' right to information.
Key concerns and solutions for Chicago Public Schools Staff Directory Hidden Access Tips
How do I find my child's teacher contact information?
Contact your child's school directly using the School Directory at cps.edu (school profiles list principal names and phone numbers). Teachers' personal emails are not publicly available due to privacy policies; use the school's main office phone or the Aspen Parent Portal for secure messaging.
Where can I download the full CPS employee list?
The Employee Position File is available at cps.edu/about/finance/employee-position-files/, containing names, job titles, departments, and salaries for all full-time employees. This file was updated starting June 30, 2023, and excludes vacant position compensation estimates.
Who is the current CEO of Chicago Public Schools?
Dr. Macquline King was selected as permanent Superintendent/CEO on March 30, 2026, by the Chicago Board of Education. Her three-year contract begins July 1, 2026; she has served as interim CEO since June 11, 2025, following Pedro Martinez's termination.
Why can't I search for CPS staff by name?
The Employee Search tool on cps.edu/staff requires staff login credentials for privacy and security reasons. Public access is limited to the Employee Position File (no phone numbers) and executive leadership bios. Third-party sites like Leadiq claim 14,424 employee records but are not official CPS resources.
How many CPS employees were laid off in 2025?
CPS laid off 1,450 staff members on July 11, 2025, including 432 teachers, 311 paraprofessionals, 677 special education assistants, 33 security officers, and 5 parent workers to address a $734 million budget deficit. Additional teaching cuts are planned for 2026 to close a $732.5 million shortfall.
What makes a school staff directory effective for families?
An effective directory provides clear navigation by role (teacher, administrator, support staff), includes phone numbers and emails, updates within 30 days of staff changes, and offers search by name/school/department. Marist schools excel by adding pastoral care contacts and family engagement coordinators to support holistic education.
How often should CPS update its staff directory?
CPS should update its directory within 48 hours of staff changes, especially after the 1,450 layoffs in July 2025 that created obsolete entries. Real-time synchronization with HR4U and Aspen systems would prevent the confusion families currently experience.
