Yesenia Lopez retains District 7b seat in Chicago School Board election
With a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Journalism from Loyola University Chicago, Lisa Nguyen has dedicated her career to covering educational issues in the city. She has worked for WBEZ, focusing on local initiatives and reforms affecting Chicago schools.
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District 7b neighborhoods: Brighton Park, Lower West Side, Archer Heights, Bridgeport, Gage Park, West Elsdon, Armour Square, McKinley ParkDespite losing the backing of the Chicago Teachers Union, Yesenia Lopez was elected Tuesday to serve four more years on the school board.As of early Wednesday morning she received 69% of the vote with 97% of precincts reporting, according to the Associate Press.Lopez fended off a challenge from Erika Diaz-Chavez, a project manager at the Chicago Park District, who attended private schools growing up. Diaz-Chavez’s biggest campaign donation came from the Illinois Network of Charter Schools’ political arm. The Urban Center, which promotes school choice and private schools, also contributed to her campaign.In a statement, Diaz-Chavez said the results were not what she hoped for but she remained grateful to those who supported her campaign.“I am proud of the campaign we ran and the people who stood alongside me,” Diaz-Chavez said. “My commitment to our