Chief Health Officer

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 300,000 students in 600+ schools and employing over 45,000 people, all dedicated to student success. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Chief Education Officer (CEdO) and in close collaboration with the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) or their designee, the Chief Health Officer (CHO) serves as the lead health and medical authority for Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The CHO provides critical leadership for the Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) and oversees a large team, across multiple functions.

The CHO also works collaboratively with the Chief of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) to oversee the CPS School Nursing Unit. This unit currently encompasses over 600 employees and a budget of over $50M, and aims to achieve the goal of providing a full-time nurse in every school every day to meet the school nursing needs of all CPS students, including those with IEPs and 504 Plans. The CHO works directly with CDPH to promote the district’s Healthy CPS initiative and to align it with CDPH’s Healthy Chicago 2025 framework, which represents the city’s public health agenda. Extensive in its impact, this position guides health and wellness policy, health data management, student access to healthcare services, , and family enrollment in public health benefits (like Medicaid and SNAP) to create a culture of health across the district and the city. Healthy students mean healthy schools. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Chief Health Officer will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Chart the OSHW vision, articulate and promote its mission, and provide leadership and guidance to OSHW’s leadership team and programming.
• Collaborate with other CPS offices, including Social Emotional Learning, Nutrition Support Services, Safety and Security, Innovation and Incubation, and Network Support to implement Healthy CPS priorities and other initiatives to improve student health and well-being.
• Partner with CDPH to prioritize and integrate public health priorities into school health programming, policies, and activities.
• Oversee the development of school-based public health infrastructure and practices to address child health and health inequities with the leadership of school nurses and engagement of stakeholders from the school community, in partnership with CDPH.
• Develop and oversee implementation of a coordinated research and data analysis agenda regarding health of school aged children to inform a larger health agenda with city and district partners.
• Guide the strategy and implementation of school-based health services delivered in partnership with CDPH, including oral, vision and sexual health programs.
• Provide clinical, medical, and subject matter expertise in response to public health incidents and emergencies, in coordination with CDPH.
• Manage Intergovernmental Agreements with the city and state related to health policy, finance, and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as district spokesperson and subject matter expert on health policy, public health guidance, and clinical decisions.
• Represent and advocate for key district health challenges and priorities among CPS senior executive leadership, CPS Board Members, Network and school leaders, health systems and academic research partners, philanthropies, and in the media.
• Sign and assume responsibility for standing medical orders on behalf of CPS, based on professional medical judgment, and serve as the prescriptive authority for the Board for certain medical devices and medications requiring the order of a professional licensed to practice medicine.
• Build strategic relationships engaging internal and external stakeholders, partners, and academic institutions to execute multi-level strategies that target complex school health issues.
• Set and lead achievement of key priorities for OSHW through the district’s strategic planning process.
• Supervise the development, implementation and evaluation of policy-related initiative