Boyle, Dunneback Vie for District 9b School Board Seat
Incumbent Therese Boyle and challenger Katherine Dunneback are competing for the Chicago School Board seat representing District 9b.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Should Chicago close more neighborhood schools to address overcrowding?
Therese Boyle, an incumbent Chicago School Board member, is running against Katherine Dunneback for District 9b. The two candidates differ on charter schools and school closures.
Why it matters
District 9b contains 46 public schools, and residents are weighing concerns about overcrowding and closures alongside how the district spends its money. The race reflects broader debates over school choice and the role of the teachers union in Chicago's public schools.
District 9b contains 46 public schools, and only 13% of CPS students choose to attend their zoned public high schools, compared with nearly 57% who chose their local elementary school. Demographic breakdowns show 10% of district students are Hispanic and 11% are white.
The players
Therese Boyle
Boyle is an incumbent member of the Chicago School Board who previously spent 35 years working for Chicago Public Schools.
Katherine Dunneback
Dunneback is an adjunct clinical professor at Saint Xavier University and is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union.
Chicago Teachers Union
The Chicago Teachers Union is the labor union representing teachers in Chicago's public schools.
Service Employees International Union
The Service Employees International Union is a labor union that backs Therese Boyle in this race.
The details
Boyle spent 35 years working for Chicago Public Schools and is endorsed by groups that oppose the teachers union and support school choice, and she is backed by the Service Employees International Union. Dunneback, an adjunct clinical professor at Saint Xavier University, is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union and has spoken of expanding a program that turns neighborhood schools into community hubs.
Timeline
Last year, a majority of area schools were designated commendable, the state's second-highest ranking.
Roadmap
The District 9b contest sits within Chicago's long-running dispute over school choice, charter expansion, and the role of the teachers union in shaping district policy. The candidates' divergent positions reflect the same fault lines that have defined Chicago school governance for years.
For families in District 9b, the outcome could affect whether their neighborhood schools face consolidation or receive expanded community-hub programming. Parents weighing high school options will see how the board's direction shapes which zoned schools remain strong choices.
The takeaway
Only 13% of Chicago students attend their zoned public high schools, so families weighing secondary options should research their neighborhood schools and the programs now under debate. Watching how board members address charter schools and closures can help parents anticipate changes in their area.
Further reading
For more on how high schools are shaping local choices, see Secondary Education coverage.
Live Poll
Should Chicago close more neighborhood schools to address overcrowding?
