Washington and Orrock Announced Board Candidacies

Candidates have entered the race for Evanston District 65 school board seats up for election in April 2027.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Administration

Washington and Orrock Announced Board Candidacies

Live Poll

Should local school board candidates prioritize academic achievement gaps over district financial oversight?

Natika Washington and Danny Orrock have launched their campaigns for the District 65 school board. They join the upcoming race as incumbent board member Mya Wilkins announced she will not seek reelection.

Why it matters

The outcome of the April 2027 election will determine the leadership direction of District 65 for the next four years. With three seats on the ballot, the local community will decide the board's future priorities.

Candidates must gather 50 valid signatures to appear on the ballot for one of the three open four-year terms. Official paperwork must be submitted to the Cook County Clerk during the filing window.

The players

Natika Washington

She is a candidate for the District 65 school board who previously served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force.

Danny Orrock

He is a candidate for the District 65 school board.

Mya Wilkins

She is an incumbent District 65 school board member who announced she will not seek reelection.

Chris Van Nostrand

He is an incumbent District 65 school board member who is seeking reelection.

Cook County Clerk

This is the government office responsible for managing official election filing procedures for the district.

The details

Natika Washington, who served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force, and Danny Orrock have formally declared their intention to run for the school board. While Mya Wilkins is stepping down, incumbent board member Chris Van Nostrand has confirmed he will seek reelection.

Petition circulation for candidates began on August 25, 2026.
The official candidate filing period runs from November 16-23, 2026.
The District 65 school board election is scheduled for April 2027.
Terms for the incoming board members will conclude in 2031.

Roadmap

The school board election operates under the Illinois Election Code requirements for local school board ballot access. This process ensures that all candidates for the district meet the minimum threshold of local support before appearing on the ballot.

Residents of the district will see the final list of candidates confirmed after the November filing deadline. Voters should prepare to identify their preferred candidates ahead of the April 2027 election to influence district policy.

The takeaway

The upcoming election provides the local community an opportunity to shape the district's long-term educational strategy. Residents interested in the school board process can monitor the official filing results from the Cook County Clerk later this year.