Paul Vallas
Paul Vallas | |
|---|---|
Vallas in March 2023 | |
| Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools | |
| In office January 3, 2012 – November 8, 2013 Acting: January 3, 2012 – June 24, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | John Ramos |
| Succeeded by | Fran Rabinowitz (acting) |
| Superintendent of the Recovery School District of Louisiana | |
| In office June 2007 – May 1, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Robin Jarvis |
| Succeeded by | John White |
| CEO of the School District of Philadelphia | |
| In office July 2002 – June 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Phil Goldsmith |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Brady (acting) |
| 1st CEO of Chicago Public Schools | |
| In office July 10, 1995 – June 26, 2001 | |
| Appointed by | Richard M. Daley |
| Preceded by | Argie Johnson (superintendent) |
| Succeeded by | Arne Duncan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Gust Vallas June 10, 1953 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Sharon Vallas (m. 1984) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Moraine Valley Community College Western Illinois University (BA, MA) |
| Signature | |
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Paul Gust Vallas Sr. (VAL-iss; born June 10, 1953) is an American politician and former education superintendent. He served as the superintendent of the Bridgeport Public Schools in Connecticut and the Recovery School District of Louisiana, the CEO of both the School District of Philadelphia and the Chicago Public Schools, and a budget director for the city of Chicago.
As a school superintendent, Vallas was noted for his embrace of charter schools and privatization of school programs and school management.
A member of the Democratic Party, Vallas has unsuccessfully sought elected office several times. Vallas was the runner-up in the Democratic primary of the 2002 Illinois gubernatorial election. He ran as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in the 2014 Illinois gubernatorial election. Vallas was a candidate in the 2019 Chicago mayoral election. He was also most recently the runner-up in the 2023 Chicago mayoral election. After finishing first in the initial round of that election without securing a majority, Vallas faced Brandon Johnson in a runoff election and was defeated.