Commissioner, Chicago Board Of Education
Jianan Shi served as the Executive Director of Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education (RYH) from 2019 until his appointment to the board in 2023. Prior to RYH, Jianan was a high school Science educator at Eric Solorio Academy, a CPS neighborhood high school on the Southwest Side. The highlight of his time at Solorio was being the faculty supervisor of the DREAM Team, a group of undocumented students who advocated for immigrant rights. Shi taught high school Biology and Neuroscience, led Science professional development, and chaired the Senior Committee.
Prior to his time in Chicago, Shi taught for three years at Codman Academy, an expeditionary learning school in Boston. He holds a Master of Education in Secondary Education in Biology from Boston College and was a Donovan Urban Scholar and NOYCE Teaching Fellow. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston College, as well.
Civic engagement is a core part of Jianan’s being. Jianan served on the ALSC at National Teachers Academy. He was a 2018 New Leaders Council (NLC) Fellow and 2019 NLC Board Member. He also was a Chicago United for Equity (CUE) Fellow (2020) and CUE Senior Fellow (2022). He was a lead volunteer at Asian American Advancing Justice and now serves as Board President of Asian American Midwest Progressives.
