Dr. Brenda Lee Anderson is a nationally recognized educator and education policy expert with experiences that mirror the vast majority of Chicago Public Schools students, families, and communities. They are running a people-powered campaign to represent District 6A on Chicago’s first ever fully elected school board.
Dr. Anderson is a first generation high school graduate (the first in their family of 6 children to graduate). During K-12, they attended neighborhood publics, a charter school (that was closed down!), and briefly attended a parochial school while in foster care. After high school, they went on to earn a bachelor's and then a master’s that launched their career as an educator.
Dr. Anderson advocates for the educational needs of students experiencing transitions and impacted by extenuating circumstances. They work directly with and support first-generation and low income students, immigrant students, and LGBTQ+2S students. During their time at the University of Arizona, Brenda developed the first ever confidential support services for survivors impacted by sexual violence. Dr. Brenda has also been nationally recognized for their work in education as the New Case Manager of the Year by the Higher Education Case Managers Association, and the Rising Star for Inquiry Award by NASPA.
Their career working with and advocating for students navigating challenges across their educational trajectories drove them to pursue a PhD in education. Dr. Anderson investigates the very intersections of education and social policy that affected theirs and so many other student’s lives. Their research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, and they were recognized for their dissertation work as one of the most promising educational scholars by the National Academy of Education and The Spencer Foundation. During their time as a doctoral student, Dr. Anderson was recognized for their leadership especially related to advocacy around educational policy. After earning their PhD, they have taught and researched at Northwestern University, focusing on educating the next generation of educators, policymakers, and thinkers influencing the future of education and social policy.
Schools have served as safe haven and sites of possibility for Dr. Anderson to explore, learn, and grow—they wouldn’t have gotten a whole PhD otherwise! They believe in the potential of public schools to transform lives, just as education has transformed theirs. So, they’ll bring that vision as Chicago Public Schools Board Member representing District 6A.
Dr. Brenda Lee's key priorities are designed to make public education as public as possible by ensuring that CPS has student-focused governance, student-focused outcomes, and student-focused educational systems.
Dr. Brenda Lee’s campaign is powered by people like you who believe in a future that puts our community first.
Every dollar you chip in goes directly toward the tools we need to win: reaching more voters, printing materials, and fueling our grassroots organizing efforts across district 6A.