Next public schools chief could be named ‘soon’

Mayor Richard M. Daley said he expects to name a new public schools chief soon and indicated that Chicago Transit Authority President Ron Huberman and Chicago Public Schools’ Chief Education Officer Barbara Eason-Watkins are among the candidates being considered.

“I expect to name someone very soon,” he said at a Friday news conference.

One candidate no longer in the running for the top post is Mary Ellen Caron, a former special assistant to Arne Duncan. Duncan resigned as chief executive officer for CPS to become the new U.S. Secretary of Education. On Friday, Mayor Daley appointed Caron commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services, a new city department.

“She was a candidate for the schools chief position, but now she is my commissioner,” Mayor Daley said.

Earlier this month, Watkins told the Defender she had been interviewed by the mayor and is interested in the position.

“We’ll just wait and see what happens,” she said.

Huberman was unavailable for comment.

Prior to joining the CTA, Huberman served as the mayor’s chief of staff.

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