Someone will show up in that job. I'll start hearing about it through the grapevine, and then it'll be confirmed. Regardless of the person's professional background, a firm grasp on management and finance is seen as a must. The first thing you won't be able to do is strike a deal with the teachers. If you can't do that, you might as well sell popsicles in Alaska.
Political savvy is another top prerequisite.
Vallas, who came to the school system after more than a decade of political apprenticeship in Springfield and the mayor's office, put his experience to work immediately, successfully seeking financial support from the legislature. Because even if you don't get everything you want, you at least don't get things done to you. That's the mayor's national model. Even so, some leaders put an education background high on their wish list. Barbara Radner, director of DePaul University's Center for Urban Education, specifically wants someone who taught in a city like Chicago, preferably special education.