Anusha Thotakura: In a world where systemic barriers too often dictate a child’s future, Anusha Thotakura’s leadership in public education emerges as a powerful force for change. Her journey—from a compassionate bilingual math teacher in San Jose classrooms to the Executive Director of Citizen Action/Illinois and now a trailblazing candidate for the 6th District school board—exemplifies what it means to turn personal conviction into public service.
Anusha Thotakura: From Classroom Walls to Policy Halls
Born in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and raised in the northwest suburb of Palatine, Thotakura’s educational path was marked by ambition, excellence, and an early understanding of the importance of access and opportunity. A graduate of William Fremd High School, she went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and later, a Master’s in Public Policy from the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
But her heart for community was evident long before her Ivy League days. As a Teach for America corps member teaching math to bilingual middle school students in San Jose, California, she witnessed how housing instability, food insecurity, and economic injustice were sabotaging her students’ ability to learn.
“I saw it every day,” Anusha Thotakura recalls. “No matter how much I loved teaching or how well I could explain algebra, my students were carrying invisible weights into the classroom. That’s when I knew I had to fight for them beyond the blackboard.”
An Advocate for Working Families
Driven by her classroom experiences, Anusha Thotakura transitioned from education into advocacy. She is now the Executive Director of Citizen Action/Illinois, the state’s most prominent progressive coalition advocating for healthcare access, economic justice, and educational equity. Her role as a coalition-builder has been instrumental in shaping policies that protect working families and amplify the voices of underserved communities.
Whether she’s negotiating with lawmakers in Springfield or rallying families across neighborhoods, Anusha Thotakura’s leadership in public education remains grounded in empathy and equity. She understands that improving schools requires addressing root causes—poverty, lack of healthcare, food deserts, and systemic neglect.
Anusha Thotakura: A Voice for Chicago’s Schoolchildren
Now running for a seat on the newly elected Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board, Thotakura is determined to give every student—not just a select few—the chance to attend a high-quality neighbourhood school. As she canvasses diverse zip codes across the 6th District—from Streeterville to Englewood—she hears one common concern from parents: the quality and equity of education.
“Our communities are facing a $400 million deficit, and the consequences are real,” she explains. “Larger class sizes, layoffs of critical staff like nurses and counsellors, and cuts to enrichment programs—all of it damages our students’ futures.”
Despite not being a classroom teacher anymore, her commitment to students hasn’t waned. She currently volunteers as a Debate en Español coach at Columbia Explorers Academy, mentoring Spanish-speaking students through the district’s first bilingual debate league—a program now threatened by budget constraints.
“We have brilliant students who want to express themselves and engage critically in their native language—but the funding just isn’t there,” she says. “How can we talk about equity if we won’t even fund programs that allow all students to thrive?”
Fighting for What Matters
What sets Anusha Thotakura’s leadership in public education apart is her lived experience—one foot in policy, the other firmly rooted in the realities of today’s classrooms. As a progressive, she’s vocal about her opposition to privatisation and the growing disparity between selective enrollment schools and underfunded neighbourhood schools.
“Selective schools shouldn’t be the only places with working water fountains and up-to-date technology,” she asserts. “Every child—regardless of their zip code—deserves a safe, nurturing, and well-resourced school.”
Yet she’s not against specialised learning. She’s a proponent of magnet and selective enrollment schools, but only if they serve as complements, not replacements, for comprehensive, community-based education.
“The issue is not choice—it’s access,” she adds. “When kids believe their only shot at success depends on getting into one or two schools across the city, we’ve failed them.”
Anusha Thotakura: Policy Skills with Heart and Strategy
Anusha Thotakura brings more than passion to the table—she brings policy expertise. Her work with Citizen Action/Illinois has given her a deep understanding of fiscal challenges and how to navigate legislative systems. She has collaborated with lawmakers beyond Chicago to build consensus on bills that matter.
“We won’t get more funding by asking nicely,” she notes. “We need board members who understand budget allocation, legislative coalitions, and public accountability. I’ve done that work. I know how to make Springfield listen.”
This is particularly crucial now as CPS faces not only budgetary shortfalls but also the pressure to prove the success of its first democratically elected board. Thotakura insists that this moment is a turning point: either we meet the challenge with bold leadership, or we allow inequality to deepen.
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