Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has tapped Jaime Guzman, an Illinois State Charter School commissioner, to replace Jesse Ruiz on the Chicago Board of Education.

Ruiz is now president of the Chicago Park District board.

Guzman, who is resigning from the state's charter school commission, is being recommended for vice president of Chicago's school board.

Guzman is the executive director of the Chicago-based Taproot Foundation, which connects non-profits with volunteers.

From 2007 to 2009, Guzman was in charge of the Chicago Public Schools office that, according to the district's website, "oversees the application process" for new charter, contract, performance and turnaround schools. 

"Jaime is a committed public servant who has worked tirelessly to improve our schools and opportunities for the next generation of Chicagoans," Emanuel said in a statement. "Jaime's leadership is ideal to build on the progress made by the Board, and his experience in both the classroom and as an educational administrator make him well-suited to continue driving improvements in our classrooms across the city."

In a statement, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) raised concerns about Guzman's appointment and his connections to charter schools and Teach for America, "an organization that has contributed to the massive loss of Black teachers and experienced educators both in Chicago and nationwide."

"Through overwhelming voter support for an elected school board, it's clear that the public wants a democratic board of education that represents the diverse interests of students and parents across the city," CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey said in a statement. "While Mr. Guzman does have teaching experience, which is a rarity for members of the mayor's handpicked Board, our students and their families do not need another pro-charter, politically connected rubber stamp who will continue the decimation of our neighborhood schools through charter expansion."