I AM NORMA RIOS SIERRA

And I am running for the elected school board! I have been actively involved in this community for years, working as a Parent Mentor, artist, organizer, educator, and leader in our Northwest Side Rapid Response. I was appointed to the school board in 2024, and in my time on the board, I have fought for a fair budget that doesn't put the burden on working people, for CPS processes to protect our immigrant students and families from ICE, and for the creation of a sustainable transition plan to support families in the event of a charter school closure.

A woman with long dark hair smiling, holding a colorful sign with the words "MANI PILS" and standing in an indoor art gallery or studio. She is wearing a blue T-shirt with pink lettering and has a beige shoulder bag. The background shows artwork on the walls, a mirror, and a person taking her picture in the reflection.
Illustration of a monarch butterfly with orange and black wings on a purple background.
A woman and a young boy squatting on a sidewalk next to a sidewalk art of a bear paw print with the words 'Hermosa' above it and 'Cultural' below it, created with wet cement.
A woman and a young boy squatting on a sidewalk next to a sidewalk art of a bear paw print with the words 'Hermosa' above it and 'Cultural' below it, created with wet cement.

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“Quiero Seguir luchando para que todos los estudiantes de nuestro distrito puedan asistir a una escuela con todos los recursos necesarios, donde se sientan bienvenidos y seguros. Creo en escuelas con financiacion completa que apoyen a nuestros hijos!”

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Stylized illustration of a monarch butterfly with black and orange wings on a light background.

“I am running for the school board so that every student across our district can go to a fully resourced school where they feel welcome and safe. I believe in fully funded schools that support our students”

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A woman at a podium with a sign that reads 'Resilience, Unity & Respect,' raising her fist in the air and smiling.
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A group of six people standing indoors, holding a purple banner that reads 'NORMAND RIOS-SIERA CHICAGO SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 3A'. Behind them are several campaign banners on the wall, including supporters for Anthony Quezada and Jessica Vasquez. The group is smiling and posing for the photo, with some raising their fists.
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Presentation slide for a campaign titled 'Campaign For A Welcoming Illinois,' supported by over 60 Illinois community organizations advocating for the TRUST ACT, with a photo of protesters holding signs, and two women speaking in front of the slide.
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Volunteer!

Chicago School Board District 3A

I was born in Mexico City and raised in Logan Square. I grew up to become an artist, activist, and am running to be the first ever elected school board member for District 3A!

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Find Your District
Find Your District

My Priorities

In a world-class city like Chicago, every student should be able to walk to a fully resourced school that meets their needs and supports their families. I will collaborate with elected leaders at every level of government to champion progressive funding streams that can fund our schools in every neighborhood with the resources needed to provide the best education that our students deserves.

That Means…….

  • I have talked to hundreds of young people in CPS through my arts education work at Palenque LSNA and what I have learned is that our youth are hurting. The most requested service is access to mental health services and safe spaces.  In this increasingly traumatizing climate, our young people need welcoming, peer-directed, safe spaces to resolve conflicts and reduce stress and access to on-site mental health care in schools.

  • As an arts educator and cultural events planner, I know that art is essential and should be accessible to all our students and communities. It is not just my personal experience, the data shows that arts education is closely linked to positive academic outcomes and emotional well-being. I will work to expand equitable access to arts education across all CPS school.

  • I have heard directly from students, teachers, and parents, and I have spent years advocating for our immigrant community, so I know the deep impact of ICE raids on our school communities.  That is why I pushed for clear and consistent communication from CPS and helped ensure that families impacted would have access to support. Our schools and communities continue to be under attack from the current administration in Washington and  I will always use my role to advocate for the safety and well-being of all of our students and families.

  • Our city's diversity is our greatest strength. Honoring our communities’ history means fighting for language access and language education. As a parent mentor coordinator and as an immigrant student myself, I experienced firsthand the challenges parents and students face when language is a barrier.  Parents need access to translation and interpretation to be able to advocate for their children and to promote community connection. I will support the expansion of dual language programs and the development of more bilingual professionals who can help students master bilingual language skills.

  • There is an enormous amount of stress and harm that is created when schools close in the middle of the year. This happens when decisions are made based on a business’s bottom line rather than students' well-being. Publicly funded and operated schools must ensure that students’ needs are always put first. I will fight to protect taxpayer dollars against any policy that privatizes our schools or funnels public money away from public education.

Mis Prioridades

En una ciudad como Chicago, todos los alumnos deberian poder ir a una escuela con todos los recursos necesarios, que apoyen con las necesidades de la familia. Colaborare con los representantes electos de todos los niveles de gobierno para promover fuentes de financion progresistas que puedan financiar a nuestras escuelas en cada comunidad con los recursos necesarios para proveer la mejor educacion para los estudiantes.

Esto significa:

  • He hablado con cientos de jóvenes en CPS a través de mi trabajo en educación artística en Palenque LSNA, y lo que he aprendido es que nuestros jóvenes están sufriendo. El servicio más solicitado es el acceso a servicios de salud mental y a espacios seguros. En este clima cada vez más traumático, nuestros jóvenes necesitan espacios de bienvenida, dirigidos por sus propios compañeros y seguros para resolver conflictos y reducir el estrés, así como acceso a atención de salud mental en las propias escuelas.

  • Como educadora artística y organizadora de eventos culturales, sé que el arte es esencial y debe ser accesible para todos nuestros alumnos y comunidades. No se trata solo de mi experiencia personal: los datos demuestran que la educación artística está relacionada con los buenos resultados académicos y el bienestar emocional. Trabajaré para ampliar el acceso equitativo a la educación artística en todas las escuelas del CPS.

  • He escuchado directamente a los alumnos, los profesores y los padres, y llevo años defendiendo a nuestra comunidad inmigrante, y reconozco el profundo impacto que tienen las redadas de ICE en nuestras comunidades escolares. Por eso he insistido en que CPS mantenga una comunicación clara, coherente y ayude a garantizar que las familias afectadas tengan acceso a apoyo. Nuestras escuelas y comunidades siguen siendo objeto de ataques por parte de la actual administración en Washington y  siempre utilizaré mi función para defender la seguridad y el bienestar de todos nuestros estudiantes y familias.


  • La diversidad de nuestra ciudad es nuestra mayor fortaleza. Honrar la historia de nuestras comunidades significa luchar por el acceso lingüístico y la educación en idiomas. Como coordinadora de mentores para padres y, como estudiante inmigrante, he vivido los retos a los que se enfrentan padres y alumnos cuando el idioma es una barrera. Los padres necesitan acceso a servicios de traducción e interpretación para poder defender los intereses de sus hijos y promover la conexión con la comunidad. Apoyaré la ampliación de los programas bilingües y el desarrollo de más profesionales bilingües que puedan ayudar a los estudiantes con las habilidades lingüísticas bilingües.

  • El cierre de las escuelas a mitad de curso causa un enorme sentido de estrés y perjuicios. Esto ocurre cuando las decisiones se toman basándose en los resultados económicos de las empresas en lugar del bienestar de los alumnos. Las escuelas financiadas con fondos públicos deben garantizar que las necesidades de los alumnos siempre sean la prioridad. Lucharé para proteger el dinero de los contribuyentes a cualquier política que privatice nuestras escuelas o desvíe fondos públicos de la educación pública.