The Chicago Board of Education (Board) approved the appointment of Patricia Hernandez to serve as the District’s new Chief Procurement Officer and Dr. Jerry Travlos as the Network 4 Chief of Schools. Both leaders bring decades of experience working in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to their respective new roles. Hernandez will provide key leadership and oversight of the District’s Procurement Department, including issuing solicitations, vendor management, and business diversity. Hernandez, a proud product of Nightingale Elementary and former CPS parent, is an experienced and dedicated public servant with more than 25 years’ experience supporting CPS, most recently as the District’s Acting Chief Procurement Officer. Hernandez has extensive experience in the world of procurement, with more than 25 years of service in various roles at CPS. She began her career at CPS with the Department of Investigations and Office of the Inspector General before moving to the Department of Procurement; with experience at all levels of the procurement process, Hernandez has worked her way up from senior buyer to her current role. Hernandez is a graduate of the University of Illinois – Chicago and throughout her career has obtained several certifications, including Certified Public Procurement Buyer (CPPB). She is also a member of numerous procurement organizations, including the Institute for Public Procurement (NIGP) and the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials (IAPPO).