Juan Rangel

Strategy Director at Empower Illinois

Juan Rangel is a prominent figure in Chicago's education and political landscape with a diverse career spanning various roles. Currently, he serves as the President of The Urban Center, a position he holds after a long history of involvement in education and community organizations.4

Career Highlights

Charter School Leadership:: Rangel was formerly the head of the UNO charter network, which later became known as Acero. During his tenure, UNO grew to become the nation's largest Hispanic charter school operator.1 2

Political Involvement:: Rangel has been active in Chicago politics, running for alderman in the 22nd Ward in 1995, though he lost to Ricardo Munoz.1

Education Advocacy:: After his time with UNO, Rangel became involved with Empower Illinois, one of the state's top scholarship-granting organizations, where he served as a strategy director.2

Current Roles::

President of The Urban Center4
Affiliated with Urban Center Action, a super PAC involved in Chicago school board races2

Controversies and Challenges

Rangel's career has not been without controversy. In 2013, he faced significant challenges at UNO, including:

Allegations of insider contracts and nepotistic hires
An SEC investigation into bond deals related to UNO's expansion
Loss of grant money for the organization
His eventual departure from UNO in December 20131

Education and Background

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Latino Studies from the University of Notre Dame3
Attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago1

Despite the controversies, Rangel has remained active in education policy and advocacy, continuing to influence Chicago's educational landscape through his various roles and affiliations.