Christopher Graves

Christopher Graves is the principal at Jordan Elementary and was previously the principal of LaSalle Language Academy, a K-8th-grade magnet lottery school in Chicago Public Schools. With over a decade of experience as a school administrator, he's taught and led schools in Sumter, South Carolina, Columbus and Bloomington, Indiana, and Chicago. He first went into leadership after seeing how inequities across schools, communities, and our nation were impacting students beyond the classroom, and was determined to pursue solutions through leadership avenues.

Graves is a passionate advocate for student success, both emotionally and academically. As a leader, he has worked to bring diverse voices to the table. When students, staff, and families share their experiences, they drive change. He continues to evolve his skills as a doctoral candidate with Illinois State University, focusing his research on advocating for and implementing policies that disrupt the "school to prison pipeline," through leadership roles with the Chicago Public Education Fund, and by collaborating with the community and elected leaders.

Graves and his wife Janelle live in Portage Park, with their Frenchie Amelie, and their greyhound Ruby, enjoying "zoomies" in their yard as much as possible.