Dr. Miquel A. Lewis has joined Chicago’s Board of Education, according to a news release.

"I am thrilled to have Dr. Lewis step into this role," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. "His years of experience serving young people who are impacted by other institutions will be a great asset to our board and will benefit our students and teachers." 

Lewis is a lifelong resident of the city and is devoted to serving an often-neglected population of children, the news release said. He currently holds the position of acting director of Probation Services at the Cook County Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department, where he leads project teams in the development and execution of strategic public safety initiatives. 

With a specialization in forensic and organizational psychology, Lewis has accumulated 15 years of experience in the public safety sector of local government.

He is actively involved in providing education and training to graduate-level students and professionals seeking continued education certification, according to the news release. 

He also serves on the Supreme Court Advisory Board and Illinois Probation and Court Services Board. He previously served as chairman at Noble Network of Charter Schools, according to the release.

“What a privilege. I am honored by the opportunity to serve the students and the City of Chicago in this way,” Lewis said in a statement. “Education is critical in the lives of our youth. This is a pivotal time in education for Chicago Public Schools and its students. As a trained behavioral health practitioner, I look forward to sharing my expertise and experiences as a resource to center our work on the emotional wellbeing and academic success of our students.”