Erika Peterson is the Student Application Manager for the Chicago Public Schools Office of Access & Enrollment, a role she has held since 2022. In this role, she manages the K-8th grade application process, guiding families in evaluating and selecting from over 400 school options. Erika is committed to making this often complex process more accessible and understandable for families. Before joining CPS, Erika spent a decade in Chicago’s Catholic schools, beginning as a middle school teacher and later becoming the Curriculum Director of a PK-8 school. Despite her extensive experience in private education, her passion lies firmly within the public school system, having attended public schools herself throughout her entire educational career. Erika attended Michigan State University, where she earned both a Master of Arts in Teaching & Curriculum and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, her two daughters are both CPS students, with her eldest entering 2nd grade and her youngest starting PreK. As a proud parent within the district, she is personally connected to the families she serves and deeply committed to making the CPS application process more equitable, responsive, and transparent for all.