Dr. Mahalia Hines was appointed to the Chicago Board of Education in May of 2011 by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. She is currently the CEO of Think COMMON Entertainment, President of the COMMON Ground Foundation and Hip Hop Schoolhouse Publishing Company. Dr. Hines has worked in the educational field for more than 35 years as a teacher and principal. During her 15 year stint as a principal she serviced grade levels from elementary through high school in the Chicagoland area. Dr. Hines also worked as a coach for first-year principals, a mentor for current principals and prospective principals in Chicago and other parts of the country. Dr. Hines continues to work with school leaders of public and charter schools in urban areas throughout the country in order to develop effective school leaders who will guide others to provide the best possible education for the children least likely to receive it. In addition to working with schools and school leaders, she travels the country speaking to single mothers on raising successful sons. Dr. Hines received her doctorate from the University of Illinois, Masters from Northeastern University and bachelor's degree from Central State University