Amid a backlash over troubling social media posts that have been criticized as anti-Semitic, misogynistic and conspiratorial, the new president of the Chicago Board of Education is stepping down at the request of Mayor Brandon Johnson, just seven days after being sworn in. It’s the latest stunning development in the ongoing battle for leadership at the top of Chicago Public Schools.

Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson and six other board members took over last Thursday after the entire school board resigned. The mayor announced them as chosen replacements earlier this month.

His resignation, confirmed by City Hall, came after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker asked him to step down Thursday, according to NBC5, following similar calls from 40 aldermen and many Jewish leaders.

Johnson, the board chairman, tried to deflect criticism by apologizing for the posts.

An analysis of Johnson’s Facebook account showed that from October 2023 until a few months ago, he frequently wrote pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel posts on social media, many of which referred to Jews in hostile ways and inflammatory.

In one, he said that “the ideology of the Nazi Germans was adopted by the Zionist Jews.” In another, he said “My fellow Jews seem to be drunk on Israeli power and will live to see their pay.” Another included a 9/11 conspiracy theory.

Jewish Insider media first reported on Johnson’s posts on Tuesday, calling them “anti-Semitic” and “pro-Hamas.”

Johnson was not well known in the Chicago educational community. But he was billed as an economic development expert who helped win contracts for minority-owned companies. He also regularly hosts a WVON radio program and founded a consulting community.

There were also questions about whether Johnson lives in Chicago and his background. He was foreclosed in Ohio almost 30 years ago and at one point was so delinquent on child support that he had a lien on his house.

With all the issues, many have questioned the vetting process for new school board members. Wednesday, Rev. Johnson said he was “pretty confident that the things that are relevant to my experience have been verified.”

But also in that interview with WBEZ and the Sun-Times, he said he didn’t want to distract.

The sudden resignation is another blow to the mayor, who has suffered one setback after another in his dealings with the school system. Earlier this month, the entire school board, which he appointed and his allies, resigned en masse.

It came after city hall and the CEO clashed over how to deal with a budget shortfall. City Hall then tried to lay the groundwork for the replacement of CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. But the school board hesitated to do so without a clear reason.

Instead of staying in the middle of the dispute, the council stepped aside.

In announcing the new council, Mayor Johnson tried to argue that it was bringing stability to the system. Some of its members, he said, could remain after January, when the board expands to 21 people and will be part elected, part appointed.