Jean-Claude Brizard, the new head of Chicago’s schools, kicks off a listening tour Thursday to hear from teachers and students.  It’s his first official day as CEO, though Brizard has been working on a pro-bono basis for more than a week.

The board of education—former Mayor Richard Daley’s board, that is—appointed Brizard late Wednesday, but only through the end of June.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s new board of education will take up his permanent contract next month.

For now, Brizard will be paid at an annual rate of $250,000. That’s $20,000 more than what former CEO Ron Huberman made. Brizard was paid $235,000 per year at his former position as superintendent of schools in Rochester City School District in New York.

A CPS press release said the salary is less than or comparable to what superintendents earn in New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Miami.

Immediately after he was appointed, Brizard e-mailed a letter to the district’s 40,000 employees saying he sees the work of education through a social justice lens. 

Brizard will visit a South Side elementary school and a neighborhood high school Thursday.

You can hear more news from yesterday’s school board meeting Thursday on 848. Brizard’s letter to CPS employees is posted in “EXTRAS” below.