While the specific reasons for Dr. Ushma Shah’s resignation as superintendent of Oak Park Elementary School District 97 last month are still hazy, it was clear the board of education was surprised by her announcement.
According to heavily redacted documentation provided by the district to Wednesday Journal via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Shah resigned via email after the board of education meeting Aug. 12, effective Aug. 15.
“As you can imagine, we’re still processing and in shock, but we truly appreciate your willingness to partner in a positive and collaborative way,” board president Cheree Moore said in an email to Shah the following morning.
But the only clue as to why Shah resigned came in that same day, Aug. 13, when she said regarding a joint resignation announcement the board and superintendent were crafting that “I’d like to be sure to express my perspective of how we got here.”
The next section is completely redacted.
“It is for that reason that I state in my letter of resignation that we do not have the level of mutual respect and mutual confidence that I need in order to continue in this role,” Shah concluded.
Since mid-August Shah has made no public comment about her departure. But on Sunday she responded to a Wednesday Journal reporter.
While Shah did not elaborate further about the reasons for her departure, she was direct about one aspect of her tenure at District 97.
“What I can tell you for sure is that I have genuinely loved serving as superintendent in Oak Park D97 for the past three years – and that I am excited about what’s ahead for the district and for myself as well,” Shah said via a message on the social media platform LinkedIn. “I will always be cheering on Oak Park and D97, no matter where I am.”
In addition to the emails in the FOIA-requested materials provided by the district, a Separation Agreement and Release of Claims agreement was included and unredacted. It noted that the district will provide Shah with a neutral reference letter. The Exhibit B template letter says that Shah was employed as District 97 superintendent from June 1, 2022 through Aug. 15, 2025.
However, the agreement, which also noted that there would be no mutual disparagement between the Shah and the board, was not signed by either Shah or Moore.
“After finalizing our joint statement on Aug. 15, there were no additional terms to agree to,” Moore said Friday. She added that there was no financial remuneration to Shah upon her departure.
Almost immediately upon receiving Shah’s resignation email Aug. 12, Moore requested discretion from Shah.
“We kindly ask three things,” Moore said in an email that evening, “1 – that you do not send any communications until further notice, 2 – please do not communicate with anyone until we have an opportunity to discuss 3 – if possible, please take a personal day to provide us time to create a plan.”
Moore said Friday through a district spokesperson that “the request was specifically related to her resignation” and not all communications.
Shah responded by saying, “Regarding a plan, I care about the district and am open to a conversation about a mutually agreed upon transition.”
The FOIA-requested documentation showed Shah continued to work on district matters in her final week at the helm, including addressing an inadvertent fire alarm at Washington Irving School on Aug. 13, and providing direction regarding an immigrant family that recently moved within Oak Park.
Dr. Griff Powell and Dr. Patricia Wernet were named co-interim superintendents for the 2025-26 school year, with their tenure beginning Monday. The first board meeting featuring Powell and Wernet was set for Tuesday evening.