Dear District 97 Staff, Parents, Students, and Community Members,
The District 97 Board of Education has been working hard to find the next superintendent to lead and serve our great district. After reviewing written applications, checking references, completing background screenings and conducting several hours of interviews, we have narrowed the field to two finalists that we are excited for you to meet, Dr. Kim Nalls and Dr. Ushma Shah. Information about the finalists is included below.
We are inviting the community to meet the finalists, ask them questions, and provide the board with your feedback during a virtual forum on Wednesday, January 12. The forum will be held in two parts—one for each candidate.
- Dr. Kim Nalls, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Dr. Ushma Shah, 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
About the Finalists
Dr. Kim Nalls
Kim Nalls, Ed.D., is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Benefits for Rich Township High School District 227. She previously served in Proviso Township District 209 as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources (Operations) and Technology and the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. She is a former high school principal, associate principal and guidance counselor, and began her career as an elementary school teacher.
Dr. Ushma Shah
Ushma Shah, Ed.D., is currently the Interim Chief Portfolio Officer for the Chicago Public Schools Office of Portfolio Management. She previously served in Elgin School District U-46 as the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools, Instruction and Equity, as well as the Chief of Equity and Social Justice. She has also been a middle school principal and teacher and an elementary school teacher.
How to Watch
The district will utilize Zoom Webinar to host the forum. The same link will be utilized for both candidates. A recording will be posted to the District 97 YouTube channel.
- Zoom Link: https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/81047874971?pwd=NTJVbjBpOGJYYXJ5ZHltQVV5blRoZz09
- Dial-In Number: 1-312-626-6799
- Meeting ID: 810 4787 4971
- Passcode: 563901
- One-Tap Mobile: US: +13126266799,,81047874971#,,,,*563901#
Format Overview and How to Submit Questions
To open the forum, we have asked both candidates to give a 10-minute presentation to:
- Introduce themselves and share their stories;
- Share why they believe they are the right fit for the position and why they are excited about serving the students, staff, and greater community;
- Describe any professional accomplishments that they think are particularly relevant to the needs and aspirations of District 97.
After their presentation, the candidates will be answering questions from the community. If you have a question that you would like the finalists to address, please email it to [email protected] before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 11. The Q&A session will be facilitated by our HYA consultants, Constance Collins and Max McGee. We will do our best to ensure that the candidates address as many of the questions from as many stakeholder groups as possible within the allotted time.
At the conclusion of the webinar, you will be able to provide written feedback that Board members will read and review prior to making a final decision. A link will be shared Wednesday night.
We look forward to your participation and to reading your feedback regarding the candidates.
Sincerely,
District 97 Board of Education