The Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education and Superintendent Ushma Shah jointly announce that Dr. Shah will be resigning from her role as superintendent, effective August 15, 2025.
Dr. Shah has served the district with dedication since June 1, 2022, bringing visionary leadership, a deep commitment to student success, and a collaborative spirit that has strengthened our school community. During her tenure, she helped guide the district through the post-pandemic educational landscape, successfully negotiated a new contract with the Oak Park Teachers Association (OPTA), and facilitated the creation of the Portrait of an Oak Park 8th Grade Graduate—an important framework for preparing students for success in high school and beyond.
The Board is grateful for Dr. Shah’s service, the passion she has shown for advancing educational excellence, and the many positive impacts she has made during her time in the district. We thank Dr. Shah for her leadership and service, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors.
The Board will soon begin the process of selecting the next superintendent to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition. More information about the search process will be shared in the coming weeks.
Plans for the 2025-26 School Year
To ensure the time and focus needed for a thorough search for the district’s next permanent superintendent, the Board will appoint interim superintendents to lead District 97 during the 2025-26 school year. The search will include opportunities for community input, with additional details to come.
In the meantime, District 97’s day-to-day operations will continue without disruption under the guidance of our experienced and highly capable leadership team. We have full confidence in the leaders who are in place and in their commitment to ensuring a smooth start to the school year.
Our community is strong, our leadership is ready, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back for Institute Days on August 18–19 and the first day of school on August 20.