Oak Park board approves personnel actions; superintendent announces multiple administrator appointments
Summary
The board approved a broad personnel package and separate administrator contracts for 2025-26, and Superintendent Abdul Haad introduced several promoted and newly hired leaders including an assistant superintendent of teaching and learning.
The Oak Park Board of Education approved a personnel actions item and separately approved contracts for school administrators and cabinet members for the 2025-26 school year at its June 9 meeting.
Trustee Tyler seconded the motion to approve administrator contracts after Trustee Scott moved the resolution; the board recorded approval. The personnel actions package included multiple hires and changes and was presented as a single consent item; a trustee sought to pull a single line item (item 43) for separate consideration but that motion failed for lack of a second.
Superintendent Abdul Haad used the approvals to introduce the administrators and leaders who will fill the district's executive and school-level posts next year. Appointments announced during the meeting included:
- Adam Carter, assistant principal (Key Elementary School); superintendent introduced Carter and highlighted his classroom leadership and track record at Key. - Andrea Farr, director of finance; the superintendent said Farr has been a constant in finance during turnover and will serve as finance director. - Dr. Miles (presented as dean of culture at NOVA Academy) was named to an assistant-principal role (location to be designated). - Brandon Giles, assistant athletic director; the superintendent cited athletics program successes and continuity. - Derek Fultz, executive director of student safety and security. - Brandy North, executive director (role described as focused on culture, climate and communications/marketing). - Shana Renee Hallmarkt, appointed assistant superintendent of teaching and learning; the superintendent described Hallmarkt as a rapid-growth leader with classroom and principal experience.
During the discussion Trustee Corcoran asked that personnel listings include end dates for contracts in the personnel-action spreadsheet; staff responded that the contract documents themselves include dates and that the personnel report has historically shown effective start dates without a separate end-date column. The board did not adopt a change in report format at the meeting.
Why it matters: Administrator appointments shape district instructional leadership, operations and school culture for the coming year. The board's approval confirmed the superintendent's staffing plan for core leadership roles at a time the district is emphasizing culture and enrollment growth.
The board recorded formal approval of the personnel package and the administrator contracts; minutes show the motions passed with recorded yes votes and no abstentions.
