Board approves interim associate superintendent Teresa Shipp amid questions over redacted contract and hiring process

The San Francisco Board of Education approved, by a 5–2 roll‑call vote, an employment agreement for Teresa Shipp to serve as interim associate superintendent of educational services through June 30, 2026. The employment agreement places Shipp at salary grade 8, step 8, and contains no buyout provisions; the contract becomes effective when the appointee clears necessary administrative and board ratification steps.

Superintendent Dr. Hsu introduced the item as an interim appointment while the district completes a national search for a permanent deputy superintendent of educational services. Hsu said the intent was to avoid premature public disclosure of senior candidates and to protect confidentiality during recruiting; she said the district will use the same hiring practices it has used in prior leadership searches and intends broader stakeholder engagement for the permanent search.

Several commissioners and members of the public objected to how the item was presented on the board agenda: the published agenda initially showed the contract with the candidate’s name redacted, and some commissioners said they learned the candidate’s identity only when the agenda packet was finalized. Commissioner Ray said she was “very concerned about the way in which this has been handled” and called the timing and lack of prior notice problematic; Commissioner Alexander said the public deserved at least 72 hours’ notice of the candidate’s name before the vote. Commissioner Alexander and Commissioner Ray both voted no.

Commissioner Fisher and other board members asked for clarity about process going forward. The superintendent described the planned national search process for the permanent deputy position and said first‑round interviews will include representation from Ed Services, executive staff and labor representatives; second‑round interviews will include superintendent’s cabinet members and additional stakeholders.

The roll‑call for the interim contract was: Alexander — no; Fisher — yes; Gupta — yes; Vice President Healy — yes; Ray — no; Wiseman Ward — yes; President Kim — yes. The motion passed 5–2.

No administrative action beyond the approval was taken at the meeting regarding the permanent search. The board did not adopt any changes to hiring policy; several commissioners asked staff to return with a clearer decision‑making and engagement framework for major district hires as part of the guardrail or upcoming policy work.

The contract, as placed in the physical meeting materials earlier in the evening, included a stated term through June 30, 2026, salary placement at grade 8/step 8 and standard interim‑appointment termination language. The contract will end automatically if the board hires a permanent deputy; there is no separate buyout payment specified in the interim agreement.