Oak Park School District 97 Selects New Superintendent

Submitted by Oak Park School District 97. Photo via District 97.

The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97 has appointed Carol Kelley as its new superintendent of schools.

She will succeed Al Roberts, who recently announced his plan to retire at the end of June after many years of service to public education.

Kelley comes to Oak Park upon successful completion of her service as superintendent of schools for Branchburg Township School District, New Jersey. Branchburg School District, like Oak Park, serves grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Kelley was selected from a national pool of candidates.

“The District 97 Board of Education and the entire school community have been working toward this moment since January,” said District 97 School Board President Jim Gates.​ “A truly rigorous process was followed. A national search brought forth outstanding candidates. Multiple layers of intensive interviews were conducted, and the Board has reached a unanimous decision. On behalf of the Board and the Village of Oak Park, I am so pleased to ​welcome Kelley as ​the next superintendent​ of District 97 schools.​”

“I am delighted to become a part of the Oak Park educational community. As a former middle school teacher and principal, elementary education is where my heart is,” Kelley said. “An engaged community such as Oak Park offers no end of potential. I’m excited to be joining you.”

In addition to her years as a middle school teacher and principal in New Jersey, Kelley served for three years as the Director for Curriculum and Instruction for Hunterdon Central Regional High School, a 3000-student comprehensive high school serving students from five townships in New Jersey. From there, she became the superintendent of the Branchburg Township, New Jersey, a high-achieving and diverse school district, where she has served since 2012.

Kelley received her bachelor’s degree and Doctorate in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds an MBA from the University of Virginia.

Kelley and the Board have agreed upon a three-year contract. Her starting base salary will be $199,500. Kelley was also provided benefits customary to those provided other administrative and faculty personnel.

Kelley said she and her family are excited to join the Oak Park community.