Illinois State Board of Education Superintendent Carmen Ayala attends an event in Springfield with Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Capitol News IllinoisThe state’s top education official is stepping down when her contract expires in January.
State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala became the first woman to be permanent superintendent for the Illinois State Board of Education when hired in 2019. She was former superintendent of Berwyn North school district, assistant superintendent for Plainfield and Aurora East school districts, and a teacher in Aurora and Chicago.
Her contract ends Jan. 31. She said Friday that she would retire at that time.
“Dr. Ayala represents the highest level of dedication to public service, and over her long career she has positively impacted thousands of Illinois students,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “Not only did Dr. Ayala’s steadfast leadership guide our schools through an unprecedented pandemic, but she also kick-started students’ academic recovery. Under her leadership, we’ve seen significant growth in high school graduation rates and other key educational metrics, a true testament to her hard work and dedication to Illinois students.”
