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Update: Mutual Separation Agreement Approved; Agreement Available for Public Review
Posted: June 23, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

At its June 22, 2026, Board meeting, the Board approved a Mutual Separation Agreement and Mutual Release (PDF) with Dr. Angel Turner, the Superintendent of Schools. As reflected in the Board statement, the Board is appreciative of Dr. Turner’s contributions to the District. 

The financial terms of the agreement were carefully considered by the Board and are reflective of the provisions of Dr. Turner's employment contract. In approving the agreement, the Board determined that it provides a fair and mutually agreed-upon path forward that supports a smooth leadership transition, allows the District to move forward with interim leadership and the superintendent search process, and resolves all matters and potential matters between the parties. 

As is common in separation agreements, the agreement includes mutual releases and other provisions that provide certainty and closure for both the District and Dr. Turner.

Provisions of the agreement include the following:

• Effective Date of Resignation. Dr. Turner’s prior employment agreement was set to expire June 30, 2027. That agreement entitled Dr. Turner to salary and benefits in the next fiscal year of over $324,000. Under the separation agreement, Dr. Turner will resign effective June 30, 2026.
• Payments. In consideration of Dr. Turner agreeing to leave employment one year early and the substantial waiver described below, the Board has agreed to pay Dr. Turner a lump sum of $191,000. In addition, Dr. Turner will be paid for her unused vacation days, which the District is required to pay pursuant to Illinois law.
  • The financial terms of the agreement were informed by specific provisions in Dr. Turner's employment contract governing compensation and benefits in the event of a separation. The Board carefully considered those contractual obligations and determined that the agreement provides a fair and mutually agreed-upon path forward for both parties. The complete terms of the agreement, including payment, are outlined in the publicly available document linked above.
• Waivers. Both Dr. Turner and the Board agreed to releases; waiving and agreeing not to sue for claims related to employment, discrimination, or payment disputes among other waivers. The waivers provide both parties with certainty that there will be no costly and time consuming legal disputes.

 

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District 65 Leadership Transition
Posted June 18, 2026, at 3:24 p.m.

Dear District 65 Community,

As we head into summer and prepare for the next school year, we are writing to share an intended leadership change in Evanston/Skokie School District 65.

The Board will consider at its June 22, 2026, Board meeting a mutual separation agreement with Dr. Angel Turner. If approved, Dr. Turner’s last day with the District will be June 30, 2026.

The Board thanks Dr. Turner for her service to our District over the past five years, as she has served in many roles including Director of Literacy, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, and Superintendent.

Dr. Turner stepped into a challenging environment for District 65. She immediately identified a looming financial crisis with quick thinking and decisive action. Her engagement with Dr. Robert Grossi to communicate the previously unknown budget issues averted the most dire outcomes.

Dr. Turner subsequently launched an ambitious deficit-reduction process that resulted in significant operational savings. Her efforts also led to improved financial transparency, long-term planning, and operational sustainability.

We are also grateful for Dr. Turner’s stewardship of the building of Foster School. When it became clear to her that the original proposal was financially unsustainable, she led efforts to redesign and right-size the project while keeping the vision of a new neighborhood school alive. Her leadership allowed the District to fulfill its commitment to return a neighborhood school to the Fifth Ward while ensuring the project remained on time and on budget.

Dr. Turner’s contributions extend beyond her financial leadership. She tackled some of our most complex issues including special education, out-of-school programming, and facilities. Her work in these areas has positioned us to move forward with a re-envisioning of District 65.

Lastly, we deeply appreciate Dr. Turner’s ongoing commitment to creating an equitable school system that centers the experiences of all children.

We wish her much success in her future professional endeavors.

 

Sincerely,

Nichole Pinkard, Ph.D., Board President
Chris Van Nostrand, Board Vice President