Peoria Public Schools’ superintendent is stepping down after the upcoming school year.
Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat made the announcement in an emailed statement Thursday. Kherat started at District 150 in 2015, meaning her resignation follows a decade at the helm of Peoria’s public schools.
Kherat has overseen several major changes to school policy in that time. Those include introduction of the use of cell phone pouches during school days, a yearlong calendar and a recent policy change requiring clear backpacks.
“As I enter this final chapter, my commitment remains unwavering,” Kherat said in the statement. “We will finish strong — with urgency, unity, and the unshakable belief that our mission is not only possible, but within reach.”
Some challenges in the district did require careful attention during her tenure, including efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism, raise graduation rates and ensure safety for the district’s students.
Kherat’s efforts were recognized last year when she was named the 2025 Illinois Superintendent of the Year by the Illinois Association of School Administrators.
No information is available yet on Kherat’s future plans or the district’s plans for conducting a search for a new leadership candidate.
