Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat

Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat is a distinguished servant leader in the field of education, with a career that spans from being a teacher to various administrative roles. She embarked on her academic journey at Bradley University, later earning a doctorate from Illinois State University.

Her professional journey began as a middle school teacher, after which she held several administrative positions. She served as the Principal of the Blue-Ribbon Whittier Primary School and the Assistant Principal of Roosevelt Magnet, catering to students from Pre-K to 8th grade. Her leadership skills were further honed and honored when she took on the role of Principal at Manual High School.

Dr. Desmoulin-Kherat's career took a turn towards district-wide administration when she became the Transformation Officer for Springfield Public Schools. She then served as the Associate Superintendent of Schools in Danville, IL. Currently, she is in her 10th year as the Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools, a testament to her dedication and commitment to the field of education and community.

Her exceptional work has not gone unnoticed. Dr. Desmoulin-Kherat has been the recipient of over 20 awards throughout her career, including the prestigious Superintendent of Distinction award from the Illinois Association of School Administrators in 2018 and the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award in 2005. She was also recognized with the National Exemplary Leadership Award by the Department of Education/USA in the same year.

Dr. Desmoulin-Kherat's vision for education is rooted in her community involvement, love and passion to provide opportunities for children to succeed. She firmly believes that schools cannot function in isolation, and it is the collective effort of the community that can truly make a difference. The vision for Peoria Public Schools (PPS) for the period 2021-2026 is to "reimagine schools to ignite student passion", a testament to her creative and forward-thinking approach to education.