Rachel Webster Appointed to Fill Oak Park School Board Vacancy

(Crystal A. Proxmire, May 5, 2026)

Oak Park, MI – Oak Park School Board will soon have a new member, following an appointment made by Oakland Schools Tuesday evening.

Rachel Webster was selected from eight applicants following interviews at the Oakland Schools Special meeting.

Oakland Schools was tasked with making the appointment after the Oak Park School Board failed to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Xondra Clark in March. Under Michigan Law if a School Board does not fill a vacancy, the intermediate school board must step in.

The candidates were:

Paquita Adams

Jocelyn Coats

Deshawn Jackson

Kevin Keys III

Kenneth Swain

Rachel Webster

Damacious White

Shayla Williams

Webster is a licensed mental health counselor in Oak Park who has a child that attends Lessenger Early Childhood Center. During her interview she told the board that she was hoping to make “a more comprehensive and systematic impact,” and that mental health “has to be at the top of the list” for priorities, to make sure that “the success of students, family, and staff is primary.”

One of the first tasks that Webster, along with fellow board members, will be asked to make is finding a new Superintendent for the district. Former Superintendent Angel Abdulahad retired in the wake of a lawsuit alleging financial improprieties, human resource issues, and whistleblower retaliation. And while an interim is in place, the board hopes to have a new administrative leader in place before the next school year begins.

When asked what qualities she would look for in a Superintendent, Webster said “I would be looking for someone who has a heart for the students, for someone who is caring and compassionate and brings that mindset to the table.” She also seeks someone who is not biased, who has an open mind, and who is a strong communicator.

As a board member, she said she will “bring to the table the skill of active listening, which is very important when we have difficult decision to make,” and that she will use her skills as a mental health professional in her board work.

“Bringing people together is literally what I do in my profession,” Webster said.

Webster is expected to be sworn in at the Oak Park School Board meeting on Wednesday. She is expected to serve until November of this year when voters will select a candidate to fill the remainder of Clark’s original term. Webster said she is unsure if she will be running for a position in the Nov. 3 election.

But for now, she is all in, telling the board, “Mental health is a world wide issue, and it makes sense for me to start working on that in my community.”

Learn more about Oak Park Schools at https://www.oakparkschools.org/

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