"We were all surprised," Farley said.
Ackerman said she first learned that Mastoon submitted her resignation on Friday evening when Estelle Matthews, her top human relations official, called her at home.
"I was shocked and sorry that it happened," Ackerman said.
Ackerman said she had no idea why Mastoon left and had not spoken with her. Asked if she had disagreements with Mastoon, Ackerman said, "Nothing that I thought would have made her resign."
The superintendent said, "It was a pretty tough two weeks," adding that the job required a grueling schedule.
"I talk to my press people all hours of the night and Saturdays and Sundays. You can't fit this in to an 8-to-5 or 9-to-5 job. We have to find somebody who understands this. It is a job that's really tough."
Mastoon arrived at a tumultuous time in the district. Ackerman has been making headlines for refusing to detail how she qualified for a $65,000 bonus on top of her $338,000 salary. Other controversies include frequent administration shake-ups and cutting off many employees' access to district payroll and human resources records.
Mastoon was Ackerman's third top communications official in two years. Over the last year, Ackerman spent $150,000 to hire outside firms including Cardenas-Grant Communications, Ross Associates, and Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy for media relations services.
The consultants were brought on in addition to five full-time public relations staffers, two of whom were let go in January.
The district will conduct a search for a new chief public information officer, Ackerman said. She plans to be involved in the search from the beginning - unlike when Mastoon was hired. She said she would consult with both the School Reform Commission and Mayor Nutter.
