Yesterday Jim Shon, former head of the state Charter School Administrative Office, began his first statement since his surprise departure Thursday by saying thanks to several groups — including the one that fired him.

"I'd like to thank the Board of Education because they appointed me two years ago for a job that has been a wonderful experience," said Shon, who spoke from the Rotunda of the State Capitol. More than once he referred to his time heading the charter schools administration as "a dream job."

Shon also expressed his gratitude to the Hawai'i Charter School network for recommending him for the position, to the charter school community for its vigorous support, and to his staff for helping make the charter schools "more successful and more accountable."

Shon said he didn't know specifically why he was fired. He said he showed up Thursday for his evaluation, spent a few minutes answering questions from members of the board and then waited for about an hour and a half while the board went behind closed doors to vote.

He said after that meeting, board chairman Randall Yee took him aside and informed him of the board's decision to dismiss him. He said he wasn't told why. It caught him off guard.

"I didn't really see it coming, I'd have to admit," said Shon. "There's always some board members who'd like a lot more improvement. And I know that there was some dissatisfaction. But I didn't know that it had grown to a majority of the board.

"Maybe a fresh start is a good idea," he said.

The board has declined to say why it let Shon go. However, members indicated they had not been pleased with Shon's leadership during the past year and criticized his lack of support for some of the board's policies. Yee said board members had questioned whether Shon was properly stating the board's position during testimony.

"One of the requirements of the executive director is to support board policies and board decisions," said Yee.

The board also had been uneasy with Shon's efforts to lobby the Legislature on behalf of the schools. Shon had been placed on a month-to-month contract.

Immediately following the decision to dismiss Shon, a chorus of support for him and wide criticism of the board's decision was heard from the charter schools. Charter school principals praised Shon's leadership and his academic and financial accomplishments, saying he had bettered charter schools in every way. They also complained about not being allowed to participate in a decision that would affect every charter school in the state.

Shon expressed frustration yesterday with an inability on his part to communicate better with the board. But he said his job had been difficult because the administrative office is charged with being both the accountability arm of the BOE and the voice and advocate for the charter schools.

"So, we're kind of caught in the middle ... trying to serve multiple agendas," he said.

"I'm very honored to have been a strong advocate for the charter schools. And each of the 6,000 students, the 500 employees — they all deserve to have a strong advocate."

He called the outpouring of aloha from the charter schools since Thursday's announcement "really, really heartwarming." But he said it's the prerogative of the board to choose its executive director. He said demands by some charter schools for his reinstatement were unrealistic.

"We need to move forward," he said.

Refusing to be pessimistic, Shon chose to highlight the progress that has been achieved with charter schools over the past two years.

Per-pupil funding has gone from $5,000 to $7,500, red tape has been cut, test scores have improved, a more efficient payroll system has been created and new administrative rules have been drafted, he said.

Shon said his most immediate plans for the future were to go shopping after the press conference. However, he said he would like to stay in public service somehow. He said he remains optimistic about the future of charter schools.

"I look forward to seeing who the new executive director will be," he said. "I hope everyone will provide them with a lot of support. I think the charter schools are moving forward."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.