Fresno Unified could pay former communications chief Nikki Henry $162,000 after it was revealed she created a dossier of fabricated attacks against Superintendent Misty Her from the Fresno Teachers Association, the district confirmed Monday.

Director of Communications Diana Diaz called the package a “strategic decision based on fiscal responsibility which allows both parties to move forward.”

The payment is part of Henry’s resignation settlement, which she announced July 1. Fresno Teachers Association first posted about the news after filing a public records request. The district has not yet responded to a similar request by GV Wire filed after the resignation was announced.

The $162,000 payment represents more than 80% of Henry’s annual salary. Henry declined to comment.

Trustees, however, still have to approve the payment, said Bullard-area trustee Susan Wittrup.

Trustees Valerie Davis, Keshia Thomas, and Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas did not respond to GV Wire’s request for comment. Trustee Veva Islas said she was out of the country until recently and could not comment.

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Wittrup said board members were given several options regarding Henry’s package, but she wasn’t notified about the package until she saw news reports. She said she will vote “no” as resignations do not typically come with severance packages. She told GV Wire she also will call for an outside investigation into how the deal came about and whether any confidentiality provisions were involved.

“I learned of the deal in the media and it appears the board is being marginalized on high-profile decisions that impact the community we represent,” Wittrup told GV Wire. “I specifically requested to be informed of the final details before they became public. This does not inspire confidence in the executive team at FUSD.”

Because Henry is an at-will employee and the district isn’t obligated to provide a severance package, the teachers union called the payment a “reward” after severe misconduct.

“In this case, there were serious and well-documented concerns about conduct that warranted dismissal. Yet Fresno Unified chose to offer a substantial payout instead,” the post stated. “We believe that this settlement will send a message to FUSD employees and the broader community: accountability is not applied equally. When frontline employees make mistakes, they often face swift consequences. But when high-ranking administrators break trust — even after serious misconduct — they appear to be rewarded with six-figure settlements.”

Henry Agrees to Release District from Any Claims: FTA

Superintendent Her requested that Henry make the dossier that the communications chief called a rough draft “never meant to be shared beyond six people.”

The document contained 39 instances of fake quotes created using artificial intelligence. Henry said she didn’t “pause to fact check.”

Facebook user Cera Brown asked why Her, who directed the document to be made, wasn’t held accountable.

“Am I mistaken that she was directed to create the document?” Brown said. “Why isn’t the one giving directions for the creation being held accountable?”

Terms of the severance include an agreement from Henry she would release the district from any and all claims, according to the teachers union. The district in turn agreed to only confirm dates of employment, job title, and salary in future employment verifications. It includes a provision specifically stating there will be no admission of wrongdoing.

Former Superintendent Pushes AI Letters of Recommendation

As Fresno Unified deals with blowback over the use of AI, former Superintendent Bob Nelson on Monday espoused a program to create letters of recommendation using artificial intelligence. He said the program makes creating letters of recommendation much easier.

“AI helps crank out a perfectly crafted, uniquely personalized letter in literally three minutes… complete and utter game changer for me,” Nelson said on social media.