HONOLULU -- Hawaii Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto abruptly resigned on Thursday, effective immediately, sources confirmed to KITV. Deputy Superintendent Kathy Matayoshi will immediately assume the duties of acting superintendent.

The leader of the Department of Education leaves during a time when the state, Board of Education, Department of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association are negotiating ways to cut the number of furlough days that close public school campuses. Furlough days have been used as a way to save the state money amid a state budget crunch.

Hamamoto volunteered to remain on the negotiating team in efforts to cut furlough days and keep students in classes.

Hamamoto did not return calls for comment.

The resignation left some teachers and parents wondering why the state schools chief would quit -- and why now?

"It was kind of a shock, when I heard the news, I was thinking, 'In the middle of this furlough stuff? What is going to happen?'" Jared Middle School teacher Kori Briones said.

The news of the superintendent's retirement surprised the head of the state teacher's union, who has been negotiating with her for months. HSTA President Wil Okabe said Hamamoto left a message on his voice mail on Thursday morning informing him of her decision.

"She was telling me that I had to inform the teachers that they will be working on Monday," Okabe said.

On the regular DOE calendar, Monday is currently set as a teacher preparation day with students expected to be back in the classroom from the holiday break on Tuesday. The department on Thursday posted a notice on its Web site reminding families that Monday is still scheduled as a teacher preparation day.

Okabe said Hamamoto gave no indication that she was quitting for any reason tied to the negotiations.

"She devoted her whole life to public education," he said. "It's going to be a big loss."

A spokesman for Gov. Linda Lingle Thursday said the governor's office had not heard about Hamamoto's resignation.

BOE member Karen Knudsen said she received the letter from Hamamoto announcing her retirement at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

BOE chairman Garrett Toguchi issued a statement late Thursday that said, "The Board extends its deepest appreciation for all of her many years serving Hawaii's students and for her dedication to public education, both as an educator and administrator."

"Superintendent Hamamoto has worked tirelessly to ensure we had a viable plan to reduce the number of furloughs at our public schools," Toguchi said. "She has also volunteered to continue being part of the Department's negotiating team to assist in reaching a resolution to bring students back to the classroom. We thank her and wish her well."

Toguchi said he spent Thursday afternoon trying to get Hamamoto to change her mind.

"One reason why she wanted to make it sudden was that she has been around to know that the system stalls when the leader announces that they were going to leave. So she wanted to make a quick exit," Toguchi said.

Hamamoto has led the state's school system since 2001. She was a deputy superintendent for two years and was principal of McKinley High School before that. She took over for embattled Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu.

Colleagues and those close to her describe her as a no-nonsense leader who puts her students' interests at the forefront of her decisions.

She was part of the negotiations that led to 34 furlough days for teachers.

For Pauoa resident Deb Young and many other parents of school-age children, after dealing with furlough Fridays for the first half of the year -- with more still to come -- this announcement in the middle of the school year came at a bad time.

"If she retired for personal reasons, but it's like giving up on the system if she's doing it for other reasons," Young said.

For some observers, there is hope a new leader in the new year could mean things could get better for Hawaii's schools.

"We look for direction. They represent us. We haven't been represented too well lately, so we would like someone to represent us well," Young said.

The Board of Education will have to conduct a search to fill the $150,000-a-year position.