Champaign Unit 4 School District

The Unit 4 Board of Education approved four administrative appointments during its July 24th meeting.

Tara Olsen was selected as the Principal of the Champaign Early Childhood Center. Ms. Olsen began her career in education when she joined Urbana School District 116 in August 2002, and has served the District for the past 21 years. During this time, she has worked as an Early Childhood Teacher, 1st Grade Teacher, Interim Co-Principal, and Self-Contained Special Education at King Elementary, Thomas Paine Elementary, Wiley Elementary, Yankee Ridge Elementary, and Urbana Early Childhood. Ms. Olsen is currently an Instructional Coach at Thomas Paine Elementary. She will leave this position to join Unit 4 Schools.

Ms. Olsen holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, with a minor in Spanish, from Illinois State University (2001), and a Master of Science in Educational Administration from Eastern Illinois University (2009).

Ms. Abigail (Abby) Hlinka was selected as the Dean of Students at Dr. Howard Elementary. Ms. Hlinka began her career in education in August 2016 when she joined Urbana School District 116 as a Special Education Teacher at Urbana Middle School. After two years in that role, she joined Unit 4 Schools when she accepted a position as Special Education Teacher assigned to Barkstall Elementary. For the past year, Abigail worked as an Instructional Coach at Garden Hills STEAM Academy. She will leave this position to begin her first school administrator role at Dr. Howard Elementary beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

Ms. Hlinka holds a Bachelor of Science in Education, with a specialization in Special Education-Learning and Behavior I, from Illinois State University (2016) and a Master of Education in Educational Policy and Organizational Leadership from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (2023). She is currently working toward her Administrative license at Louis University with an expected completion in May 2024.

Dr. Robert Lopez was selected as the High School Athletic Director/Assistant Principal at Centennial High. He began his career in education in 1996 when he began teaching law enforcement in Cobb County, GA. From 1999-2006 he left teaching to pursue a career in law enforcement. In 2006, Dr. Lopez re-entered the education field and has served as Director of Criminal Justice Programs at Santa Fe Community College and Sauk Valley Community College (2006-2010), Physical Education Teacher at Farmington High School in Farmington, NM (2010-2012), Administrative Intern/Athletic Director at Shiprock High School in Shiprock, NM (2012-2013), Assistant Principal at Laguna-Acoma Mid-High School in Grants, NM (2013-2014), District Principal at Jemez Mountain Schools in Gallina, NM (2014-2015), High School Principal at Bloomfield Schools in Bloomfield, NM (2015-2017), Executive Director of Crisis, Safety, and Student Outreach at Waukegan Public Schools in Waukegan, IL (2017-2020), Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Education at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL (2020-2022). He is currently the Director of Student Support Services at Kankakee School District #11 in Kankakee, IL. Dr. Lopez will leave this position to join Unit 4 Schools.

In addition to his time in education, Dr. Lopez was a Sales Manager for Action Time, Inc. (1999-2001), an Investigator with the Medical Examiner’s Office in Coconino County (Flagstaff, AZ, 2001-2003), and a Police Chief in Riodoso Downs, NM (2003-2006). He also served in the United State Marine Corp (1985-1989) and held supervisory roles as a Lance Corporal and Corporal beginning in 1986.

Dr. Lopez holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Saint Leo University (1996), a Master of Forensic Science from National University (2003), a Master of Arts in Sports Administration (2009), and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (2013), both from New Mexico Highlands University. He also earned an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership (2015) and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (2018), both from Liberty University.

Ms. Christina (Tina) Jordahl was selected as the Dean of Students at Central High School. She began her career in education in August 2017 when she joined Unit 4 Schools as a Math Teacher at Central High. After five years in that role, she accepted a position as Math Instructional Coach at Central High. Christina will leave this position to begin her first school administrator role beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

Ms. Jordahl holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, with a minor in Secondary Education (2017) and a Master of Education in Educational Policy and Organizational Leadership, with a Principal Endorsement (2022), both from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.