During the July 22nd Unit 4 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved five administrative appointments.
Ms. Caroline Martin was appointed as the Assistant Principal at Barkstall Elementary. She began her career in education in August 2019 when she joined Mahomet-Seymour Junior High as a Special Education Teacher. From August 2020-May 2023, she worked as a High School Life Skills/English Teacher at Fisher High School. In August 2023, Ms. Martin joined Unit 4 Schools as a Special Education Teacher at Garden Hills Academy. She will leave this position to begin her first role as a school administrator when she joins Barkstall.
Ms. Martin holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Illinois State University (2019). She also earned a Master of Education in Educational Leadership (2021) and a Principal endorsement (2022), both from Eastern Illinois University. The effective date of this appointment is July 29, 2024.
Ms. Albulena (Abby) Emroski was appointed as the Assistant Principal & Summer School Principal at Booker T. Washington STEM Academy. She began her career in education when she joined Decatur Public Schools in August 2017, where she served for five years. During that time, she worked as a 5th Grade Teacher and 3rd Grade Teacher. In August 2022, Ms. Emroski joined Unit 4 when she accepted her first school administrator role as Dean of Students at International Prep Academy. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, she transitioned to Assistant Principal at IPA. Ms. Emroski will leave this position to join Booker T. Washington STEM Academy.
Ms. Emroski holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, with a minor in Mathematics, from North Central College (2016) and Master of Education in Educational Administration from Illinois State University (2023). The effective date of this appointment is July 23, 2024.
Mr. Sean Flaherty was appointed as the Athletic Director/Dean of Students at Edison Middle School. Mr. Flaherty began his career in education in August 1996 when he joined Momence High School as a Social Studies Teacher, and served the district for five years. In August 2001, he accepted a position as a Social Studies Teacher at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School. Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, Sean joined LeRoy High School as a Social Studies Teacher. After two years in that role, he was hired as a Social Studies Teacher at Unit 5 Regional Alternative School in Bloomington, IL. In August 2008, Mr. Flaherty joined Pontiac High School as a Special Education Teacher in the Alternative Education Program. Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, he joined Decatur Public Schools, and has served there for the past fourteen years. During this time he has worked as a Special Education Teacher and most recently a Social Studies Teacher. Mr. Flaherty will leave this position to join Unit 4 in his first school administrator role at Edison.
In addition, Mr. Flaherty has extensive athletics experience coaching baseball, basketball, football, golf, softball, and volleyball at the middle school, high school and college levels. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, with a minor in History (1996) from Knox College. He also earned his Special Education LBSI endorsement from Eureka College (2008). The effective date of this appointment is July 23, 2024.
Ms. Tomisha Carter was appointed as the Assistant Principal at Edison Middle School. She began her career in education in September 2009 when she joined Fort Wayne Community Schools in Fort Wayne, IN. During her seven years with Fort Wayne, she worked as a 5th Grade Teacher, 6th Grade Reading Teacher, and 6-8 Language Arts Interventionist. After relocating to Urbana, IL in August 2016, she joined Urbana School District 116 as an Intermediate Grades Teacher. For the 2018-2019 school year, Ms. Carter served as a 5th Grade/Special Education Teacher with Rantoul City Schools. Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, she became an 8th Grade English Language Arts Teacher with Danville Schools #118. In August 2022, Ms. Carter joined Unit 4 Schools when she accepted her first school administrator role as Dean of Students at Edison Middle School. Tomisha will leave this position to become the next Assistant Principal.
Ms. Carter holds a Bachelor of Science in Music, with a minor in Marketing, from Eastern Michigan University (2002) and a Master of Education in Elementary Education from Cambridge College (2009). She also earned her Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (2024). The effective date of this appointment is July 25, 2024.
Ms. Lakesha Spight was appointed as the Dean of Students at Centennial High School. Since August 2001, Ms. Spight has held a number of support staff roles in various school districts, including Bookkeeper/Food Service Supervisor, Secretary, and Teacher Aide. She began her career as a licensed educator in August 2020 when she accepted a position as a School Social Worker with Sauk Village School District #168 in Sauk Village, IL. In August 2021, she joined Harvey School District #152 in Harvey, IL, as a School Social Worker. Relocating to Champaign in August 2022, Ms. Spight joined Unit 4 Schools as a School Social Worker at Booker T. Washington STEM Academy. She will leave this position to begin her first school administrator role as Dean of Students at Centennial.
Ms. Spight holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (2016), a Master of Business Administration (2019), and a Master of Social Work (2019), all from Aurora University. She also earned a Principal endorsement from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (2023). The effective date of this appointment is July 25, 2024.
Congratulations, Ms. Spight, Ms. Carter, Mr. Flaherty, Ms. Emroski and Ms. Martin!