CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The Champaign Unit 4 School District has officially named two new principals — both internal candidates long recommended by district leadership.
In a unanimous vote Thursday evening, the school board approved Cessily Thomas as the new principal of Booker T. Washington STEM Academy and Cynthia Watson as the next leader of Edison Middle School.
Thomas, a proud alumna of BTW and a lifelong Champaign resident, currently serves as associate principal at Centennial High School. Beyond her administrative credentials, Thomas is also the founder of the Champaign-Urbana Black Teachers’ Alliance, a group advocating for increased Black representation and equity in local education.
Watson, meanwhile, steps into her new role after serving as Unit 4’s director of school improvement. She replaces longtime Edison principal Angie Schoonover, the district’s second-longest-serving building leader, who is relocating out of state.
Thursday’s meeting, held at the district’s Windsor Road administrative center, lasted just under an hour. Nine community members spoke during public comment — a stark contrast to the tense, sometimes combative meetings of previous weeks. Following the votes, the board moved into executive session, concluding the meeting without further action.